Large Format Printer Recommendations

[TheScullster]

Hi all

We are trying to encourage one of our sub-contract fabricators to buy a
printer/plotter so that we can send A1 tiff image files and they can plot
them out.

They are not a large outfit and won't want to spend the sort of money we
have on a multi-function scan, copy, print system.
All they will need is an A1 device, monochrome only (if such a thing still
exists) with a reasonable print speed.

Anyone got any recommendations for a suitable device please?

TIA

Phil

 

[Fred McKenzie]

We are trying to encourage one of our sub-contract fabricators to buy a
printer/plotter so that we can send A1 tiff image files and they can plot
them out.

Phil -

I don't how large an A1 print is, but assume it might be comparable to
what I know as a "D size" print. You may want to reconsider sending the
TIFF image. Such an image can be printed to fill the page of whatever
size paper a printer happens to have loaded.

Based on my experience, ANY blemish in the sub-contractor's prints that
can be blamed for subsequent errors or misunderstandings, will be your
fault. You may appear to save money and time using your proposed
process, but would end up paying for any required rework.

The way the system could work, would be if you required them to have the
plotting capability before the sub-contract was awarded, and if you used
industry standard plotting programs and file formats. NOT TIFF. You
say they are too small to afford that? Then give them the copies they
need, already plotted.

Fred

 

[TheScullster]

I don't how large an A1 print is, but assume it might be comparable to
what I know as a "D size" print.

Approx 33.1" x 23.4"

You may want to reconsider sending the
TIFF image. Such an image can be printed to fill the page of whatever
size paper a printer happens to have loaded.

Tiff is the industry standard file format for scanned drawings in the UK
(rightly or wrongly).

Based on my experience, ANY blemish in the sub-contractor's prints that
can be blamed for subsequent errors or misunderstandings, will be your
fault. You may appear to save money and time using your proposed
process, but would end up paying for any required rework.

The contractor in question is reasonably flexible when it comes to minor
re-works.

The way the system could work, would be if you required them to have the
plotting capability before the sub-contract was awarded, and if you used
industry standard plotting programs and file formats. NOT TIFF. You
say they are too small to afford that? Then give them the copies they
need, already plotted.

We currently deliver hard copy to this particular fabricator, but he is in
the minority.
Our company is based in the UK but, due to market pressure, we are
out-sourcing much of our fabrication works overseas.
These vendors cope quite reliably with Tiff format drawings and have the
capacity to print them.
However the overseas vendors tend to be larger scale operations and
therefore embrace the new technology required to do business in this way.

One thing that has prompted this investigation is a number of recent postal
strikes by the country's major service The Royal Mail.
This disruption is hitting businesses across the country, particularly mail
order companies.

Phil

 

[Ed Ruf]

Hi all

We are trying to encourage one of our sub-contract fabricators to buy a
printer/plotter so that we can send A1 tiff image files and they can plot
them out.

They are not a large outfit and won't want to spend the sort of money we
have on a multi-function scan, copy, print system.
All they will need is an A1 device, monochrome only (if such a thing still
exists) with a reasonable print speed.

Anyone got any recommendations for a suitable device please?

An inexpensive alternate approach is to use an appropriate application
to tile the print over multiple pages of whatever current printer(s)
are used. Qimage will do this on a Windoze box.

 

[TheScullster]

An inexpensive alternate approach is to use an appropriate application
to tile the print over multiple pages of whatever current printer(s)
are used. Qimage will do this on a Windoze box.

Thanks Ed

Hadn't considered that.
Whilst I think that approach would work for the odd print or two, we maybe
send 50 A1s in a batch.
Suspect that the multiple page method would result in a full time job for
someone!

Phil

 

[RCC]

Thanks Ed

Hadn't considered that.
Whilst I think that approach would work for the odd print or two, we maybe
send 50 A1s in a batch.
Suspect that the multiple page method would result in a full time job for
someone!

Phil

Lots of printers will do 'poster' layout over 4, 9 or 16 sheets, my
ancient Epson certainly does without any extra software, but its all a
bit "approximate".

It all depends on what the image is really for. If it is a general
layout drawing fine, but if it is used for taking or checking dimensions
you have to be very sure that (for instance) 1 mm transmitted prints out
as 1 mm and a straight line is really straight. I don't think many low
cost printers are accurate in that respect.

Does your fabricator have a nearby print shop that could do the job - at
least that gets over the postal strike problems: you e-mail the files,
they put them on USB and go round to the local store.

 

[TheScullster]

It all depends on what the image is really for. If it is a general layout
drawing fine, but if it is used for taking or checking dimensions you have
to be very sure that (for instance) 1 mm transmitted prints out as 1 mm
and a straight line is really straight. I don't think many low cost
printers are accurate in that respect.

No there would be no "scaling from prints".
I thought that was no longer practiced.

Does your fabricator have a nearby print shop that could do the job - at
least that gets over the postal strike problems: you e-mail the files,
they put them on USB and go round to the local store.
--

I have considered that, but the intention is that we use the postal stikes
as an excuse to shift the print operation to the fabricator.
If we take that route I guess the fabricator will simply increase his price
to cover the cost of outsourced printing.

Phil

 

[RCC]

No there would be no "scaling from prints".
I thought that was no longer practiced.

Sorry, I'm getting on a bit! Long time since I have been in a workshop
- but people sometimes did things they were not supposed to as
'workarounds'.

I have considered that, but the intention is that we use the postal stikes
as an excuse to shift the print operation to the fabricator.
If we take that route I guess the fabricator will simply increase his price
to cover the cost of outsourced printing.

Phil

Quite understandable - as an Industrial relations specialist I should
have known that the reason stated was not the real reason!

 

[Andrew Haley]

Hi all

We are trying to encourage one of our sub-contract fabricators to buy a
printer/plotter so that we can send A1 tiff image files and they can plot
them out.

They are not a large outfit and won't want to spend the sort of money we
have on a multi-function scan, copy, print system.

Lots of printers can do this. The Epson 7400 might be a good choice.
Canon and HP also have suitable models.

Andrew.

 

[Wilfried Hennings]

We are trying to encourage one of our sub-contract fabricators to buy a
printer/plotter so that we can send A1 tiff image files and they can plot
them out.

They are not a large outfit and won't want to spend the sort of money we
have on a multi-function scan, copy, print system.
All they will need is an A1 device, monochrome only (if such a thing still
exists) with a reasonable print speed.

Anyone got any recommendations for a suitable device please?

E.g. HP DesignJet Series (however all are color inkjets):
T1100 A1 for about 4000 EUR
T610 A1 for about 3000 EUR
T110+ A1 for about 1500 EUR

You should also look which paper can be used; from a rough look it seems
to me that all need coated paper, glossy paper or CAD media.

 

[TheScullster]

E.g. HP DesignJet Series (however all are color inkjets):
T1100 A1 for about 4000 EUR
T610 A1 for about 3000 EUR
T110+ A1 for about 1500 EUR

You should also look which paper can be used; from a rough look it seems
to me that all need coated paper, glossy paper or CAD media.

Thanks Wilfried and Andrew

I will have a look at your suggestions on Monday

Phil