Even the best-made printers have their off-days. When that happens, it usually takes just a tiny bit of troubleshooting to get them working again. Always remember not to panic! Most issues with plotter printers (and other printers, for that matter) are minor, so you can deal with them in a jiffy. Here are four common plotter printer issues that are easy to fix. In most cases, you should consult the machine’s manual first for information on maintenance. Otherwise, watch for the following glitches and take these steps to get things rolling again.
Paper Jams
We’ve all had a jam happen during a big print job, usually far along into the process. Things are running and printing just fine when, suddenly, the printer decides to put on the brakes. Most of the time, it’s a paper jam. A piece of paper, for whatever reason, gets stuck or tangled up inside. Take a breath, turn off the machine, and unplug it. Pop it open and look inside. Often, a piece of paper is stuck in the rollers. Pull out the stuck or torn bits of paper. Be gentle! Afterward, plug it back in and turn it on. It may continue to print. If not, run off a test sheet. Check to see that the paper or roll is properly in the feeder as well.
Shoddy Quality
Are your prints looking a little faded? Stop the process and check the ink levels. If they’re low, replace the cartridges. If they seem fine, check the control panel, then run a printhead cleaning cycle. The issue might have to do with the paper if the print quality is still bad. Make sure it’s the right stock and quality. A Canon plotter printer works best with Canon paper, for instance. Some printers and papers are incompatible and will produce smeared or faded prints. If the prints are still not up to standard, consider calling the company to send a technician to inspect, clean, and upgrade the printer.
Printer Not Responding
Nine times out of ten, if the printer doesn’t print, it’s not receiving your command to print. Ensure that you have all the cables connected and that the printer shows up on your network. If everything is in order, restart both your computer and printer. It may print after this, or you may need to send the print command again. If it still doesn’t print, your computer or printer’s software might need updating. Contact the manufacturer or your supplier for more information.
Wrinkles and Creases
Here’s the last of our four common plotter printer issues that are easy to fix. When prints are coming out crinkly, wrinkly, or otherwise misshapen, stop the presses! Turn off the printer. Open the machine and ensure there’s anything in the rollers or other parts that’s obstructing the printer or causing physical damage to the prints. Carefully remove any debris. Clean off the rollers if they look dirty. Inspect the paper for any damage. If the paper seems tacky or wet, remove and replace it. Restart it and see if that works.
