Just wondering on what others are using for making prints of plats or multiple prints?
We have for years been plotting our final plat on mylar and making diazo prints with a machine using ammonia. Trouble is now we cant seem to get any more ammonia so we have to change our system to something more modern.
We are in Canada, hard to find ammonia around here now. So what are you guys using for a printerplottercopier? Brands and types would be much appreciated.
We use the HP 2300 Plotter. Can print in color, and scans, not to bad on the budget either. We use recycle paper and print alot in gray scale to save on paper and ink cost. We use the nice bright white paper and photo ink for copies clients get. It can print on Mylar as well.
http://www.hp.com/hpinfo/newsroom/press_kits/2010/InnovationSummit/Designjet_T2300_Datasheet.pdf
Used HP. Designjet 500. More to ship to me than the cost of the plotter.
Use it for check plots, mostly (but it does a great job on finals).
Do final plots to 'pdf' from autocad and carry my thumb-drive to the copy shop.
They run a sheet. I stamp/ sign. They scan and repro however many I need.
I get the final scan back on my thumb-drive (signed and sealed version) to keep for future reference.
I have run finals with the 500 and sealed before taking it to the copy shop to finish the process. It takes a long time, depending on the number of sheets, and the results are better only by a small margin.
I don't miss the "diazo" machine I learned on.
1. Print out what you need on your plotter. A bit expensive on the old ink jet, but convenient.
2. Kinkos. Or the Canadian equivilant.
3. If you live in a moderately or larger sized town there is likely a printer service that will make up your copies, pickup and delivery.
4. Invest in an electrostatic large format multifunction machine such as the Kip3000. An investment, to be sure. But perhaps not as dear as you might think. Save a ton on the per copy cost.
I haven't made a diazo print in 16 or 17 years, maybe more. In that time I've worked in 5 different offices in 2 states. That ammonia was pretty potent stuff.
The UPS store.
11x17 for all work copies. Archival copies get printed at 22x34 on mylar, then scanned.
Have not done any "plotting" since about 1999.
Short answer: Paper plots for almost everything. When things were booming I used two HP430 plotters to make paper plots to send out. Last year I gave the 24" roll plotter away, and don't use the 36" roll plotter that much. Almost everything now is via pdf. So much easier, cheaper, and way faster.
I use a HP T7100 and run individual prints of the job. link We have changed most of our pen colors in AutoCAD to blue to mimic a blue line print. Over the years of running color prints on the HP plotter we have started to rely more on the color prints and use it to highlight certain features like shading road grey or trees and vegetation green. Sample Drawing Before we run prints we will send out a proof or a preliminary to for the client to review. We have saved a lot of money doing this especially on ALTA’s and site plans.
My old diazo machine went to the dump a few months ago.Before it did I did write one last check for ammonia to these folks:
As to printers, I've had an HP500 Designjet since '06 & it's held up well.
We have an OCE machine. I'm not sure how to describe it but its both the plotter and copy machine, kind of like a giant Xerox machine, it does prints up to 36" wide. We lease the machine. Ours only prints black and white, but will scan in black and white and color.
Oce 340
> Short answer: Paper plots for almost everything. When things were booming I used two HP430 plotters to make paper plots to send out. Last year I gave the 24" roll plotter away, and don't use the 36" roll plotter that much. Almost everything now is via pdf. So much easier, cheaper, and way faster.
Bruce,
Do you sign the PDF electronically?
Andy
