HP DesignJet T920/T930 for AutoCAD: CAD Workgroup Plotting Guide
The HP DesignJet T920/T930 generation is still found in many CAD workgroups. For reliable AutoCAD output, concentrate on the installed driver, 36-inch-class media workflow, plot style and Page Setup rather than the age of the hardware alone.
Beginner takeaway: The key SEO/user need is legacy support: keep these plotters productive without carrying old broken PC3 assumptions forward.
Where this family fits in CAD plotting
T920/T930-generation plotters are mainly a legacy-workgroup topic today. Their value on CADPlotting.com is migration and consistency: keep a working device productive while replacing stale queues, drivers and PC3 mappings that may have survived several workstation upgrades.
- HP still provides support/specification information for the T920 family.
- The T920 class uses a six-ink technical-printing system and was designed for workgroup CAD/GIS output.
- Legacy hardware can remain useful when driver, firmware and network support are maintained.
What matters in AutoCAD
- A legacy plotter may have a PC3 that outlived the original driver; validate both together.
- If a new Windows release changes the printer driver, retest paper names and margins.
- Use one calibration sheet to compare lineweights after any driver migration.
Related CADPlotting guides: HP DesignJet CAD Printing Guide, PC3 Works on One Computer but Not Another, and PDF Lineweights Are Correct but Plotter Lineweights Are Wrong.
Beginner setup: create one reliable AutoCAD test Layout
Step 1 — Install the manufacturer driver first
Where: HP support site / operating-system printer settings
Do this: Install the driver intended for the exact device and operating system. Confirm the printer works outside AutoCAD before building a PC3.
Check: A test page or manufacturer utility can reach the device.
Step 2 — Open one AutoCAD Layout
Where: Layout tab > PAGESETUP > Modify
Do this: Select the system printer or approved PC3, then choose the real paper/roll size used for the test.
Check: The intended media is visible and the orientation matches the title block.
Step 3 — Keep the sheet at real paper size
Where: PAGESETUP > Plot Area / Plot Scale
Do this: For a prepared Layout, use the Layout workflow and keep the paper output at 1:1. Let viewport scale control the model view.
Check: Plot Preview shows the complete border without Fit to Paper.
Step 4 — Preview before hardcopy
Where: Ctrl+P > Preview
Do this: Inspect border edges, rotation, lineweights and raster content before sending a physical job.
Check: The Preview is correct before the plotter driver becomes part of the diagnosis.
Step 5 — Create a controlled PC3 only when useful
Where: PLOTTERMANAGER / Page Setup
Do this: Save a PC3 when you need repeatable device-specific settings that differ from the Windows/macOS printer defaults.
Check: The PC3 is named by device + media/office standard, not by a vague name such as ‘Plotter 1’.
Paper, rolls and printable area
Inspect the current driver media list rather than copying paper strings from a decade-old tutorial. Custom media may need to be recreated after driver changes.
Older drivers and newer OS print paths can expose slightly different printable areas or orientation behavior. Re-preview and remeasure after migration.
Driver and PC3 strategy
Reinstall or update from HP when driver problems appear. A PC3 is not a substitute for a compatible printer driver.
Common CAD plotting problems with this family
| Symptom | Most likely hardware/driver layer | First check |
|---|---|---|
| Old PC3 shows invalid printer | Device mapping | Update the PC3 to the current printer queue. |
| Paper names changed after Windows upgrade | New driver media list | Recreate/rename controlled Page Setups. |
| Lineweights changed after migration | Driver/plot-style interaction | Compare known PDF and hardcopy calibration sheet. |
| Network queue is slow/offline | Network/driver layer | Test the printer outside AutoCAD first. |
What not to automate or assume
- Do not preserve an obsolete driver only because an old PC3 references it.
- Do not edit every DWG when one workstation is the only machine producing wrong hardcopy.
- Do not assume old online screenshots match the current installed driver UI.
Practical example
After a workstation upgrade, an old T920 PC3 reports an invalid device even though the plotter is still online. Install the supported HP queue first, verify it outside AutoCAD, then recreate or remap the PC3 and recheck media names before opening production sheet sets.
Verification before a real issue set
- Run AutoCAD Plot Preview from the named Page Setup.
- Create one PDF and compare page dimensions and scale.
- Print that same PDF or one direct test plot on the intended media.
- Check the border on all four sides, one known dimension, lineweight hierarchy and orientation.
- Only then save the Page Setup/PC3 as the office standard for that device.
Official references
Frequently asked questions
Should I use the generic HP-GL/2 driver for this DesignJet?
For modern HP DesignJet devices, Autodesk’s guidance points users to the current HP system printer driver. Use generic HP-GL/2 only when you have a specific supported/emulation reason.
Do I need a PC3?
Not always. Use one when AutoCAD needs saved device-specific overrides or a controlled office configuration.
Why can the PDF be correct while the physical plot is wrong?
Because the PDF proves the AutoCAD/PDF stage; the physical driver, media source, margins and device still act afterward.
Explore more in CAD Printers & Plotters Guide.