Solidworks routinely crashes when trying to print drawings. Happens throughout our office. Is this a known problem? Has this problem been fixed in any later versions? Considering installing new version but we are currently under a time crunch to finish a project and don't want to create any new problems.
Thanks
All our printers are network printers and this is the only one located on our floor. It is complete crash. As a result we are getting much better at always saving before printing which I know is a good practice, but it is really frustrating when you forget.
Have you tried to create a blank sheet from SW and send out to the printer to see if crashing still occurs?
if yes, can you post it here we others can try?
If you try to print other (non Solidworks) documents from your same workstation(s) do you see the same problem or is it just with SolidWorks?
Just from one workstation or all stations?
How are you outputting the print operations - screen print, drawing print, part or assembly print...?
If you do a "Print to PDF" from your station does it create a PDF properly?
If yes, does that print properly?
Hello,
How about saving as a PDF instead, then printing from there (when needed)?
Do other applications have trouble printing to this device?
Cheers,
Kevin
Clayton Bieber wrote:
Solidworks routinely crashes when trying to print drawings. Happens throughout our office. Is this a known problem? Has this problem been fixed in any later versions? Considering installing new version but we are currently under a time crunch to finish a project and don't want to create any new problems.
Thanks
In short "no". This is not a known issue as far as I know. The others have given you advice regarding work arounds to get it moving along. I would check the print log files on each computer networked to the printer to verify there isn't a looped file lagging the whole system.
Only a problem with solidworks. PDF and other programs work fine. It routinely crashes but not every time. Using the same drawing file sometimes it works sometimes is doesn't, so I don't think I can upload an example file. We use the print option form the tool bar or Ctrl P shortcut to print drawing files from solidworks . It happens on all 5 over our workstations.
Thanks everyone.
So it sounds like it is only printing a "Drawing" file and on all 5 stations.
Does it happen with different drawing files?
Do a Print to PDF and then print to the printer - does that work?
It could be that the size of the drawing or other parameter is exceeding the printer capabilities and crashing it.
Have you correctly setup you printer settings in Windows for that printer and then correctly selecting that printer in SolidWorks print dialog?
Try a different print scale.
Just have to ask are you sure you are pointed at the correct Printer.. Also in Window is that printer set as the Default Printer.
I have had mine crash when one printer was selected, for some reason that printer only worked when one workstation was active. When this guy went home and shut down. If I forgot to change it, it would freeze up if I selected it.
That is a good point.
If that printer is connected to one station and not to an always on server or station, then it would require the signals to pass through the station it is connected to.
If that station is logged off or shut down the print file would go into limbo.
the printer is always connected to the server and is not connected directly to any one work station. This setup worked fine for years with previous solidworks versions. I don't think that it is a printer setup or capabilities problems as I can try to print and have it crash solidworks. Restart solidworks and try the same file again and have it work.
We are having the exact same issue with all three of our workstations (Solidworks 2017 SP3). All three are joined to network printers and they randomly crash when printing solidworks drawings. The file size does not seem to make a difference. It does seem to happen less right after opening solidworks, and more often after solidworks has been running for a few hours. We have upgraded the printer drivers and also tried different printer drivers (PS, PCL5, PCL6) with no change. We also recently upgraded to Solidworks 2017 SP5 with no change. Our printers are older... OKI data MC860. My next thought is to try another printer. Any other ideas?
I can get SW to crash if I do a file, print, from the 3d model to the color printer,
the B&W printer is fine. I can print from any program to any printer, just not the 3Dmodel and color printer.
Frank
Update: We have upgraded to SW 2018 SP3. Solidworks still randomly crashes when printing drawings. Maybe 30% to 40% of the time. Jeff were you able to resolve your printing problems? This is very frustrating problem.
Do you other printer in your office so you can try?
EDIT: by the way, is it really a "crash" or just "freeze" ?