HP Print Skew Allowance and Solutions

NOTE: The maximum allowable print skew on the HP DeskJet printer series is plus or minus 0.006 inches per inch on 95 percent of all pages printed (vertical inches). From the top of the page to the bottom of the page, the print skew would be equal to .063 inches across. It is figured by 10.5 x .006 = .063.

ISSUE: When printing from the printer, the left margin is not consistent down the page (print skew).
SOLUTION: The inconsistent margins down the page is referred to as print skew. Print skewing can be caused by a number of factors, and these factors must be understood when dealing with print skew:
Paper out of Specifications
The print skew specification mentioned in the note above may be impacted by the squareness of the paper. The industry standard for paper squareness is plus or minus .003 inches. Test the paper squareness by printing on one side of the paper, flipping the paper over, then printing on the other side. If the print slopes down on one side and up on the other side, the squareness of the paper may be impacting the print skew.
Each printer is designed for a specific paper weight. For example, the correct specification for an HP DeskJet 500C printer is 60-90 g/m2 or 16-24 lb. Paper below or above these specifications may result in print skew.
Loading the Input Tray
Overloading the paper tray will cause the print to skew. The input tray is designed to hold approximately 100 sheets (1/2 inch stack) of 20 lb. paper. Make sure the paper is loaded squarely into the IN tray. If the paper is not square, take it out and square it by tapping the paper edge on a flat surface. Reload the paper with the right side of the paper aligned against the right wall of the printer.
Never load new sheets of paper on top of existing sheets. Remove any paper left in the paper tray and re-stack it with the new paper added. It may be necessary to bend or flex the stack of paper and then tap it to remove any static electricity. Maintain a stack of paper in the IN tray. The printer is more likely to experience print skew on the last few pages in the IN tray.
Paper Rollers are Dirty
Use a damp cloth (water only) to wipe the paper rollers clean. Over a period of time, the rollers can become corroded with paper dust. The dust prevents the rollers from maintaining a firm hold on the paper as it feeds through the paper path.