Stencilmatic Version 1.5


Automated Stencil Layout Server

Install Stencilmatic

  1. Click Download and save the file on your desktop or your hard drive. Install Stencilmatic by running the file you downloaded. The Stencilmatic installer includes Stencilmatic server software, the WinLINE printer driver installer, and a Windows TrueType stencil font.
  2. When prompted by the WinLINE installer, select a WinLINE printer driver for your cutting machine. Detailed instructions for installing a WinLINE printer driver follow in the section below.
  3. Use Windows Explorer to create a shared folder on your computer's hard drive where stencil source data files can be placed to initiate production of a stencil.
  4. Restart Windows.
  5. Launch Stencilmatic by clicking Start > Programs > Stencilmatic > Stencilmatic.
  6. If you see an error message like this: "The application failed to initialize properly (0xc0000135)." then your machine probably does not have the prerequisite Microsoft .NET framework installed. Download .NET framework Version 1.1 from Microsoft, install it, and then launch Stencilmatic again.
  7. Activate your software licenses (detailed instructions follow).
  8. Configure Stencilmatics program settings (detailed instructions follow).

Install a WinLINE printer driver

  1. First, decide what sort of cable you will use to physically connect the machine to the computer. What kind of physical port will you need to plug the cable into on the computer? If there is a physical port available on the computer, what is its name?
  2. If you are using a USB to parallel conversion cable, plug it in to a USB port before you install WinLINE, making sure the other end is not connected to the machine at the time.
  3. If you are using a USB cable with a USB printer, plug the cable into the machine and connect the cable to a USB port on your computer before you install WinLINE.
  4. When prompted by the WinLINE installer, select the Manufacturer and Model of your output device, and select a Port to print to.
  5. If you are using a parallel cable, select the LPT port your cable is plugged in to.
  6. If you are using a USB to parallel conversion cable, select the USB Virtual Printer Port that corresponds to your cable and port. If you see more than one, choose the one with the highest number.
  7. If you are using a USB cable with a USB printer, choose the USB port that is named for the printer.
  8. If you cannot see any suitable port or you are unsure which port to select, connect the driver to the port called FILE:. You can change the port from your Windows Printers Folder after installation, by right-clicking on the icon for your plotter and selecting Properties > Ports.

License Activation

  1. The first time you launch Stencilmatic, click the License button and enter the Stencilmatic license details you received by email to activate your Stencilmatic license.
  2. Activate your WinLINE printer driver license using the WinLINE license information you received by email. To activate WinLINE, click Start > Settings > Printers and right-click on the icon for your cutter. Select Properties and then click the About/Help tab, and click the Enter License Details button.
  3. If you ever need to move Stencilmatic to another machine, deactivate the license first to obtain a license credit. To deactivate the license, click ctrl-shift-Activate and follow the prompts using your original Stencilmatic license key details. To deactivate your WinLINE software license, in your Windows Printers Folder, right-click on the icon for your cutter and select Properties > About/Help. Hold the ctrl and shift keys down and double click the Licensed To name. Follow the prompts using your original WinLINE license details.

Software Configuration

  1. Launch Stencilmatic from your Start Menu.
  2. Configure Stencilmatic's Watch Folder to be the shared folder you created for the stencil source data.
  3. Click Select Device and select your cutting machine from the list of installed printers.
  4. Select the Media Type and Width that you will load into the cutting machine.

Working With Stencilmatic

  1. Make the cutting machine and media ready for operation.
  2. Click Stencilmatic's Activate button.
  3. Stencils will be generated and sent to the output device whenever a conforming file is placed in the watched folder.
  4. Inspect your cutting machine regularly to make sure the media is tracking in alignment with the grip rollers. If the media requires alignment, click the Stop button, disengage the media on the machine, re-allign the media with the grip rollers, re-engage the machine, and click the Activate button.
  5. Click the Stop button to stop sending output to the device.