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Is there a printer I can buy new or used,where I can print large readable schematics on a large paper? My laser printer at school in my office is the same as my laser jet printer at home in that it only prints 8.5 by 11.
I need something that will print about 3 times that and on one piece of paper like they do for me in the library at school. I don't need color but I want a laser jet like my HP is.
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Sounds like size wise, you're looking for 24"x36" (D size plot (which is actually 22x34) )
Pen plotters can be found cheaply (just a few hundred) and many of them are quite reliable compared to inkjet types...
Here's a video example (though, it doesn't give you a good example of the actual plot...)
I printed out quite a few thousand D size sheets of architectural blueprints back in the day... Our large scale plotters never had many issues (other than the inkjets running out of ink mid-plot & having to start over), but the large format copier was an absolute BEAR to keep running reliably & loved to vomit toner all inside & outside of the unit.
David
Where would you get ink cartridges or are they refillable?
"For every complex problem there is an answer that is clear, simple, and wrong" H. L. Mencken
Must say? I always liked the output of the pen plotter over the inkjet - just seemed much more crisp!
You can buy a plotter (fairly costly), or find a local blueprinting shop. We used to have a plotter, but don't use it enough to justify replacement when it passed on. Now for around $5 per large print we go to "Brenda's Blueprinting", there'll be a Brenda somewhere near you.
Some of the 11x17 printers will also handle 'roll' paper.
So you could print 11x ?? out to maybe 30 inches or so.
Too much is never enough
for large format printer
I see a lot of them locally for sale - mostly from HP and Canon. Probably the only way you'll find one that you can afford. Before buying, look into the cost of paper and consumable first, though. They won't be cheap. And if the model is older, whether or not software/drivers are available for today's operating systems.
A friend of mine gave me an Epson and it prints plenty big.It has color ink as well but I really only wanted one with black ink.Thanks everyone.
"For every complex problem there is an answer that is clear, simple, and wrong" H. L. Mencken
for reproducing art work. After my wife finished the course, we had no need for 11x17 printing, so gave it to thrift store. Since then, photo image printing has improved so much, so we really needed a new printer.
if you know any land surveyors I think they might have just what you're looking for. I would agree that they take up quite a bit of space to have around the house. I have a brother who is a surveyor and has had plotters for years and his latest ones have some serious detail capability. He has printed out a half dozen pictures we've taken as large prints for framing for us. One of them is about 24x30 and it is as good or better than prints we've had done at photo businesses.
As FenderLover suggested, you might try FedEx Office. Present them with a file (on a USB thumb drive or DVD) and they can plot it for you. You might want to double check on the equipment as not all locations will have large print / plot capability.Yes, it might be costly but less expensive than owning your own plotter unless you use it often.
I use FedEx Office to print multiple multi-page datasheets, in color, double sided, collated, and stapled. I have an account with them through work. I just upload my files, specify the services that I want, and they deliver a box of prints to my front porch, or I can swing by and pick it up in person.
Edits: 04/08/17
My wife uses Staples all the time for manuals, flyers or whatever. The cost of ink jet cartridges or toner is typically more than just farming it out.
-Rod
There are a lot of them to be had. For example, this Xerox http://www.ebay.com/itm/LOW-METER-Xerox-Wide-Format-Printer-53-835-Lin-Ft-8830-Printer-ONLY-/262908095128?hash=item3d368b2a98%3Ag%3AKdMAAOSwzgBYx0I- is a large format printer that can accomodate up to 36"X80' size of print with a respectable 400 DPI resolution.However, if you're printing a lot of graphic materials that has a lot of black and white color shadings and tones you really should go with a printer that has a minimum of 600 DPI resolution.
If a thing's worth doing, it's worth doing well
(Proverb)
Edits: 04/08/17
I used to be tech support for an office equipment company, so I have some experience in this area.If you can work with 11" X 17" (ledger), you can use almost any digital copier. Many come equipped with a network card, and if not, it's usually an easy installation.
The company linked below specializes in used equipment of that type.
Edits: 04/08/17
Plotter is a good suggestion. I looked at these for a friend with a landscaping business. Surprising price range, if you are patient you can find these on CL, Goodwill tag sales etc., inexpensive, $100 or less.
And no I don't think that looking for a plotter will get you banned. Actually Mike, you have been so helpful to a lot of people, I don't think you could get yourself banned if you tried.
Maybe a commercial service, like FedEx run Kinkos? Can use files on memory card to generate poster sized diagrams?
Unless you print (plot) a lot and have the space in your office, it may not be worth owning your own plotter.
Michael, if you want 3x the size of an 8.5" x 11", you'll need a plotter. I've never seen a laser plotter at that size -- they may exist, but I doubt you'd touch one for less than 5 figures, even used. Inkjet plotters can produce surprisingly clear drawings and documents. Have several at work for printing full size CAD drawings, from cheap ones to HP's upper tier. Biggest difference is not so much the quality of the print but the speed, with more expensive being more faster. Just a quick look on Amazon linked below (have no knowledge of that particular unit), but for occasional, low volume printing it would probably be fine.
Large format printers are, IIRC
i) not cheap, as not common
ii) large and difficult to house, in a typical study.
I'd suggest that you figure out how often you really need to print large sheets. And the cost of such a printer against having it done on a one off occasional basis by a printer shop.
? USB dongle to load files and take to the printer shop.
Of course, I don't know how often you need such large formats, and that should also be part of making your decision.
You should also consider if a large format printer would earn you more income, enough to pay for it or not.
IF you're not sure what I'm getting at, you may have an accountant who ought to know what I'm on about, if they're any good, that is?!
This kind of advice was once my job, and I am grateful to you for your several sets of advice about my 'once were Leak' amps.
Once I'm running them from June through to September into the QUAD 63s I will tell you what I think of them and their '2 ohm' tap and 40 watts.
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