AutoCAD 2016 crashes plotting to Xerox 6204

[Anonymous]

Our company recently upgraded to windows 8.1 and AutoCAD 2016 and since then, every time I try to plot a drawing, AutoCAD crashes. What can be the causing this?

@Anonymous, 
john.vellek has edited your subject line for clarity: AutoCAD 2016 crashes trying to plot

[Jason.Piercey]

Hi John,

The problem with the PCL5 driver on Windows 10 is it does not have useful paper sizes. See attached image.

Where are the standard Architectural pages sizes?

[Jason.Piercey]

I just printed a 24x36 size sheet scaled to fit on 11x17 using the PCL5.  AutoCAD did NOT crash but that is moot if I can't have page sizes that match the document size.

[Jason.Piercey]

There are options in the system printer to create custom page sizes, but when I attempt to create a 24x36 (thinking custom sizes might actually show up in AutoCAD) I get the following error message.  See attached image.

However, If I ignore the errors and continue anyway the custom size does show up in AutoCAD.  So I ran a test print on 24x36.  24" ended up being 23 1/4".

Creating a custom paper size for each sheet size we use MIGHT be a solution, but certainly not a simple one as I'd have to oversize each sheet so it would hopefully get cut properly.  Trial and error time and time again.  Meh.

[john.vellek]

I will try to do this on a Win10 workstation tomorrow to see if I can offer any advice. Thank you for your patience

[Jason.Piercey]

I'll be out of the office tomorrow, so I won't be playing with this anymore until I have some free time next week (hopefully).

[Jason.Piercey]

BTW, using the system printer custom page size, then filtering sizes and adjusting margins via AutoCAD, then saving as a PC3 file the print preview looks perfect but the actual output in is incorrect.  The page size is cut at 23 1/4" vs 24" (using a 36" roll) and the typical 1 1/2" binding on the left side of the sheet isn't right.

I plot extents, with 'center the plot' checked.  The bounding box of my sheet border is exactly 24x36 with no objects outside that would create any issue with using extents.

Thanks for your efforts on this.

[john.vellek]

I have the Windows 7 -64 driver installed and it shows all the correct paper sizes - nothing custom. This might make a difference by the time AutoCAD starts building the PC3. Have you tried adjusting the origin (perhaps setting some negative values)?

Again, I will try it on Windows 10 and see what I can come up with.

[Jason.Piercey]

The driver I linked in post #16 also lists proper page sizes in AutoCAD on Windows 10, but crashes.

[john.vellek · Accepted solution]

Jason - Try this (it seems to work):

1. Enter the PLOTTERMANAGER command in AutoCAD.
2. Double-click Add-A-Plotter Wizard and then click Next.
3. Select "My Computer" and click Next.
4. Choose "Xerox" for the manufacturer and "6030 Wide Format" for the model. Click Next twice.
5. Select the port that your Xerox 6204 is connected to and then click Next.
6. Enter a name for the PC3 file and then click Next and then Finish.

Please hit the Accept as Solution button if my post fully solves your issue or answers your question.

[Jason.Piercey]

Will do when I get back into the office on Monday.

[Jason.Piercey]

John,

Tested your steps real quick with a 24x36 sheet and it came out perfect. Hopefully I'll have some more time to test other sheets sizes and generate all my required PC3 files.

I have to wonder if I can simply use that 6030 driver for the system printer and resolve the issue with Bluebeam crashing as well.

I'll test this some more today (I hope) and report back.

Thanks!

[john.vellek]

This is good news - Please update the thread so other users can benefit as well.

[Jason.Piercey]

Just another quick test:

1. Spcified the 6030 driver for the 6204 system printer.

2. Created a new PC3 file from the system printer via the plot dialog box

3. Printed a 24x36 sheet

4. AutoCAD crashed.

5. Sheet plotted fine.

Tested a PDF print via Bluebeam, it crashed as well.  So seems like there are still issues with using the system printer in general.  I'll try your steps again with other page sizes and see what the results are.

[john.vellek]

Hi Jason.Piercey

Just for clarification, that you installed the 6030 driver through AutoCAD and not through Windows? The drivers are different. 

The test would be to see if it shows up in the Windows Control Panel. If it does, then it is the incorrect driver.

Bluebeam might see it as that is "integrated" into the AutoCAD environment correct? Or, if it is stand alone I don't believe that it should see the printer driver.

Please hit the Accept as Solution button if my post fully solves your issue or answers your question.

[Jason.Piercey]

John,

That is correct.  I selected the 6030 driver via the Add A Plotter wizard from within AutoCAD.

Bluebeam is a stand alone application which uses the system printer (and crashes with the 6030 driver applied to the system printer).

[Jason.Piercey]

I've tested all of our page sizes and the only real issue remaining at the moment is the 30x42 sheet is cut about a 1/4" short using a 30" roll.

For what it is worth, I have never used the Add A Plotter Wizard to create PC3 files before today.  I've always created my PC3 files starting with a system printer via the plot dialog box.  Never had an issue doing it that way until Windows 10 and the 6204 device.

I'll work on the 30x42 length a little more and see if I can get that resolved. Maybe a margin setting will help take care of that.

Major improvement today using your steps.

[Jason.Piercey]

John,

Your steps certainly avoided the crashing issue. I still have a small issue with the 30x42 sheets not cutting properly but that 1/4" can be hidden in the binding if needed, so I don't think I'm going to worry about it for now.

Bluebeam crashing is still a major problem but that isn't an Autodesk issue.

Thanks for your help.

[john.vellek]

Hi @Jason.Piercey,

That is great news. I assume you have tried playing with negative plot offsets to correct the margin issue?

Please hit the Accept as Solution button if my post fully solves your issue or answers your question.

[Jason.Piercey]

I've conidered playing with the magin offsets but haven't done it yet.  I have a bunch of automated print/plot routines that I have used for years so I have to consider impact on that before making such a change.

[office]

John, doing this setup has fixed my issue with plotting and crashing on the 6204, but have just noticed that now my background masks are not plotting but wipeouts are still plotting correctly.  I changed my merge control within the plotter configuration editior and set it to lines merge, which corrected and fixed it.  Just wanted to let everyone know if they have this same issue, i know it seems to be the exact opposit of what you would typicaly do. Please advise if you have a better solution.