I recently took delivery on a new HP Designjet T520 24in plotter. I am impressed with the quality plots, and I like the ability to print on single sheets from the paper tray.
The only issue I have experienced was today when I was trying to print multiple copies of a drawing for a client meeting tomorrow.
I am using Carlson 2008, and when I select 3 copies, I am only getting one copy. I realized after I resent the prints 3 times, that I can reprint multiple copies from the front keypad, but I would like to be able to print 3 copies directly from my CAD program.
One thing I have noticed, is that I can print fine, but when I open the HP Designjet Utility program, it says my plotter is unavailable. I am going to contact HP Support on Monday, but was figuring that someone here may have an answer.
I hope everyone had a safe and Happy Thanksgiving.
Take care, and stay safe.
Jimmy
Did you set up the driver for HPGL/2 or one of the PCL options? For AutoCAD the HPGL/2 should work best.
Slight hijack, but will the T520 print from a legacy hardware that I have some old dos software in?
Not sure. I know that it has both usb and wired network ports but I'm not sure how you'd connect it to legacy hardware or if there are suitable drivers.
I have been forcing some printers to print at best setting by creating a pdf of my drawings at the press quality setting.
That forces some printers into best print settings.
Sometimes the choice for paper source will limit the print quality.
Better paper, better print quality.
I have tried both the HPGL and the normal Windows printer. The manual indicates that possibly another program opens up when you plot to give you a preview. That program does not pop up.
I am thinking I don't have something installed correctly, or there is a setting I am missing.
The plotter itself is really nice, and prints great.
Thanks!
Jimmy,
First, are you using ICAD or ACAD as your graphics engine under Carlson 2008?
If ICAD:
From my understanding it is still using AutoCAD R14's print setup. Maybe a problem there with a T520? Your installed print driver may be "to new" if trying to utilize R14's scheme.
I would poke around your options in whatever CAD you have. Usually, type options > print settings tab. I would try to let CAD control the plot queue. Maybe CAD print setup is loading a generic Windows plot configuration and not CAD's?
I had trouble with a HP DesignJet 500 years ago. IE, wasn't showing proper paper sizes,linetypes and styles were wrong,etc. (even after setting .ctb and config files it correctly in CAD) Basically was reverting to Windows Default.
I had to go into the Windows Printer for my 500. Make any necessary setup changes and hit APPLY.
Then in CAD I was able to setup and save to a plot configuration file. May not answer why you ask for 3 but only get 1. Seems to me, and if I understand correclty, you are telling CAD to plot 3 but only 1 comes out? If so, Windows may be over riding the CAD plot settings.
Sorry, do not have ACAD available at the moment but could certainly help you troubleshoot if I had it. I have been a Microstation/Geopak geek for a while now but have ACAD and Carlson at home. I'll poke around tonight and see.
These are my thoughts.
Thanks,
Mark Driver