y existing Plotter has gone to the land of dead plotters (canon ipf700). Getting ready to but a new one any suggestion's, I have Softplan Ver.13
New Plotter
#2
Posted 30 January 2017 - 08:17 AM
A couple of years ago, I purchase a H-P T520 24" plotter and have been very happy with its performance. I prints quickly and accurately. I don't use the color very much, but it does print good color views. One of the features that I really like is the wireless connection. I was a little doubtful on how consistent it would be but it works great. No cables to run around the room and easy to set up.
Ron Mejeur
#3
Posted 30 January 2017 - 11:36 AM
It would be interesting to know what large scale printers people are using for Softplan. I have used an HP650C for years but it too is giving me trouble. I have tried the printing services but to be truthful I do not like to use them. I need the ability to print out large scale for client review and proofing. I only supply two large copies of the plan only when my client absolutely requires it. I give them everything on pdf (11x17 and 24x36) and let them get their own copies. I suggest (and some have taken me up on this) to my clients to purchase a printer that is capable of 11x17 as they are not too expensive these days. Any smaller that 11x17 and the printout is just too small to read. I find that the print services' is just not convenient. It costs about $3.75 per 24x36.
#4
Posted 30 January 2017 - 01:17 PM
I use an HP T120 I've been happy with. I use it hardwired but it has wireless capability as well. It's easy to use, works
pretty well and fairly inexpensive, I think around $1000 ( in Canada ). Uses 24" rolls but will print landscape on Arch D ( 24 x 36 ).
JimC
#5
Posted 30 January 2017 - 01:58 PM
We're using a OLD (probably about 16 years old) HP DESIGNJET 500 - 42" (C7770B) - It works really well, but I'm sure in the not too distant future it's going to fail big-time. Definitely not looking forward to that.
There are 10 types of people in this world ....... Those who understand binary, and those who don't.
Softplan user since version 5.5.2.5
www.homehardwarekingston.ca
#7
Posted 02 February 2017 - 02:27 PM
I use the HP T520. Great color plotter....at a reasonable cost and i prefer 24# paper. I use the USB and network connection rather then WiFi. Nothing says quality like a crisp new home plotted on thicker paper.
#8
Posted 04 February 2017 - 12:54 PM
Did some investigating in HP printers. I have never needed a 44" wide and think 36" is sufficient. I have printed 36x48 once and it was so big that you could not handle it, so I "try" to limit to 24x36 but on occasion printed slightly larger. I was looking at the HP T730 (a 36" printer) and it appears something that would ideal for me. Not too expensive. I looked some at used ones but you probably have to pay half the cost of the T730 for decent one and you have an old printer again. A new one is setup to run on Windows 10 and so should be good for drivers for quite some time.
Anyone have the HP T730?
#9 Guest_Rafaelmam_*
#11
Posted 24 April 2017 - 11:18 AM
I had an HP 450 plotter with roll feed did 24" x any size - b & w / color. so slooooooooooooooooow
was a chore and took a long time to print out the velums, drive to reproduction service
and than deliver to clients or have them pick them up.
gave the plotter to an architect friend of mine just after I paid $600 to fix something on it.
I now email pdfs to my reproduction service with instructions,
they than deliver any and all bound sets of drawings to whom and to where I say including me.
used to take hours to do the same, now it take minutes.
I didn't charge for these drawings when I did it.
now I have my clients set up a charge account at the reproduction company.
everyone is happy. especially me.
btw, I also have a 11" x 17" printer
- Ray Murphy likes this
randy
v10 to future 2016+
#12
Posted 24 April 2017 - 03:21 PM
Randy...do you feel you can check a plan properely with only an 11 x 17 print? Every time I think I've finished a great job...after I print it to 1/4 '' scale...I always find something that I didn't or couldn't notice on the computer (like line weights, overlapping info, etc). I use two 40'' 4K monitors and I still can't let a job go out without a paper print copy for a final check.
Like you...I rarely give actual prints to customers. I send them PDFs and or send the files to their repro shop of choice.
I guess what I'm saying is that I couldn't really do the job without a good plotter in the office. As I've mentioned before I use an HP t-790 44'' and it doesn't everyting I need.....
#14
Posted 25 April 2017 - 03:07 PM
Chris ... See post #5.
Have you tried using it with Photo Quality Paper ... If you have a really good photo that you are going to frame, the Designjet works magnificently with photo paper. Or at least ours does ...
There are 10 types of people in this world ....... Those who understand binary, and those who don't.
Softplan user since version 5.5.2.5
www.homehardwarekingston.ca
#15
Posted 25 April 2017 - 03:31 PM
I too have a HP DesignJet 500 42". Works great. I've only had to replace the carriage belt and the occasional print head. Also have a continuous ink system so I am not buying $$$ ink cartridges. Printed a photo on matte photo paper for my office a couple of weeks ago & it worked great.
#18
Posted 26 April 2017 - 12:38 PM
Yes, we too have had to replace the belt, but apart from that no major expenditure has been necessary.
We've put nearly 10 litres of ink through it too - Black: 6.966 - Cyan: 0.902 - Magenta: 1.199 and Yellow: 0.656
There are 10 types of people in this world ....... Those who understand binary, and those who don't.
Softplan user since version 5.5.2.5
www.homehardwarekingston.ca
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