HP 650C DesignJet Plotter Rasterizing vs Vector Plot

Question

I am considering buying a surplus HP 650C Plotter to convert for cutting vinyl Media. I realize the HP 650C uses inkjet technology and that there will be some work involved in converting the Pen UP/Pen Down functions, the mechanics of the pen carriage and such, but after reviewing the service manual I believe I can work through these issues.
My question remains, though, in the manner in which the plotter actually plots a vector line. Can it be configured to function as a traditional pen plotter, where say a vertical or 45 degree angle line is plotted in one continuous stroke, or would such lines be plotted as with any more modern printer, with the carriage scanning back and forth along the entire width of the media, plotting dots only where the line would be?
Obviously if the latter is the case then it would not work well for my vinyl cutter project.
Rob

Answer 1

This forum is focused on consumer level products.  For the Designjet you may have better results posting in the HP Designjet forum here.  
That said, for your issue the Designjet 650c would not likely be useful - even when plotting using HPGL it converts to raster format for printing and the printing is done in swaths rather than vector printhead movement.  A surplus large format pen plotter would be a better fit and likely much easier to retrofit for vinyl cutting.
Bob Headrick,  HP Expert
I am not an employee of HP, I am a volunteer posting here on my own time.
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