Plotter Recomendation

I have been using the T120 for about 6 months, and I think it produces fine plots. I use it as aa all-around printer/plotter, from letter size and 11x17 sheets to 24"x 36" plots, on both rolls of bond and mylar.
I can't vouch for the wireless and cloud printing capabilities, as I just hook the plotter directly to the computer.

I looked at the HP's for an engineer friend recently and recommended the t520 over the t120 for the same reasons you mention. The T520 also has the HP-GL/2, HP-RTL,& CALS G4 printer languages built in and prints almost twice as fast as the T120. Additionally, the t520 is capable of printing at 2400x1200 dpi vs 1200x1200 dpi for the T120.

I've not used either of these models, but they remind me of how HP sold the Designjet 500 & 800 models. The 500 had a low price point but came without a network card or the HPGL2 card(HPGL2 language & memory expansion). The 800 came fully loaded.

I ordered our 500 with the optional network card and quickly realized that I would be adding the HPGL2 card and memory when finances allowed. Without the HPGL2 card and memory expansion, the printer lacked the capability to print multiple copies of a drawing or to print with narrow margins. This made printing 10 copies of a two page drawing with half inch margins an all afternoon chore. Instead of plotting each page and selecting 10 copies in the plot dialog, each copy of each page had to plotted separately. Then Windows had to be monitored for time-out warnings from the print queue. Once the pages printed, we had to use a razor knife to cut the excess paper off each end to get the required half inch margin.

I've forgotten what the HPGL2 card and memory expansion cost in dollars, but I remember how much time and productivity I lost by not having it.

One quick thing about the new HP plotters, if you are doing a lot of 24" plots, a 24" plotter is going to baulk on you from time to time, I think it is because of built in "off sets". You have a 24" plotter and are doing a 24x36 plot and the plotter will pause and try to determine which way to turn the plot to fit.
We went with a 36" plotter because of this. The 24" plotter will eventually plot the 24x36 print but it seems that delay ALWAYS happens when you are in a rush to meet a deadline on a high volume plot job.

Jimmy, I've got a HP 110C Plus that has been in moth balls for a couple years. Kinda slow and noisy, but great plots. I bought it new circa 2008. It worked fine for my low print usage for several years, until I had to relocate and never had the space or chance to hook it up. May need new ink stuff cartridges? No stand, but does have the paper feed tray. I wouldn't recommend it for high output folks though, but the plots are crystal clear. I've always done 24 x 36 and 11 x 17. Max paper width is 24" so won't do 30" wide. ( Me, I think they should outlaw 30 x 42 plans...:-O )

If you think you may be interested, we can work out things to benefit us both. Call or email to grifsurv@yahoo.

At the decline of pen plotters I saw that my need for a machine that produced larger than ledger size prints was very low.

That led me to outsource larger than ledger size to a print shop.

I now print them to press quality pdf and email them to the print shop and they send a text message when they are ready.

😉

I use the nearby UPS store. Works great! I have clients pick up the prints at the store and even let them pay for them sometimes.

Thanks for all the replies.

I live about 45 minutes one way from the print shop, so using them for my regular plotting needs is not feasible.

Anything I do buy definitely has to be compatible with Windows 8. Right now I am having to save the drawing to my network and plot from my old XP machine.

Just want to make sure I read that correctly Stephen..The T520 has all those extras you purchased built -in.

I haven't used the T-120 or the T-520. However, based on the specs on HP's website, the T-520 comes with a stand ($250 option on the T-120), 4 times the memory (1GB), three extra print languages (HP-GL/2, HP-RTL,& CALS G4), prints nearly twice as fast (70D size sheets per hour vs. 40D size sheets per hour), and is capable of printing at a higher resolution (2400x1200dpi vs 1200x1200).

I don't know for certain that the T-120 would suffer the same inadequacies as my base model Designjet 500, but for the price difference I'd be giving the T-520 a hard look.

I have the HP T520 36" and I love it. The main downside is that it's fussy about the alignment of sheets. I finally just accepted the fact and exclusively plot from rolls.

Well. I have been using a HP 100 (bought it through John Burr) for many years. Well, she's dead. Thunderstorm.

Looks like I need another. HP Printers have been good, but now I'm worried.

I need at least D size.

What's your favorite?

Thanks.

Nate

I got tired of HP's B's with their chipped ink cartridges. Switched to a Canon 680. Half the price of an HP. Plots are great. Orienting the plots to maximize the use of plot?ÿ media has been a challenge, but no more screwing with HP and their chipped ink cartridges.

This may be just what we are seeing but we have a fairly new HP T930. It prints nice full size color plots but seems to jam quite a bit; you don't expect that in a new machine and we have had it serviced a bunch of times. Maybe we just got a bad one

We used to have all HP printers in the past and the older ones seem to run forever. We have an 11" x 17" laserjet that is probably 10 years old and works just fine. I shouldn't have said that!

The newer HP's seem to be built much cheaper and we go through them much quicker. Have started buying canon printers and copiers but have not tried a Canon plotter yet. I bought two HP Designjets (smaller ones) and they both failed within a year or so

I finally retired my HP-450C but didn't like the current crop of HP printers, so last week I got an Epson T3470.?ÿ I had a couple of driver issues at first, and I'm still trying to chase down an intermittent problem with masking entities (e.g. wipeouts or blocks with a color 255 hatch), but otherwise it's performing well so far.?ÿ The masking thing occurs with one drawing that I've tried, but not with others.?ÿ My workaround is to print from CAD to PDF, then to the printer, but I'd like to get it straightened out so I can go direct from CAD to the printer.

I am using a 24" HP T520. Other than replacing the print head after two years I haven't had any problems. I am pretty sure the print head was because I used some cheap refill ink cartridges off of Amazon. As far as printing D sized plats I have never had a problem.?ÿ

@hollandbriscoe

Why do you think using off-brand ink is likely to cause printhead problems?

I just bought a T120 about a month ago and so far it works great. I can do a D Size by rotating 90 degrees. It does not cost much either.

If you live close to a Staples you can get all your prints sent there amd just add extra $$ to your jobs for that service.

?ÿ

@big-al

I tried an off-brand cartridge in my T120 and it clogged it up. I had to run the cleaning process a few times to clear it up.

Replaced it with an HP cartridge and it's been fine ever since. The off-brand came from the same supplier where I purchase my Brother

cartridges. I've never had any trouble with off-brand in the Brother.

I've had a T120 for a couple of years. It has worked just fine but I don't print very often. I might average 2-3 prints every week or two.

I had a HP100 before the T120. The 100 lasted 10 years. I had to change the print head once.

?ÿ