hp designjet 500ps dimension problems

[gvlisnas]

I was wondering if anyone else has this problem.

We are working with bathymetric diagramms and we use a grid of 10cm x 10cm.. Overall the map would be 110cm x 90cm.

My problem is this. The dimensions of the drawing from head to toe should be 110 cm but when i measure it with a ruler it is 106cm-108cm.

I calibrated it the plotter when i bought it a month ago and it worked fine for that roll. After the roll of coated paper run out i simply installed a new roll of the exact same paper. I understand calibrating it when i change to different kind of paper (we also use matte film), but calibrating it when i install a new roll of the same paper?

And a few more questions. I heard there is an hp driver fro autocad...or autocad driver for hp i don't know. I was looking for the feature "ink areas only" that whatever the paper size you specify, the plotter only prints the drawing and then cuts the roll.

[ReMark]

Have you checked the HP website for drivers? The "feature" you describe (ink areas only), sounds more like "window". But you still have to specify a scale as opposed to "fit".

[gvlisnas]

Yes i have the latest drivers (not the special hp for autocad though-just the plain hp for designjet 500 for windows xp) and i never use fit to page. Just the scale i want.

I saw "Ink areas only" as an option in another pc that was connected with designjet 1100 i think

[ReMark]

If you are plotting to a specific scale then there should be no problem with line lengths. We have an HP DJ 500+ with add-on card and have not had a problem with line lengths. All I can do is recommend paying careful attention to ALL parameters. Jot them down on a piece of paper prior to printing. We've never had to calibrate our printer and it is 3 years old.

[gvlisnas]

I'm always plotting in scale. I use the "extents" feature of autocad. Is it better than window? Don't know what the problem is. It would either print perfectly, or with 1 cm loss in 100cm or 44 cm loss in 100cm. Driving me nuts!

[gvlisnas]

So my problem was solved...how?

I installed autocad 2007. Seems stupid but i had 2006 and i thought maybe trying making a pdf from dwg and then printing it and it printed perfectly. So i installed 2007 and it works like a charm.

Tried 2 different dwgs. Both of them having 1 cm off the correct dimensions in 2006 but no problems printing from autocad 2007.

[ReMark]

Interesting solution. Wish we had a clue as to why you had the problem in 2006. But, in the end, you now have what you wanted. Glad it worked out for you.