You don't say what models you have, how many plots you're looking for annually, or what the lease includes (I assume you have to pay for toner/ink beyond the lease, though). A 44" HP plotter can be anywhere from $4K to $11K or up purchased outright depending on volume required. Likewise, a Toshiba ledger sized copier can be $5K and up for color or $2.3K and up for B&W.
For my single person firm, I'm using a HP T1100 44" plotter (the current T1300 is $6200) and a Konica Minolta MagiColor 7450 II grafx color printer ($3400) that does up to 12.25x18 sheet fed (and duplexed) and will do up to 12.25x47.25 manual fed. I also have a Fujitsu fi-6230Z Sheet-Fed Scanner ($1400) and a older large flatbed scanner for photos. Large format scanning I send out because my needs for such are limited.
If I understand correctly, the $7K is just for the large format plotter and the copier. The sheet-fed scanner and printer method may not work for your workflow if you are making a substantial number of copies. But I find that for my office I'm not making a lot of copies and having things scanned in helps to keep me organized and makes it easier to email something rather than mail it to someone. So for just over a year and a half of your lease (roughly $11K) I have large format plotting, copying, and printing needs covered and don't foresee needing to purchase any new equipment in the near future.
For me, depending on an outside print shop was not an option. I do have one nearby that I use for large format scans and occasionally for some printing needs. But there are too many times that I end up getting last minute changes that require plots after the print shop is closed for the day - or I find that they have a job in already that has them tied up all afternoon. Being just outside NYC, that may not be an issue for you. You may have larger print shops with longer hours available to you.
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Thomas Bank AIA
Owner/Architect
Simply Stated Architecture, P.C.
Lemoyne PA
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Original Message:
Sent: 04-04-2013 17:00
From: Joseph Buda
Subject: Printing and Plotting
This message has been cross posted to the following Discussion Forums: Technology in Architectural Practice and Small Project Practitioners .
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What do most small firms (we are 3) use for their in-house printing needs? We currently have a 42" HP Plotter, a KIP wide format copier/scanner/plotter and a Toshiba Copier with ledger capabilities. Looking at costs, we are currently paying on leases for the wide format and regular copier over $7,000 per year. We do not use the machines as much as we are allowed to (as in a car, we are severely under mileage).
What do you use for check prints? Do you send out most larger projects or print in-house? We are thinking about sending everything out instead for cost savings or purchasing the machines off lease.
Any input is appreciated.
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Joseph Buda AIA
Project Architect
George A. Held, AIA, & Associates
Clifton NJ
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