I have used HP plotters since the HP7585B and my latest plotter to fizzle out was an HP Designjet T1200 44" color plotter. Now I need another one. Am not convinced that HP's quality is as good as it was. Suggestions?
We bought a Canon IPF825 (with scanner) about a year and a half ago and have had no complaints at all. It has a fast print speed and large (700ml) ink carts that last quite awhile.
I have a HP Z5200 42" plotter. It is a year old. The maintenance is too high.
It has wheels but forget about moving it around. The ink is costly; I buy ink
from Supplies Inc -- good source if you like generic sources.
Saying 'with scanner' is like saying with popcorn machine.
That Canon plotter does not need the scanner and the scanner
does not need the plotter. Both need a computer connection.
Canon has some positive experiences in the color market with
printers and plotters. i have seen it run and it is impressive.
Hooking up the scanner on top of the plotter add a measure of
non-portability.
You may find 20 Canon plotter dealers that sell that plotter
but you probably have to go to Lincoln, NE or Denver, CO
to see a floor demo. Maybe your experience has been better.
o.O
Try the HP28500 latex plotter. The big graphic shops have them.
Making big maps is for people wanting to make big bucks.
We have one of those with scanner. Scanner is completely separate. Biggest complaint I have is the cheapo cloth hammock you fold out to catch the plots. You'd think on a $10,000 piece of equipment there would be a better system than that. The software takes some getting used to also. It does make nice plots and copies. Handy to be able to scan in plan sheets and turn them into PDF or jpeg files. Those big ink cartridges are nice, but they are about $165 apiece. Picked up 4 new ones not long ago and with tax was $700.
I have decided that printing anything larger than ledger size should be done by professionals.
I send it out to a print shop by email and wait for the call to pick it up.
0.02
But with a good quality plotter by HP, printing 24"x36" plots or 30"x42" plots is SIMPLE. I run plots up to 63"x72" all the time with no problems. Pay somebody else to do it? Have to wait on them to get it back? [sarcasm]That ain't the way Mama raised me!![/sarcasm]
Equipment is always a budget issue. I don't have the need for a large format printer that often so I send them out of house.
The first blue line machine I used was so large it would not fit in the back of a pickup and took a forklift to put into place. It would rip your arm off if you were not careful.
The best print I ever saw was from a $14k printer and that was over 20yrs ago.
I have noticed that the newer printers do very good but not as good as a $400 Epson I had 10yrs ago. They don't match the fine linework and crisp corners on the lettering.
That unit still would be operational if I could find replacement plastic print heads.
Sit down and do the numbers and see what it actually costs to get a final copy that you sign and seal and send out and how often you do that.
Yes, the new equipment is very user friendly.
0.02
R. K. McSwain says:
http://www.cadalyst.com/hardware/wide-format-printers-plotters/epson-surecolor-t5000-16196?page_id=2
I questioned a convention salesman about mylar and he seemed to hesitate.
The Epson plotter is so fast that I did not believe the demo. I gave him a CD of
a map and it plotted that faster.
I do not know much about Epson's dealer and support network.
> I have used HP plotters since the HP7585B and my latest plotter to fizzle out was an HP Designjet T1200 44" color plotter. Now I need another one. Am not convinced that HP's quality is as good as it was. Suggestions?
How goes the search?
Just received a new Epson Sure Color T7000. Will be trying out today.
THANKS ALL, for the comments.
Will report on it as I get to using it. Has a new ink technology.
> I have used HP plotters since the HP7585B and my latest plotter to fizzle out was an HP Designjet T1200 44" color plotter. Now I need another one. Am not convinced that HP's quality is as good as it was. Suggestions?
I gather that your operation is a little bigger than some. Have you considered a large format multifunction machine like this . Something of an investment but you may save enough on ink to make up the difference in monthly payments, throughput eliminates cues at the plotter, large format scanning and copying.