I asked this once before - and I am really having a problem finding anyone that has done this - it's like what I am wanting to do is just crazy or something.

Here's the problem;
-I have an engraver machine - engraves tags to connect to items created in a manufacturing facility
-These tags are certification tags and also identify the piece of equipment
-The users of the equipment have to have these tags to show that the piece of equipment is certified
-The tags are also used when the user returns the equipment back to the original manufacturer to be recertified and have a new tag put on them

I want to control the engraver so I can produce the tags automatically from an existing application. The engraver speaks HPGL (just HPGL, not HPGL/2).

All I can find are;
1) Apps that will read HPGL and display it
2) Apps like a CAD program that will internally produce HPGL files

I can find no printer driver... or system where I can send a picture or a design and have it produce HPGL. I am considering creating one - something that will produce HPGL based on a certain layout. But there HAS to be something out there - because the CAD programs do it. I just can't find it.

Has anyone ever done anything like this? The engraver is just like a Plotter, etc. It just moves the 'pen' to one x,y coordinate and tells it to go down and write/engrave to another x,y coordinate.