HP Designjet 111 & HP Designjet 510 series (End of Life)

HP Desinjet 111

HP Designjet 111 and HP Designjet 510 series has come to end-of-life stage. The replacement models namely HP Designjet T120 and T520 series are not just another face lift models with minor improvements. The HP Designjet T120 and T520 series has adopted the strengths of HP Designjet T790 series as well as its rival, Canon iPF.

HP Designjet 510 series



The debut of HP Designjet T120 (24") and HP Designjet T520 series (24"/36") is indeed a good news for new users where these new models are definately much productive as compared to the previous generation. But from another angle, the spare parts availability of the existing users of HP Designjet 110, HP Designjet 111, HP Designjet 500 series, HP Designjet 500(Mono) and HP Designjet 510 series is the major concern from the large customer base worldwide especially for users that did not purchase service pack.

Carriage belt



The end of life of the HP Designjet 111 and HP Designjet 510 series is a milestone that indicates that large format printers for technical market have evolved to another level where productivity and connectivity is essential.

HP Designjet T790, T1300, T2300 eMFP vs Canon iPF750, iPF760, iPF765 MFP - Print Processing Speed Review

Productivity on demand is always a key concern of the plotter users in AEC (Architecture, Engineering & Construction) industries. This is because shared wide format printer within a work group or among work groups are common, and most important is the technical documents print volume could surge multiple times when there are project deadlines to be met.

Hence, productivity of a wide format printer has become one of the most important criteria. Most of the users relate fast printing speed as high productivity. There is nothing wrong on such assumption, but what has been overlooked is the file processing time or print processing time.

Printing speed is the speed measure based on how fast a printer produce a technical drawing or printout. It is measure from the printer head start moving until it stop printing.

File processing speed or print processing speed is measure from the moment a file is sent to the printer for printing until the print head start moving.

The video below best define the file processing speed and printing speed.

Canon iPF760 pre-launch debut at Asian M&E Show 2012, KLCC

The new Canon iPF760 is currently available for preview at Asian M&E Show 2012, Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre from 26th June 2012 till 28th June 2012 at Hall 6, booth H602, showcased by Plot-tech Services (M) Sdn Bhd.

I have visited the show yesterday and have witness the performance of the Canon iPF760. I shall be able to post up the Canon iPF760 review and comparison between Canon iPF760 vs Canon iPF750 soon.

Canon iPF760 printing the 3D perspective impression of the architecture designs

Visitors enquire on the Canon iPF760

Canon iPF760 and iPF765 Printer Stand and Basket Unit

Since the introduction of Canon iPF650 and Canon iPF750, I found that Canon Inc. has focus alot on the user experience as well as ergonomics in the wide format printer product development especially on the 5-color iPF series.

A part from enhancing the technical specifications, the new model has also improve in the design of the users operations such as paper loading and printed paper collection.

One of the key advantage of Canon iPF750, iPF755, iPF650 and iPF655 is the paper loading. These models feature easy slide in roll paper loading system in which media roll is first placed on top of the printer, then slide in along guide rails. Roll spindle is loaded at point easily accessible from the front of the printer for easy loading from a natural posture.

Canon iPF760 and iPF765 have further strengthen the ergonomics aspect of the design by featuring the new printer stand and media bin where users are able to collect the printed drawings easily without a need to squart down. (Please see below video for details).

The good news is the new design is adopted by the Canon iPF750 version up model now.

Canon iPF750 CAD drawing water resistance test

"Is the printing water proof?"

"Will the ink smudge when my technical documents caught by rain water?"

"How to prevent the CAD drawings from smearing in the rain?"

"I am looking for a wide format printer that produces water and smudge-resistant drawings."

Sounds familiar with the above questions?

A test was being carried in view of the above concerns or FAQs.

Printer brand & model: Canon iPF750

Ink Technology: Canon 5-color dye reactive ink*

*(Canon iPF605, iPF650, iPF655, iPF750, iPF755, iPF760 & iPF765)

Media: 80gram A1 size plain paper

We found the ink did not smear under the condition of soaking into the running water basin. The lines are still clearly visible with no sign of smearing until the paper was tear apart.

Please see video below for details.

In short, the Canon iPF 5-color series running on PFI-102, PFI-104 ink cartridges is capable to produce water resistance technical documents on plain paper. What it takes is just a few simple settings at the printer driver.

HP Designjet T2300 eMFP vs Canon iPF750 MFP Review & Comparison

Multi-function large format printer has become a hot topic these days. CAD users in AEC or M&E industry are exploring the viability in investing in a large format scanner or multi-function large format printer.

From the total cost of ownership point of view, it is not viable to invest in HP Designjet T2300 eMFP as the large format scanner is integrated into the printer. The life span of the scanner could easily last for more than 10 year, but the printer may just last approximately 5-6 years before it need a lot of maintenance due to life span of the wear and tear parts in the inkjet wide format printer.

It means if you invest in a integrated multi-function large format printer like HP Designjet T2300 eMFP, very likely you will need to replace the whole system (integarted scanner and printer) every 5-year.

If you opt for a seperate system like HP Designjet T790 + large format scanner or Canon iPF750 MFP where the systems are basically made up by two separate devices (scanner + printer), you can keep the scanner as long as it is still funtioning (easily last more than 10 year) while with the flexibility to upgrade the wide format printer in every 5 to 6-year based on the print volumes.

*Note: A large format A0+ (40") scanner price is approximate 2 times the A0 size large format printer.

For functionality of both types of systems, please refer to video below:

Document Scanner vs Graphic Scanner vs Flatbed Scanner vs Sheet-fed Scanner

Since 2012, I have extended my consulting service to document scanner apart from wide format printer and industrial coder.

I have spent 3 months in mastering the required knowledge in the document scanning industry. Likewise, to fully leverage my knowledge, I will start to post articles related to document scanner in this blog.

Generally, there are 2 types of scanner in the market. 

1. Document Scanner
2. Graphic Scanner

If you are looking for a scanner, you must first determine what kind of scanner you are looking at. Document scanner, like its name, is meant for document scanning. It maximum resolution is normally at maximum 600 dpi (smaller file size) and capable to digitize the hard-copy document to OCR pdf. 

Under the document scanners, there are 3 types of paper feeding option as below:

1. Sheet-fed only （Canon P215)
2. Sheet-fed with the option to add on a flatbed device (Canon DR-M160, Canon DR-6030C, etc)
3. Sheet-fed and flatbed ready (Canon DR-2020U, Canon DR-7090C)

Canon DR-2020U Document Scanner (Sheet-fed & Flatbed Ready)

Graphic scanner is meant for photo, fine art, film scanning and etc. The maximum scanning resolution is at 2400 dpi (huge file size) and does not bundled with OCR pdf feature. Flatbed would be the only media feeding option.

Epson Expression 10000XL High End Flatbed Graphic Scanner

If you are looking for a document scanner, please insists only for a sheet-fed scanner as most of the time the retailer will normally try to sell you a very affordable graphic flatbed scanner like Canon LiDE110.

Sub tanks ink delivery system for large format printer

The sub tanks ink delivery system is a very useful feature that is neglected when comes to printer reviews. Very often the users see the sub tanks ink delivery system is to enable replacement of ink cartridges while the printer is printing. But, this is not the only feature that the sub ink tanks are meant for. The truth is a large format printer that built in with sub ink tanks in its ink delivery system will deliver better ink efficiently and it is much economical as compared to another wide format printer that does not comes with sub tanks.

If you are existing users of HP Designjet 111, HP Designjet 510, Canon iPF605, Canon iPF710 or any other inkjet wide format printer that does not built in with sub ink tanks, you will found that the empty ink cartridges that were ejected from your plotters is not really empty. In fact, there is still remaining of a few milliliters of precious ink in the so-called empty cartridges. Why?

An ordinary inkjet system consists of ink cartridges (inlet), tubing and printhead. To ensure smooth ink delivery within the system, air bubble is the culprit that the designer trying to avoid. To ensure no air bubble is captured in the ink system, the designers of the printer will not allow the ink cartridges to be fully drain because once it is done, air bubble will be created in the ink delivery system, and the printer will need to purge the ink till the air bubble is out. Hence, with a inkjet printer that does not comes with sub ink tanks, the ink cartridges will not be allowed to fully drain. In short, the users are actually throwing out a few milliliters of ink every time a cartridge in change.

With the built in of sub tanks, no bubble will be able to smuggle in the ink tubes because the ink is supplied by the sub ink tanks instead of directly from the ink cartridges. Hence, it enables full use of ink tank contents, eliminating waste ink.

A part from more economical ink consumption, the sub ink tanks system is constantly reserving a preset ink level in the sub tanks which allows users replace ink tanks without having to stop printing. Even when ink runs out unexpectedly, users can continue printing using just the sub tanks. (Example: equivalent to approximately 80 sheets of A1 plain paper for monochrome drawings).

Large Format Printers that built-in with sub ink tanks design:

Canon iPF650

Canon iPF655

Canon iPF750

Canon iPF755

Canon iPF760

Canon iPF765
Canon iPF815
Canon iPF825

Canon iPF8000S

Canon iPF8300S

Canon iPF8300

Canon iPF9000S

Canon iPF9100

Large Format Printers that DO NOT comes with sub ink tanks design:

Canon iPF510

Canon iPF605

Canon iPF710

Canon iPF5100

Canon iPF6300

Canon iPF6300S

HP Designjet 111

HP Designjet 500 (Mono)

HP Designjet 510

HP Designjet T790
HP Designjet T1200

HP Designjet T1300

HP Designjet T2300 eMFP

Cost per print job calculation for Canon iPF Printers with Acconting Functions

Cost per print is always a priority concern of the large format printer users, especially the commercial printer operators.

To capture, tabulate and manage the print cost accurately based on jobs, media and users have become easy and convenience with the Accounting Functions that bundled with selected Canon iPF models as below:

Canon iPF760

Canon iPF765

Canon iPF750

Canon iPF755

Canon iPF650

Canon iPF655

Canon iPF815

Canon iPF825

Canon iPF6300

Canon iPF6350

Canon iPF6300S

Canon iPF8300 or Canon iPF8310

Canon iPF8300S or Canon iPF8310S

Please see below video to find out how the Canon iPF Accounting Functions works.

For more detail explanation on Accounting Functions, kindly read below post:
Accounting Functions of Canon imagePROGRAF Large Format Printer

If your wide format printer model is not supported by Accounting Functions, please refer to below posts on how to calculate the cost per print or cost per square foot.
Canon imagePROGRAF Ink Cost Per Print Calculation
How to calculate the printing cost per square foot for Canon iPF8100?

Printer Stand & Basket Unit for Wide Format Printers

The ergonomics factor of the plotter stand and basket unit (media bin) is normally neglected by the users during evaluation stage prior to purchase decision making.

I have also neglected the importance of the large format printer stand & basket unit until I received many comments on the media bin of the HP Designjet T2300 eMFP under one of my blog post entitled HP Designjet T2300 eMFP – Preliminary Review.

A well designed large format printer stand allows users to pick up the print outs easily without having to stretch the body. This is even more critical for middle age users or female users who wear high heels.

Read below post to view the printer stand with media bin that is designed for ergonomic operation.
Canon iPF760 and iPF765 Printer Stand and Basket Unit

Canon iPF605 Preview in Klang Valley

This is one of the most popular FAQs that I am dealing with everyday.

"Seeing is believing". Most of the large format inkjet printer buyers would like to preview the printer performance prior to making any commitment. 

It is not very difficult to locate resellers that able to provide demonstrations for wide format printer models like Canon iPF750, Canon iPF650, HP Designjet T1300, HP Designjet T790 or even HP Designjet eMFP2300. But for strategic model like Canon iPF605, which is selling like hot cakes since 2011, resellers treat it like a box moving item where a preview of the printer is considered unnecessary. 

The good news is Canon iPF605 is available for preview at Canon Marketing Malaysia showroom. If you are not staying around Kuala Lumpur or Selangor area, please help yourself by viewing the video at the link below:

HP Designjet 510 vs Canon iPF605 (Comprehensive Comparisons - Video)

Canon iPF models that display at Canon Marketing Malaysia showroom is as below*:
1. Canon iPF605
2. Canon iPF750
3. Canon iPF6300S
4. Canon iPF8300

*As of the date I am writing this post.

Canon iPF650 & iPF750 On Sale

Canon iPF650 & iPF750 are on sale from January 2012 till February 2012.

In conjunction with the coming Chinese New Year (Year of Dragon), Canon Marketing Malaysia has launched an aggressive sales promotion on flagship models as below:

1. Canon iPF650 (24-inch Large Format Printer; print up to A1+ size)
2. Canon iPF750 (36-inch Large Format Printer; print up to A0+size)
3. Canon iR-Adv C2000 series (Multi-functions device; print-scan-fax-copy; up to A3 size)

Read on below leaflet for details.

HP Designjet T790 (A1) vs Canon iPF650 (A1) vs Canon iPF605 (A1) Review - Which LFP model best fit corporate offices with limited space

The end user is a multinational company dealing in solutions to optimize energy and operational efficiencies of buildings. The head quarter of its operation in Malaysia is located at The Garden South Tower, Mid Valley City, Kuala Lumpur.

The Garden South Tower, Mid Valley City, KL

The company has decided to acquire a A1 size wide format printer. In the past, all the technical drawings were printed at fast print shops. Although the print volume is not that high, but the operation manager of the said company believes that it is more appropriate to own a plotter with the following benefits:

1. Cost effective- Fast print shop is charging A1 color CAD drawing at MYR4.00 per piece. It will only costs user about MYR1.00 per A1 print (paper and ink) by printing in-house.
2. On-demand printing 
3. Better control of confidentiality
4. Improve productivity

Epson Stylus Pro 7700

As usual, Several vendors representing 3 major brands of large format printer namely Canon imagePROGRAF, HP Designjet and Epson Stylus Pro were invited to bid for the deal.

User requirements:

1. A1 size
2. High speed CAD printing
3. Network- Work group environment (5 users)
4. Ergonomics

A total of 5 models were proposed by the vendors as below:

1. Canon iPF605
2. Canon iPF650
3. Epson Stylus Pro 7700
4. HP Designjet 510 (24-inch)
5. HP Designjet T790 (24-inch)

Canon iPF605

Epson Stylus Pro 7700 and HP Designjet 510 were filtered out at the first evaluation due to the slow printing speed. The user tested all the 5 printers with a complicated vectors file and commented as below:

"HP Designjet 510 is the slowest in term of file processing. The DJ510 started print about 15 minutes after the "Enter" key is hit."

"Epson Stylus Pro 7700 printing speed is ridiculously slow. I lost my patience seeing the print head moving left and right like never ending. The printer is also very bulky as compared to the Canon iPF and HP Designjet" 

HP Designjet T790 (24-inch) e-Printer

"Canon iPF605 and Canon iPF650 are very impressive on the printing speed and ease of use. The HP Designjet T790 is also not bad in term of productivity; and it comes with sophisticated  feature like connecting to the cloud. But our technical documents are classified as confidential; furthermore the IT department does not like the idea of getting an printer that is able to connects to the web."

Canon iPF650

The vendors were requested to perform an on-site demo with shortlisted A1 Plotter as below:

1. Canon iPF605
2. Canon iPF650
3. HP Designjet T790

 Again, below are the comments from the users.

"It is very difficult to load the paper from the front for HP Designjet T790. And with limited space, we are unable to access from behind."





 

"It is easy to load paper from the front for Canon iPF605 and Canon iPF650. Canon iPF650 is even better than Canon iPF605 because users can just drop the roll holder as soon as it is on track and the paper roll will be seated automatically."

Finally, the Canon iPF650 was chosen. Look at below pictures and you will understand why size does matter and front accessibility is important for corporate office with limited space.