Streaks on photo plots toward the end of a plot
Streaks can come from several sources. Since you said they appear near the end of a plot, the print heads may be running out of ink before the end of the job. This would happen if you had air in the ink tube system and consequently in the heads. When the printer is idle for a while, ink will migrate to the bottom of the print head so when you print again it is ok for the first part of the plot and then gets to the air bubble.
Open the back door of the plotter and look for air bubbles in the ink supply lines. If air is present, it needs to come out. There is a purging tool at Designjet Ink Tube Priming Tool . The print heads may need to be replaced, but not before the tube system is clean.
SOURCE: 1050C plotter
Here is the drivers page if you need a new set:
http://h20000.www2.hp.com/bizsupport/TechSupport/DriverDownload.jsp?prodNameId=33712&locale=en_US&taskId=135&prodTypeId=18972&prodSeriesId=24023
SOURCE: Incomplete plot from .pdf file - Hp DesignJet 1050C Plus
Was the plot originally done on a size D or E plotter.. A .pdf is generally not a good way to send a plot that has to be done to scale.. Can they re-send the plot in a hpgl format, or a format that you can use in another program, liks ACAD, and then print it through that program? This would provide you with some control, that a pdf document will not allow.
This is just a stab in the dark for me, but I am familiar with plotters in general, just not the many formats to print from..
SOURCE: Incomplete Plot of PDF file
This is a common problem on the 500 range, not so common on the 1050. A quick way around the problem (using the parallel port only) is to load the HP Designjet 750c drivers. Send the drawing to the 750 using memory in computer option and it WILL print.
SOURCE: HP DesignJet 1050c InkJet plotting issue
Friends,
You doesn't say what application and OS versions you have, or if the printer is shared from a server or connected locally to a workstation. This is signifcant to solve the problem. Please clarify.
To make this work properly, all machines should have the HPGL driver and all drivers should have both the "Autorotate" "Inked Area" boxes ticked - both under General > Printing Preferences > Advanced AND under Advanced > Printing Defaults > Advanced.
Then you should create a paper size that is as wide as the media is wide, and longer than the longest/widest paper size you're ever going to print (6-10 feet long is OK!) - BOTH under Printing Preferences AND under Printing Defaults. This will ensure that every "odd" paper size (within media width limits) is printed without problems.
If the printer is installed on a server and shared, these settings should be done on the server - and the driver should be reinstalled on the workstations. If not, these chanvges should be done on each workstation that has access to the printer over the network.
When using older versions of AutoCAD you might have to reinstall the printer there as well for the changes to take effect.
Note: This solution has worked successfully over several years while working at HP support. The suggestion about the looong paper size may sound strange but it works!
//Al
SOURCE: HP DesignJet 1050C stops printing - no error message
check all connectors on main pca. check trailing cables on carriage assembly. main pca may be bad.
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Are your ink cartridges full, half full or near empty? Run a cleaning cycle. Please let me know if your printheads are near end of life.
The instance occurs toward the end of a plot (2/3 complete) and it is on an Arch D size plot of an aerial photo contact. These plots do use a considerable amount of ink. However, the plotter in question has just recently been overhauled with new belts, tubes along with new printer heads.
Without an image of the problem it's kinda tough to diagnose. Here are some thoughts: If there is air in the ink tubes, it gets into a print heads eventually. If air is in the print head it may run out of ink before the end of the plot. (There is a float valve in the print head to allow pressurized ink in when it gets low. Air in the print head interferes with that.) Check for air in the ink tubes and maybe replace the problem print head.
If you plot with less than 36" width media and/or the media is heavy, the curl in the media may be overcoming the vacuum and lifting from the print area and touching the bottom of the print heads causing the smear. Taping over unused vacuum holes will increase the vacuum if that is the case.
Can you post an image?
Bob Wert
LPS Computer
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