HP DesignJet 1055cm

...make them work. Using the HP driver site is a doddle and the plotter is up and running in no time at all.

Using the correct driver, printing is instant and you can have a mono A1 plan printed in under a minute.

Printing graphics and photos is slightly different. I'd recommend using an application such as PosterJet RIP which will spool directly to the plotter and make printing much easier than using the normal print dialogue ...
...deadlines with an unreliable plotter. HP really have come up trumps here with the 1055cm and while there are some smaller HP printers that I wouldn't touch with a barge pole (business inkjet 2600 especially), HP are renowned for their sucess in producing quality plotters. The 1055cm is no exception.

You know, I've have a really good think and I really can't come up with a bad point about this plotter. It makes a bit of noise if it’s ... more

This has to be one of the best quality plotters on the market. Build quality is perfect and for the price you get an exceptional machine which will do you well.

Reliable ----------------------------------------------------------------------------

With light office use, we have had this machine for the last 18 months during which time we've never had to do anything but change ink and paper. It was bought by our company about three years prior to that and apparently it’s never gone wrong at all. Our support contract lapsed and we have never had to renew it!

I've also used one of these machines in another Architects office and that one never went wrong either - it was used fairly heavily in a practice of approx 20 CAD users doing housing/education/urban design projects.

Easy to use ----------------------------------------------------------------------------

With some printers and plotters you have a bit of a nightmare installing drivers and trying to make them work. Using the HP driver site is a doddle and the plotter is up and running in no time at all.

Using the correct driver, printing is instant and you can have a mono A1 plan printed in under a minute.

Printing graphics and photos is slightly different. I'd recommend using an application such as PosterJet RIP which will spool directly to the plotter and make printing much easier than using the normal print dialogue - where sometimes the plotter will hang with large graphics files.

The plotter has a small screen with buttons and a menu to browse through - all the usual options you would expect to see are there including print queue etc. You can cancel prints and move prints around in the queue which is very useful.

Consumables ---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Paper changing is very easy - anyone in the office could be told how to do it. Its the same with ink.

Print Quality ----------------------------------------------------------------------------

Graphics quality is very good - but don't expect photo quality. For coloured plans, shading and the odd large photo this plotter will do just fine.

Mono printing quality is very good and you couldn't expect any better.

Price ----------------------------------------------------------------------------

This isn't a budget plotter but it certainly is an extremely good buy in terms of reliability and quality.
It also isn't the most you will pay for a plotter - if you want photo quality poster printing look to spend a bit more on a different machine.

As always, consumables can be pricey if you buy from the wrong places. A good browse on the internet will give you some decent prices and they tend to be quite acceptable. We are able to pick up A1 rolls at about £7 each and inks at about £60 - £80 a cartridge.

Conclusion ----------------------------------------------------------------------------

Reliability is key to a sucessful CAD office environment. You cannot operate to deadlines with an unreliable plotter. HP really have come up trumps here with the 1055cm and while there are some smaller HP printers that I wouldn't touch with a barge pole (business inkjet 2600 especially), HP are renowned for their sucess in producing quality plotters. The 1055cm is no exception.

You know, I've have a really good think and I really can't come up with a bad point about this plotter. It makes a bit of noise if it’s in the same room as you but then most plotters are noisy to some extent. Thats the best I can do!

The most important point to me is... CAD Managers - bear this in mind - that our support contract lapsed and we have never renewed... It’s been THAT reliable for us. And lets face it, waving the costs saving flag is sure to get you support from your superiors who hold the purse strings.

An excellent machine. 

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