I SO get the plot now!! (HP Designjet 1050c plus)

Member Name: snootybutnice

Product:	HP Designjet 1050c plus
Date:	26/01/09 (215 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Rugged build quality, versatile, easy to use, don't often go wrong

Disadvantages: Needs engineer to repair as easy to blow the electronics module even with simple belt change!

The HP DesignJet 1050c plus has a rugged build quality and versatility - and is one of the most flexible and easy to use DesignJets in the marketplace...no flimsy build quality on these - they are solid work horses. These baby's can keep going for 5 years without ever breaking down.

Some people call me up and wonder after 5 years what's gone wrong with their machine - "have you thought of changing the print heads?" I ask..."What's that?" they retort- I shake my head and wonder how they've managed to keep going for 5 years without ever changing this consumable item...but somehow they've managed it!! Once the print heads go out of warranty, spurious error messages start appearing - but the lucky few manage to elude this!

These machines give you:
* amazing image quality (1200 x 600 dpi mono & 600 dpi colour)
* breakthrough printing speeds (Draft A1 in less than 45 seconds)
* complete unmanned operation
* high performance
* they're great for workgroups of 10+ people
* have an optional multi roll feeder
* provide 64Mb RAM (expandable to 128Mb)

WHO USES IT?
GIS users (Mapping), CAD Designers (Architects, interior design, mechanical engineering etc), Universities, Newspaper companies.

WHEN WOULDN'T YOU USE THIS MACHINE?
* If you are an art/printing or poster printing company - or a photographer requiring the top/best high quality photographic images. (The Z series printer would be best for you!)
* If you want a small desktop printer, not a large DesignJet on a stand.
* If your budget doesn't stretch to £2,500-£4,500.00

HOW QUICK CAN IT PRINT?
A1 line drawings in 45 seconds in fast mode and A1 images in 85 seconds.

WHAT TENDS TO GO WRONG WITH IT?
Primarily you need to change your consumabes (Inks, Print Heads and Paper) - then every few years it's likely that the carriage belt will need to be replaced, depending on the level of use.

Other items that wear and tear with use which you may end up having to replace include but are not limited to:
* trailing cable (this is the plastic strip with wires running through it which tells the ink when to release onto the paper - it runs left and right after every print pass and eventually the wires start to break up causing missing lines etc)
* tubes assembly
* carriage assembly
* service station
* cutter
* encoder
* print sensors/paper sensors

But...like I said they don't go wrong too often.

HOW MUCH DO ENGINEERS COST?
Normally there is a callout charge and engineering labour charge. Most calls will take around an hour.
You can expect to pay £100.00-£120.00 with repair companies who don't specialise in DesignJets - for an adhoc callout.
However they will probably spend more time on site and end up costing you more in the long run. The specialist DesignJet companies, of which there are few, charge between £140-£180.00 per 1 hour repair - here you normally end up paying less as they've experienced most problems and are not faffing about trying various things to get you up and running!

CAN I REPAIR IT MYSELF?
Yes and no. Yes you can try if you know what you're doing. The carriage belt would, you think, be a simple job - but unlike other HP DesignJets if you fail to disconnect correctly you will wipe out the main electronics board (Yes...lots of people have done this). The DesignJet also needs a complete strip down to fit the belt - so whereas it may take a HP DesignJet engineer 1 hour - you need to allow at least half a day if you've never done it before.

HOW MUCH ARE THESE DESIGNJETS?
For the standard 1050c plus - around £4,500 new - or around £2,500 for fully refurbished

HOW MUCH ARE CONSUMABLES?
INK -Expect to pay around £85.00-£89.00 for each ink x 4- black, cyan, magenta & yellow (prices fluctuate daily)
PRINT HEADS - These are around £89.00-£93.00 each x 4 - black, cyan, magenta & yellow
PAPER - Around £8.00-£12.00 per roll of standard paper.

CAN YOU RENT THEM?
Renting is a great idea - a kind of 'try before you buy' approach which is also cost effective as you can offset this expense against the business. Expect to pay anything from £200-£300/week to rent.

Summary: Perfect machine for most businesses - can buy new or second hand

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