How to calculate the printing cost per square foot for Canon iPF8100?

How to calculate the printing cost per square foot? This is a very common question from large format users in print services sector. Print services providers are concerned on the print cost as the cost per square foot will be used to determine the print services charges to their clients. Besides, cost per square foot is another important consideration factor a part from printing speed when come to choosing the right production printer for the printing business operation.

To answer this frequent asked question professional, a few declarations and assumptions has been made as below.

1. The cost per square foot calculation will only consider ink cost and print head cost.

2. Canon PFI-701, PFI-702 ink tanks and PF-03 print head cost are based on retail price in Malaysia market. (MYR750 for PFI-701, PFI-702 ink tanks and MYR970 for PF-03 print head)

3. Waste ink and paper cost are not considered in the cost calculation.

4. The print heads will be replaced in every 8,800 A1 size prints*.

* The life-span of the print heads are expected to last more than 8,800 A1 prints depending on the operating environment. All new print heads (PF-03) are eligible for warranty claim for the first 8,800 A1 page counts, hence the author is estimating the print head cost based on worst scenario.

Test Conditions

Output Image: ISO JIS SCID No.5

Media: Glossy Photo Paper

Print Quality: Standard 600dpi

Print Size: A0 Size (827mm x 1,033.8mm)

Test Results:

Total Ink Consumed: 3.827ml

Print Speed: 6.5min

Cost Per Square Foot Calculation:

Based on the the above data, ink cost per A0 size (827mm x 1,033mm)  printing is as below:

3.827ml x MYR750/700ml = MYR4.10 (USD1.24)

Assumed life span for printheads are 8,800 A1 prints, which is also equavalent to 4,400 A0 prints.

There are 2 print heads in a Canon iPF8100, hence the printhead cost per A0 size (827mm x 1,033mm) is as below:

2 units X MYR970 / 4,400 AO prints = MYR0.44 (USD0.13)

Ink Cost (per A0 print) + Print Head Cost (per A0 print)

= MYR4.10 + MYR0.44 = MYR4.54 (USD1.38)

We already have the cost per print in term of per A0 size, now what we need to do is to convert it into per square foot.

1 ft = 304.8mm

827mm x 1,033mm = 2.71ft x 3.39ft =  9.19 sqft

MYR4.54/9.19sqft = MYR0.494 (USD0.15) per square foot

Hence, the Cost Per Square Foot for Canon iPF8100 is approximately MYR0.50 (USD0.15).

Read also:
1. Accounting Functions of Canon imagePROGRAF Large Format Printer
2. Cost per print job calculation for Canon iPF Printers with Acconting Functions

HP Designjet T770 and HP Designjet T770HD vs Canon iPF750 and iPF755 Review - Print Speed Comparison Video

Canon iPF750 series and HP Designjet T770 series were introduced to the market at in early 2010. From the data sheet of both Canon iPF750 and HP Designjet T770, both models are able to print the A1 size CAD drawing in draft mode in 30 seconds.

Based on the print speed information from these data sheets, can we say both HP DJ T770/T770HD and Canon iPF750/iPF755 are equally productive?

Please view the speed comparison video between Canon iPF755 and HP Designjet T770HD for the answer.

Read also:
1. Canon iPF750 vs. Canon iPF710 – What are the differences between Canon iPF750 and Canon iPF710 A0 Size Large Format Printer?
2.  Accounting Functions of Canon imagePROGRAF Large Format Printer 
3. HP Designjet 111 - Suitable for SMEs or workgroup environment?

What large format printer consumables items should be stocked for maximum printer productivity and piece of mind?

Time is valuable. People is looking for maximum productivity at all time. Having a high productivity large format printer like Canon ImagePROGRAF iPF750 that prints A1 size CAD drawing in 28 seconds per page and A0 size CAD drawing in 46 seconds per page may not reach the desired productivity if the users are not keeping the necessary consumables and wear & tear items in place.

The printer will not be able to function if one of the ink type is running out or there is no more paper roll for replenishment. The printer may have to be at idle mode while waiting for these consumables items are ordered and delivered. The downtime could be more than a day if the incident happen at Friday evening. The impact is more damaging if the users are rushing for projects or tender fulfillment where printing operation is carried out over the weekend.

Thus, proper planning and stocking up the the right amount of consumables and wear & tear items is very critical for high productivity of the LFP.

3 Most Critical LFP Consumables and Wear & Tear Items To Be Stocked Up ( Canon imagePROGRAF / HP Designjet / Epson Stylus Pro )

1. Ink Tanks/ Ink Cartridges/ & Media Rolls

Estimate the usage of the print jobs and stock up sufficient ink cartridges. If the print jobs consists of high coverage on certain color, for example red background, extra Magenta or Red ink cartridges shall be stocked up.

For technical printing, Matte Black and Cyan inks shall be exhausted faster than Magenta, Yellow and Black inks.

2. Maintenance Cartridges/ Waste Ink Tanks

All the waste inks will be collected at the maintenance cartridge or waste ink tank. One piece of spare is sufficient in most cases.

*Canon maintenance cartridge and Epson waste ink tank are user replaceable.

**For HP Designjet, the printer will prompt a message upon the maintenance cartridge is full. It is not a user replaceable item, an authorized technician will need to conduct an on-site service, down time is unavoidable.

 

3. Print Heads

Be it Canon imagePROGRAF, Epson Stylus Pro or HP Designjet,  print head is one of the wear & tear items for large format inkjet printer.

*Canon & HP print heads are user replaceable.

**Epson print head is replaceable by authorized Epson service personnel only, down time is unavoidable.