Designjet 1055cm plus - Need Help Please

[bpearman]

I just purchased a HP Designjet 1055cm plus and I can't get it to do anything from my laptop. I'm using a 9-pin serial cord to a usb adapter. Com11 post pops up when I plug the usb in. I added a new printer in control panel. I found 2 choices for that printer. "HP DesignJet 1055CM PS3" and "HP DesignJet 1055CM by HP". I've tried both. I'm not sure which one is the right one. The printer does nothing when I try to print to it.

What am I missing here?

[davidzuts]

First off I can not remember if the 1050c has a serial port and even if it does you do not want to use it.  You have 2 methods to connect the plotter.  First is a parallel port located at the back of the printer and you will probably need to purchase a usb to parallel adapter.  The second method would be using a network card which the printer may or may not have.  In fact the serial port you are plugging into is probably not a serial port but an older jet direct card with an old apple talk port which i think looked like a serial port.  If you have a network card report back with the model number of the card which will be 600N or something else.  At the printer you should be able to go to the setup menu and then utilities and then test prints and print the config page which will tell you what network card you have.  With a network card you will want to connect to a network and not directly to the computer since you would need a special crossover cable and the knowledge and ability to setup the printer's card and the port on the computer to be able to use it and I never recommend using the direct connection method.

[bpearman]

On the back of the printer it has the following:

- HP Jetdirect 600N

- 1 Parallel connector; 1 Serial connector

[davidzuts]

I am sorry but I do not remember a serial port and looking at the service manual the main pca does not show a serial port. Even if you have a serial port, trying to use a serial to usb will be very difficult since serial connections need to have a baud, parity and other settings to operate correctly.  Now the 600N card came in many different models so knowing the exact model will help more.  As long as it is not a token ring card, then you should be able to use it.  I would suggest running a rj45 cable from the network card to a switch or router if you have one.  Then I would go to the setup menu on the plotter and look for the network item and go into it and reset the network so the next time you turn on the plotter it finds an ip address that your network uses.  You will be able to find that ip address on the service plot you can print from the utilities menu of the plotter or even from the screen of the control panel when in the right menu.  You would then use that ip address to attach the printer to your network and computer.  Hope some of this helps.

[davidzuts]

I just found the port you are looking at.  It is not a usable serial port and was used for manufacturing purposes only.  See the attached.

[bpearman]

HP JetDirect - J3113A

[bpearman]

Spoiler

Ok. If I used the 25-pin parallel to a usb adapter straight to the laptop, would that work?

[davidzuts]

You will need to use a centronics parallel to usb adapter that is certified to work with your operating system.  The link below is one that is known to work.

https://sewelldirect.com/usbtoparallel

You can also use the jet direct card you already have if you have a network router or switch you can connect it to.

[bpearman]

That was the problem! Thank you very much for helping me! I purchased a centronics parallel to usb cabel and it now works. I ahad no idea the serial port wasn't to be used to print with. Now the problem I have is trying to figure out the print settings. I have a 36" roll of regular paper installed and in the printer settings I can enter the following:

Paper type: Natural Tracing Paper

Paper source: Roll

Roll size: 36 inch roll

Application page size: ????? (many different page sizes but paper sizes goes up to 36"x108". not sure what to enter here)

With the above settings it doesn't print the right scale. Any ideas?

[davidzuts]

First you want to change the paper type to plain paper at the printer on the control panel.  All other settings you need to do within the driver.  There should be a place where you can say the paper is 36" roll usually choosing ANSI E as the setting for the paper.  Size within the software program you are using has to match the size of the paper in the driver and on the printer.