We print drawings, A3 isn't enough, do we need a plotter?
Plotters (HP DesignJet, Canon imagePROGRAF, Epson SureColor) print up to A0 and are standard for architects, civil engineers, draftsmen. Purchase cost is high but unavoidable for drawing-heavy sectors.
Try this first
- 1Decide volume: how many A0/A1 drawings/month? Under 10/month: a local reprography shop is cheaper.
- 2Over 20/month or many revisions: own plotter makes sense. Reckon 3000-7000 EUR purchase for a 36-inch model, plus ink and roll paper.
- 3HP DesignJet T-series and Canon imagePROGRAF TC/TM are the usual picks for architecture and construction. Both have good CAD driver support (AutoCAD, Revit).
- 4Place the plotter where you can change rolls without lifting gear. 24-inch rolls weigh 5-7 kg, 36-inch up to 10 kg.
- 5Set jobs to auto-cancel after X hours if not collected. Otherwise the plotter drowns in half-failed drawings.
When to bring us in
For architecture and engineering firms, plotter choice is a multi-year call. We help think through volume, format, and whether a service contract with ink delivery beats self-maintenance.
See also
- Printer suddenly not foundFor everyone at once: print server or network. For one person: local Windows driver or expired authorisation.
- Print job stuck in queue, nothing happensA stuck queue blocks all subsequent prints. Cleaning takes two minutes.
- Scanner no longer sends emails (scan-to-email)Almost always: the account the scanner uses had its password expire, or the mail provider blocks old protocols.
None of the above fits?
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Or skip the DIY entirely
Our Managed IT clients do not look these things up. One point of contact, a fixed monthly price, resolved within working hours.