Replies

1. 
   BungalowJeff | May 02, 2002 02:48pm | #1

   We use an HP8500GP in my office for 11x17 plots with scales smaller than 1/4". It's all about keeping the text size about 1/8" and knowing when to enlarge the scale and add amatchline to another sheet.

   ...that's not a mistake, it's rustic

2. 
   Seth_Frankel | May 02, 2002 05:08pm | #2

   Ace,

   I've worked as a designer for quite some time and every, and I mean every, firm I know uses the Hewlett Packard Laserjet 4mv. It holds 11x17 and 8.5x11 sheets and is networkable with PCs and Macs. It's capable of printing our 1000's of sheets a day and lasts for years.

   As for 1/4" scale . . . depends on the house! A one-room cabin or the Hearst Mansion? As mentioned, match lines, details and creative page fitting are key, but I've produced many full sets of drawings in 11x17 book form. They're great of sharing with the team and cheap to produce (and you don't have to wait for that darn service bureau to return you large format drawings only to find that one mistake!).

   Best,

   Seth

   
   

   ---

   Edited 5/2/2002 10:13:28 AM ET by Seth Frankel

3. 
   BossHog | May 02, 2002 05:16pm | #3

   Kinda hard to say if you can do a house plan that's readable on 11X17 without knowing how big the house is. You're almost never going to get 1/4" scale, but you can almost always get something that's readable. I occasionally have floor pland emailed in to me in DXF format, and then print them out.

   I use a HP laserjet 5000 to print on 11X17, and it's a great printer. I can do 95% of my truss layouts on it - all but the biggest ones are readable. Sure beats 8.5x11 layouts, or using the big "sawhorse" style plotters.

   Redneck Extraordinaire

1. 
   kyleconlon | May 02, 2002 05:39pm | #4

   No one mentioned the HP1220 inkjet. For $500.00 you have a very economical printer that will print up to 13x19 and it comes with the HP Photo RE technology. Photographic prints on glossy paper are amazing.

   Kyle

1. 
   BossHog | May 02, 2002 05:54pm | #5

   I've always hated inkjet printers - I've had lousy luck with them.

   But - It would be an inexpensive option if you didn't use it heavily. I wouldn't want one, as I sometimes go through a ream of paper a day in my laser.

   Redneck Extraordinaire

4. 
   PhillGiles | May 02, 2002 06:58pm | #6

   Specifically designed for low-volume CAD, the Epson Stylus 1520. It prints 13.5" wide on up to 17" wide paper. For higher speed, move up to a Stylus 3000, for a mix of photo and CAD, Epson Stylus Photo 1200. Epson have many printers in their line up to VERY large

   If you want to go with HP, look at their Designjet 1050C or 1055C.

   High-volume B&W lasers - Lexmark for normal, GCC Elite X1 for high-quality.

   .

   Phill Giles

   The Unionville Woodwright

   Unionville, Ontario

1. 
   bishopbldr | May 03, 2002 03:49am | #7

   I, like Kyle have the HP 1220C inkjet. It's a great printer if you want an all purpose printer for the construction office. Great photo prints, 13 x19 cad drawings, everything else. The only draw back I've seen over my laser printer is the prints can't get wet on the site or the ink runs all over. The laser prints hold up pretty good. Now we laminate the HP prints going to the jobsite.

   Bish. 

1. 
   JLazaro317 | May 03, 2002 05:39am | #8

   I have a Canon bjc 5100 that was less than $150 that prints 11X17 just fine. But it is too small for 1/4" scale work. In fact, I rarely use it. For house plans, I have an HP 430 that I bought for around $1600 a couple of years ago. It handles all my 1/4" plots on 18X24 and 24X36 paper. Anyone want to buy a Houston Instrument DMP 161  pen plotter....real cheap!

   John

   J.R. Lazaro Builders, Inc.

   Indianapolis, In.

   http://www.lazarobuilders.com

1. 
   BossHog | May 03, 2002 02:21pm | #9

   I've also used an HP 430, and really liked it. Heck of an improvement over the old pen plotters. How many times did you have a pen run out of ink partway through a drawing?

   You have to print a lot of drawings to justify that $1,600 for the dang thing, though.

   Redneck Extraordinaire

1. 
   JLazaro317 | May 04, 2002 12:48am | #10

   I print alot of drawings. Well 2-3 pages on an average day, up to 10 on a busy day. How much does it cost to go to the printers? And the driving time if he's not close by? Money well spent if you plot often.

   John

   J.R. Lazaro Builders, Inc.

   Indianapolis, In.

   http://www.lazarobuilders.com

2. 
   BossHog | May 04, 2002 02:56pm | #11

   Certainly 2 or 3 pages a day is a fair amount of printing. I just meant it would be hard to justify if you only did one or 2 a week.

   Redneck Extraordinaire

3. 
   JLazaro317 | May 05, 2002 06:06am | #12

   Yeah, but it could be considered a tool purchase. In that case it would be justifiable for the collection. A tool does not have to be used daily to be purchased.

   John

   J.R. Lazaro Builders, Inc.

   Indianapolis, In.

   http://www.lazarobuilders.com

5. 
   LEIGHMORGAN | May 24, 2002 06:03am | #13

   HP designjet 430 is very good. I have one that I've been using for a year. Get the roll feed attachment. And yes it is a tool. At least that's what I told my wife.

1. 
   xMikeSmith | May 24, 2002 06:12am | #14

   got the HP DJ 500 (24") last year...  great printer...

   needed a new general purpose printer so i got the HP1220ce.. regular prints and now  wide format checkprints for the CAD..

   we got along fine with the epson 1520 for about 3 years...Mike Smith   Rhode Island : Design / Build / Repair / Restore