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11x17 printer?

  • 1.  11x17 printer?

    Posted 10-06-2017 05:42 PM
    Does anyone have a recommendation for a desktop 11x17 printer that will be used mainly for CAD drawings? I would want to be able to print in color, but don't need a full-on photo printer. I think I'd prefer laser, given the cost and hassle of ink cartridges, but I know 11x17 laser printers are pricey and I'm hoping to come in at $1,000.

    If you think I'm on the wrong track with laser, and can recommend your ink option, I'd love to hear about it.
    If you have a entry-level 24x36 plotter that can also handle 11x17 nicely, I'd love to hear about it.

    The one no-no is we can't be feeding one sheet at a time.

    For some context, I had my eye on a Canon iPF670, until I realized you need to feed sheets one at a time. The thing is also enormous.

    Any help would be greatly appreciated.


    Michael Mitchell,  AIA
    Principal
    BACK40 Architecture, LLC
    495 Flatbush Avenue
    Suite 12
    Brooklyn, NY 11225
    T:  212 920 5423
    www.backforty.co



  • 2.  RE: 11x17 printer?

    Posted 10-09-2017 05:28 PM
    My HP 7500A Wide Format printer-scanner-faxer-copier does 11" wide (and, maybe even 12" wide, haven't tried that) prints. 

    Ink-jet; I've spent more on ink than on the printer, over the 5 or so years I've been using it.

    There is probably a newer version.  There was also, back then, a Brother printer or two that took 11" paper (either by 8.5 or 17) sideways, and had less footprint ... don't recall why I didn't get it.

    BUT, just because it prints 11x17, doesn't mean it can scan / copy that size - that has to happen in halves, which seems awkward and I've never tried it.

    11x17, as 1/-2 size of 22x34, is a good idea.  However, it takes playing around with the defined page size to not have issues with margin allowances reducing the scale by just enough to aggravate.  For instance, instead of 50%, you may get 45% ...

    ------------------------------
    Joel Niemi AIA
    Joel Niemi Architect
    Snohomish, WA
    ------------------------------



  • 3.  RE: 11x17 printer?

    Posted 10-09-2017 08:35 PM
    I bought a Brother inkjet printer in 2008, and it was great. Reliable, good quality, scanned at 11x17, and had two paper trays so I could have both letter size and 11x17 paper. It broke last year when I got a too aggressive undoing a paper jam. (Not really the printer's fault, it really didn't jam often, and eight years is a great lifespan for this kind of thing.)

    I replaced it with an Epson WF-7620, which was also a good printer. Very high quality prints, fast, and it could handle 12x18 paper. The downside was its VERY EXPENSIVE ink. A set of cartridges seemed to last only a couple of weeks, and a refill set cost well over $100. So I used third-party refillable cartridges instead, which was a lot cheaper. But the ink gummed up the printer and it stopped working properly after about 9 months.

    So now I'm back to a Brother MFC-J6935DW. Dual paper trays, max print/scan size is 11x17, it's quick, has automatic duplex printing and scanning, and inexpensive ink. I bought it four months ago and if my memory is goid, I just put in my second set of cartridges last week.

    I looked into 11x17 laser printers, but it seemed that going that route meant leasing a freestanding office copier/printer (Xerox or Canon brand), which was more expensive unless I had a much higher printing volume than I have.

    Inkjets are cheap to buy. Mine only cost about $360. It's the ink that's the main cost, at about $90 a set for the Brother inks. I think of that as kind of a lease payment.

    My feeling is that build quality is pretty good for major printer brands, so the main differentiators are features and ink cost. It's kind of frustrating making a purchasing decision because it's hard to compare ink yield and cost between brands.

    FYI, this is honest feedback - I have no financial relationship with Brother other than sending them money from time to time for more ink.

    ------------------------------
    Jody Keppers AIA
    President
    Keppers Design
    Duluth MN
    ------------------------------



  • 4.  RE: 11x17 printer?

    Posted 10-10-2017 06:52 PM
    I've had the Brother MFC-J6710 for the past 5 years and it really does it all reasonably well.
    It scans, copy, prints, and yes, faxes on 11x17 b&w and color.  It does not get bogged down by postscripting issues that the laser printers do.  An the ink usage has been acceptable at 1-2 cartridge changes per year at the most if used almost every day, which i don't.  It is networked and the current model also does air print from an iPad or iPhone.

    I could not live without this office machine.  

    _______________________________

    Elmer Lin, NCARB, CSI

    Consortium  

    2120 18th Avenue  San Francisco, California  94116

    T:  415-566-7442  F:  415-566-1431 

    W:  www.consortium-sf.com

    E:   elmerl@consortium-sf.com







  • 5.  RE: 11x17 printer?

    Posted 10-12-2017 06:17 AM

    For what it is worth, I purchased an Epson WF-7620 for printing 11x17 (and 18x36 half size) drawings last year, having done so after convincing myself the Epson was going to be worth the extra cost of their most expensive ink (based on my previous Epson printer experience a few years ago). Well now just over a year later, the printer is smearing black ink over most of my prints; and looking under the cover there seems to be lots of 3 colors of ink on the foam matt (and I am only on my 2nd set of cartridges- plus I'm finding the high-capacity cartridges are somewhat hard to find). I don't know if I got a dud or if Epson quality has gone down, but knowing what I know now I would go with a Brother large format printer.

     

    Jim Stergas

     






  • 6.  RE: 11x17 printer?

    Posted 10-14-2017 02:46 PM

    I have an Epson WF-7510 for 11 x 17's and often times the paper won't feed in unless I "push" each sheet manually.

    -RVP,  AIA, LEED AP






  • 7.  RE: 11x17 printer?

    Posted 10-16-2017 05:41 PM

    I have the Epson WF-7520 and also have many issues with the paper feed.

     

    John E. Crowell

    Deer Hill Architects LLC

    40 Lowell Street

    Peabody, MA 01960

    jcrowell@deerhillarchitects.com

    Office: 978-532-8660

    www.deerhillarchitects.com

     






  • 8.  RE: 11x17 printer?

    Posted 10-16-2017 06:43 PM
    I use a Canon iX6820 and I have had 25 sheets in one printing.

    ------------------------------
    Jack Hillbrand Architect
    Santa Monica, CA
    ------------------------------



  • 9.  RE: 11x17 printer?

    Posted 10-11-2017 11:44 AM
    ​The HP Officejet 7612 will print 11 x 17 and scan 11 x 17. It works very well for printing. The ink is expensive but it does everything I need short of printing the larger sheets.

    The feed for coping or scanning multiple copies at once on my particular printer doesn't work very well. They always seem to have a slight skew. I assume that is just the unit I own.

    I too noted a couple of Brother printers that will do the same. The HP was recommended and I seemed to think it was the best at the time.

    ------------------------------
    Gil Stewart AIA
    President/Owner
    Gil L. Stewart Architect, LLC
    Pickens SC
    ------------------------------



  • 10.  RE: 11x17 printer?

    Posted 10-09-2017 05:35 PM
    I just bought a Brother MFC-J58300DW Business Smart Plus Series and am super happy with it. The ink is very economical, has a regular print tray for 8.5x11 and an automatic multipurpose feed for 11x17 where you can load up to 50 sheets. It is also a copier and scanner. It lists for about $200 but I got it at Staples for $220. I print mainly CDs.

    Dick Jenkins
    Jenkins Architecture
    5148 Simmons Branch Trail
    Raleigh, NC 27606
    (919) 856-0856


    "Don't ask what the world needs. Ask what makes you come alive, and go do it. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive."
    -Howard Thurman














  • 11.  RE: 11x17 printer?

    Posted 10-10-2017 05:40 PM
    I use an HP Officejet 7612 all-in-one print/scanner and use 12" x 18" bond paper. This allows me to print 1/2 size sheets.
    Using the black + white, fast draft preference, it prints quickly using less ink.

    --
    Vincent Oles Architect AIA
    540 E. Cleveland Ave.
    Salt Lake City, Utah 84105
    ph:   801.582-1610
    cell: 801.608-4512
    olesarchitect@gmail.com








  • 12.  RE: 11x17 printer?

    Posted 10-09-2017 05:37 PM
    Have been using Brother Printer MFCJ6930DW wireless color printer, scanner, copier and fax.
    Only use the printer and copier functions, but it does 11 x 17 quite adequately.
    Has two paper trays for different sizes.  Under $300.  Inkjet, so not laser, but way cheaper.  Except for cartridges, of course.
    Was recommended to me by a friend landscape architect and has been my only printer/plotter for years since I do mostly residential work.

    ------------------------------
    R. Dean Bingham AIA
    Portland ME
    ------------------------------



  • 13.  RE: 11x17 printer?

    Posted 10-09-2017 05:43 PM

    We've been very happy with our Toshiba e-studio 2551c for the past few years.  New it was a bit over $2k, so maybe you could get one used/reconditioned for your price point.

     

    Frank M Guillot, FAIA






  • 14.  RE: 11x17 printer?

    Posted 10-09-2017 05:45 PM

    Hi Michael

     

    II have a Brother printer that is 6-7 years old. It keeps going and going. Model MFC 6490 cw. I think it cost about $300. Inkjet so I have to replace cartridges a few times a year. Good luck!

     

    Ali Awad, AIA

    o- 612.243.0540

    m- 612.282.3161

     

    Awad + Koontz Architects Builders Inc

    10 West 58th Street

    Minneapolis MN 55419

    www.awadandkoontz.com

     

     






  • 15.  RE: 11x17 printer?

    Posted 10-09-2017 05:46 PM
    My Epson WF-7520 has performed pretty flawlessly for years. It prints 11x17 well in black & white and color. I don't use it for CD's put print 11x17 color design progress SketchUp images and B&W progress construction plans and details. It goes through the ink, but VERY RARELY jambs and my time is very important to me. If this one tanked I'd get another. It will print larger than 11x17 but 11x17 is a readily available paper size and great for progress images.

    ------------------------------
    Mark Anderson AIA
    AIA, CPHC, President
    Anderson Sustainable Architecture, Inc.
    Saint Paul MN
    ------------------------------



  • 16.  RE: 11x17 printer?

    Posted 10-09-2017 05:58 PM
    I have an Epson WF-7510 that is a few years old.  I use it as a daily printer for letter sized documents, but also use it for printing on 11 x 17 and 12 x 18 paper.  It has been super dependable and works well with both Windows and Mac OS.  It has fairly large ink cartridges.  It is about 3 years old, so they may have a newer (even better) model out now.

    ------------------------------
    Patrick Marr AIA
    Patrick Marr, PE, AIA
    Santa Barbara CA
    ------------------------------



  • 17.  RE: 11x17 printer?

    Posted 10-09-2017 06:00 PM
    We've had real good luck with our HP DeskJet 9800. Maybe not the fastest option, but good quality and dependable.

    ------------------------------
    Bruce Taylor AIA
    Summit Design Group
    Park City UT
    ------------------------------



  • 18.  RE: 11x17 printer?

    Posted 10-09-2017 06:00 PM
    I use an ink-jet printer, an HP Officejet 7610. It's been fine for me. It's helpful that it works via wi-fi, since it's across the room from my desk and I use a laptop. I also use it for CDs for smaller projects. One town that I work in prefers 11x17 for smaller projects. It will hold 50+ sheets. It's 2'  wide x 2' deep (+ a few inches for the sheet catcher) x 1' tall.

    Hope that helps.

    John

    ------------------------------
    John Downie AIA
    John V. Downie | Architect
    Auburndale MA
    ------------------------------



  • 19.  RE: 11x17 printer?

    Posted 10-09-2017 06:08 PM
    We use the Canon Pro-100 for 11 x 17; back tray feeds plenty; good black and white clarity; not too large (27" wide) fits on counter.
    There are 8 ink tanks for great color when needed (master plan, example) but mostly we use black. Can purchase single black inks alone (CLI-42) instead of all colors in a box.
    --  David M. Buckley, AIA Buckley & Associates, Inc. Architecture, Interior Design, Planning 49 Washington Street  Winchester, MA 01890-2927 Tel: 781-729-8574 david@buckleyarchitects.com 





  • 20.  RE: 11x17 printer?

    Posted 10-09-2017 06:27 PM
    Hey Michael,

    I've been using this for 3 years and love it, works well for my small practice.  If the link doesn't go through, it's a Brother MFC-J6920DW

    Brother MFC-J6920DW - Color Inkjet All-in-One w High Yield Ink Cartridges
    Brother-usa remove preview
    Brother MFC-J6920DW - Color Inkjet All-in-One w High Yield Ink Cartridges
    This Brother Color Inkjet All-in-One with High Yield Ink Cartridges is ideal for your small business or work group. Part of the Business Smart Pro Series.
    View this on Brother-usa >


    ------------------------------
    Kevin Robinson, AIA, LEED AP, NCARB
    Principal
    Architecture|Workshop LLC
    ------------------------------



  • 21.  RE: 11x17 printer?

    Posted 10-09-2017 08:07 PM
    The HP Designjet T-120 is a great inkjet color printer that does both a 24” roll feed and is outfitted with automatic sheet input tray that accepts up to 11 x 17 paper. I have one used this and it’s predecessor for over four years and believe that it is the best printer for a small office. Truly easy to use and works with both Windows ,Mac OS, Ethernet compatible. You can’t go wrong. Under $1K.



    For up to 11 x 17, HP also has either inkjet or laser units. Check out OfficeMax.




    John LaPorte
    Grand Rapids, Michigan




  • 22.  RE: 11x17 printer?

    Posted 10-10-2017 10:12 AM
    I also use the HP T120; it does 11x17, but also 24x36 (roll feeder) for the same price point. For me, larger prints are easier to read and the quality is very good.

    ------------------------------
    Don Leighton-Burwell, AIA
    Owner
    DLB Architect
    Austin TX
    ------------------------------



  • 23.  RE: 11x17 printer?

    Posted 10-09-2017 08:21 PM
    I have always printed my drawings as 11x17. I started with an expensive Laser 25 years ago and have had overkill printers with lots of problems along the way. This year I bought this relatively cheap by comparison Brother printer shown below and have found it to be a gem. Beautiful prints, fast, and so far no problems at all. It does so very many things; however, I do not think this model has the feed feature: BUT, if you are sending to it by WiFi in any event, I highly recommend it.

    Brother International - - MFC-J6535DW XL
    http://www.brother-usa.com/MFC/ModelDetail/4/mfcj6535dwxl/Overview


    ------------------------------
    Gretchen Meili AIA
    Rye NY
    ------------------------------



  • 24.  RE: 11x17 printer?

    Posted 10-09-2017 09:47 PM
    I have been happy with my Canon iX6520 for about three years now. I use it for 11x17 check sets and all my letter size printing. It has been very reliable with no down time ever. The cartridges are expensive and its not for high volume use. Nor is it particularly fast. But it originally cost under $400, fits fairly compactly on my desktop, and does the jobs I need.


    ------------------------------
    Edward Acker AIA
    Senior Architect
    Winchester VA
    ------------------------------



  • 25.  RE: 11x17 printer?

    Posted 10-10-2017 07:29 AM
    As a few other people responded, the Epson Workforce 7520 is a great little machine for just a few hundred dollars.  I wore out the 7510 which is why I upgraded to the 7520.  It is readily available at Staples and the high-capacity cartridges last a long time.  I use Hammermill 12x18 paper which is also readily available through staples.com.  The paper is high quality and heavy weight with a very nice smooth white sheen.  It works perfect for 1/2 size Arch D for presentations.  Even my clients and contractors comment on the quality of the paper! 

    Typically, I only use my HP DesignJet color plotter when I plot my final full size drawings.

    ------------------------------
    John Lehman AIA
    Lehman Associates, PC
    Highland MD
    ------------------------------



  • 26.  RE: 11x17 printer?

    Posted 10-10-2017 08:38 AM
    I love my Epson Workforce (I have the 7520 - I'm not sure what the current model is).  It is an ink printer but I find it pretty efficient with ink and it comes in under your budget.  It has two trays so it can automatically feed both 11x17 and 8.5x11.  It can do double sided scanning and printing.  Its really fast and the quality is great.
    --
    Adrienne (Swiatocha) Turner, AIA





  • 27.  RE: 11x17 printer?

    Posted 10-10-2017 09:13 AM

    Michael

     

    I have had the Epson WF-7520 inkjet for years and am very happy with it. I believe the WF-7620 is the newer version ( https://epson.com/For-Work/Printers/Inkjet/Epson-WorkForce-WF-7620-All-in-One-Printer/p/C11CC97201 ).  It has 2 trays so you can load 8.5X11 and 11X17.  It doesn't get high volume usage in my office – maybe a ream of 11x17 paper per month – but has held up very well and the high capacity ink cartridges last a while.  I believe the price is around $300.  You can buy a lot of ink for the cost difference between this and a wide format color laser.  Food for thought...

     

    Rob McKelvey

     






  • 28.  RE: 11x17 printer?

    Posted 10-16-2017 05:46 PM
    ​In all the posts I don't see that anyone has mentioned the Konica Minolta Bizhub. we have the older C253 model. We actually bought this about 5 years ago used. It has worked great for both our basic office copying and scanning but also for 11x17 and we print the half size 12x18s on it. It took the place of our large format HP, the fax and the secretaries printer.

    It prints pretty good color and the toner is reasonable and lasts a looooooooooong time. I think I have replaced cartridges once in 5 years.  Sorry to hear that this machine is now phased out and supplies will soon be hard to get or just not there. If so I'd try the Bizhub again.

    ------------------------------
    Carlyn Rodahl AIA
    Rodahl & Hummell Architecture, PC
    Farmington NM
    ------------------------------