HP Designjet 500 cuts paper different size specified

I am using an HP Designjet 500 42" with Autocad 2009. I usually plot sheets 24" x 36" using 36 in. rolls. Lately the plotter has been cutting the paper at 25" instead of the 24" specified. I am using the same configuration that I always use and didn't have that problem before.

Something had to change. Maybe the drawing got shifted somehow without you noticing it. Did you bother to check?

I checked, everything is the same. Even the print preview shows the paper at the right size with the correct margins, but after it prints it adds an extra inch to the paper. This is just an inconvenience because I have to manually cut that extra inch.

Does this happen to every drawing that it prints?

Did you check for an unknown object outside of your border?

When did the problem first occur?

Did you update or reload drivers recently?

Do you print Display, Extents, Window or Limits normally?

Not sure exactly which DJ 500 driver version you're using, but try to find the following setting:

Go to the HP DesignJet 500 Properties and then go to the General Tab. Click the "Printing Preferences" button. In the window that comes up look for a check box for small margins. Make sure this is selected.

I had a similar problem to yours once and found this to be the culprit.

I think I solved it following architecture68-raff's advice.

thanks.

Thank you for updating us and glad to hear his advice lead you to a solution.