HP 350C plotter skips when plotting some files

I'm having a hard time getting some drawings out. There are two layouts
(out of 6) that will not plot correctly. The plots start normally then some
of the drawing is missing and what is there seems to have offset or skipped
by about 1/4" to 1/2". Not all of the lines/text move when this happens.
It makes for a real mess of a drawing.

I tried searching for this problem since I doubt it is new. I found to
reset the plotter to spool the plot and wait for the last page before
starting. No improvement there. I had already tried to not spool in the
computer, but feed it to the plotter one line at a time - no improvement.
Is there a driver, bug fix, work around, etc?

Just for reference, I'm running Windows 2000 and AutoCAD 2004. The HP 350c
is connected through a network print server to the plotter parallel port. I
have been reducing the graphics to see if the drawing is too complex to
plot. No improvement so far. The draing I'm testing this on is now down to
text in tables. No blocks, no view ports, limited data to be plotted.

 

I'm answering some of my own questions here. There was an XREF left in the
drawing. When I removed the XREF, it plotted correctly. That same XREF is
in the four sheets that plotted correctly the first time.

I went back to the version of the drawing file before I started deleting
geometry to find the problem. I can hear the problem occuring - the plotter
runs for about a minute, then pauses, then the shifted and missing geometry
starts appearing out of the plotter. However, there is some geometry
missing from the area of the sheet that was printed before the plotter
paused.

I will keep experimenting and searching for information on the web.

 

This might seem odd but try cleaning the cartridge head with rubbing alcohol and lubricate the cartridge carriage shaft. I experienced the same problem with an HP 250C and this solved it. The ''sliptoon'' assembly might need to be replaced, it is where the cartridge carriage stop to clean the cartridge heads at the opposite end (opposite to the start position) of your printer. It might be full of ink and doesn't clean properly the heads.

Hope this will help

 

Sometimes I cut my 350-c plotter off a few minutes, then restart it, if it
has been used a lot. That actually helps sometimes. Cleaning the cartridge
AND carriage was good advice.Your problem sounds mechanical, remember that
machine is close to 10 years old by now.

alcohol and lubricate the cartridge carriage shaft. I experienced the same
problem with an HP 250C and this solved it. The ''sliptoon'' assembly might
need to be replaced, it is where the cartridge carriage stop to clean the
cartridge heads at the opposite end (opposite to the start position) of your
printer. It might be full of ink and doesn't clean properly the heads.