#Plot File Plotting Help
4 messages in this thread
We plot our plot files to a HP Draftpro and we couldn't get around
the inherent shift problem except by using a plot origin of 0.18,
0.78 in stead of the normal 0,0. We got that simply by plotting one
of our borders and measured the shift. Hope this helps and good luck.
Tim
There are two "problems" really. I prefer to call them
"misunderstandings".
When AutoCAD plots directly to the serial port it interrogates the plotter
for its "Hard Clip Limits". This is the physical size of the sheet MINUS
the border. The plotter measures each sheet that you load and returns the
maximum x and y motion of the pen. AutoCAD automatically locates the
origin for the plot in the lower left corner of these limits.
Misunderstanding #1: When you plot to a file, AutoCAD can not interrogate
the plotter and so cannot determine the origin. The default origin for
most HP plotters is in the very middle of the sheet. AutoCAD offsets the
origin based on the plot size; it takes it on faith that you have told it
the correct plot size.
AutoCAD has pre-programmed plot sizes with an ARBITRARY 1/2" border all
around. For example, a D-size sheet is physically 34" x 22" and when you
pick "D" at the AutoCAD plot size prompt, it enters 33" x 21" for you.
Misunderstanding #2: The plotter can't do that. It can't reach to within a
1/2" of the edge all around the paper. Check the plotter manual and you
will find that in some cases, over an inch is required for the border. At
the AutoCAD plot size prompt type in the width and height of the plot size
based on the capabilities of the plotter.
Here is a way to visualize the HP plot-to-file shift problem. Let's
pretend that you have a big fat E-size sheet in the plotter. You send a
small A-size plot. When AutoCAD is driving the serial port directly, it
places the plot in the lower left corner of the paper. When you send the
same plot to a FILE and then to the plotter, it lands right in the middle
of the sheet (see #1 above). Suppose you told AutoCAD that the plot was
C-size. A C-size plot would land right in the middle as well.
[More]
David:
Here's a simple way to handle what you're talking about…
Create a block with ticks at the corners of a full size sheet (say, 30×42).
Set the limits from 0,0 to the plotter's available plot area.
If you're using a drawing border, insert the border so that it will plot
correctly when plotting limits directly to the plotter, with all of the
appropriate space around the border (this takes some experimentation…).
Insert the block with ticks so that the sheet edges are the required
distance from the drawing border.
Use all of this as a standard, redefining the insertion points for the
drawing border and the ticks block with 0,0 as the insertion point (without
moving them…).
Plot Extents to a file or to an electrostatic/laser plotter.
Plot Limits directly to the plotter.
Set up limits and insert both the block with ticks and the drawing border
using the appropriate scale factor for each drawing.
C#
[Continued]
So you see that if you told AutoCAD the correct hard clip limits for an
E-size plot, it would fill the sheet and the origin would land at the
lower-leftmost corner (see #2 above).
If you plot to a file with most HP plotters, the bottom line to remember
is: tell AutoCAD the correct plot size (hard clip limits) for the piece of
paper in the plotter, and leave the origin at 0,0.