Does anyone know of a laser printer that will print maps to an acceptable standard for a reasonable cost. (Tried tested kicked and squeezed etc.)
Factors that a non techie like me guess may be relevant include capital cost, running costs (i.e. cost per map printed), size, speed of printing (mpp) and power useage. Also, how easy will it be to get the colour settings right!! The less tinkering needed the better.
All comments and thoughts welcome.
Has anyone tried to print maps at small local events with success or is this just pie in the sky stuff?
Colour Laser printers
Moderators: [nope] cartel, team nopesport
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Done lots of research both for the club and also for my clients.
Chasers uses a Ricoh Aficio CL7000 (now 7100)
rrp is about 5k + vat but one can be got for 3.5k + VAT if deals are done.
superb colour (600 or 1200 dpi) and 28 - 35 ppm( or should i say maps per min ) A4
MDOC use a similar speed OKI machine (9500 I think though Dave Mawdsley is the chap to contact
might be a bit out of your budget though.
What sort of numbers are you talking ie what sort of duty cycle is the printer going to do ?
are you printing from OCAD?
Do the maps contain lots of dark green or lots of yellow open.?
Do you need A3 as well as A4 ?
I can give more advice then
Oh and large lasers are very heavy and dont travel well due to toner spillage - might want to consider a fast inkjet for that type of work.
Chasers uses a Ricoh Aficio CL7000 (now 7100)
rrp is about 5k + vat but one can be got for 3.5k + VAT if deals are done.
superb colour (600 or 1200 dpi) and 28 - 35 ppm( or should i say maps per min ) A4
MDOC use a similar speed OKI machine (9500 I think though Dave Mawdsley is the chap to contact
might be a bit out of your budget though.
What sort of numbers are you talking ie what sort of duty cycle is the printer going to do ?
are you printing from OCAD?
Do the maps contain lots of dark green or lots of yellow open.?
Do you need A3 as well as A4 ?
I can give more advice then
Oh and large lasers are very heavy and dont travel well due to toner spillage - might want to consider a fast inkjet for that type of work.
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stodge - blue
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- Joined: Wed May 05, 2004 12:02 pm
- Location: Milford
I've got an A4 Minolta QMS.... now cost about £350 from PC World. Does perfectly usable map prints. Been used for lots of training camps etc & also for the SHI / Scot v LTU last year.
I know the SOA have just invested in a new Xerox machine.... Steve Barrett at Stirling Surveys will have details... it's an A3 job so pricy...
Think most important thing is to have good quality paper:)
I know the SOA have just invested in a new Xerox machine.... Steve Barrett at Stirling Surveys will have details... it's an A3 job so pricy...
Think most important thing is to have good quality paper:)
- gross2004
Given the amount of cash we have as a small club I was thinking of one of the budget printers for £500 or less.
One of the more expensive lasers would be difficult to justify on the number of maps printed each year.
Thanks for all your comments so far.
One of the more expensive lasers would be difficult to justify on the number of maps printed each year.
Thanks for all your comments so far.
- redkite
- green
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- Joined: Wed Apr 28, 2004 5:40 pm
- Location: Wales
Re: Colour Laser printers
redkite wrote:Does anyone know of a laser printer that will print maps to an acceptable standard for a reasonable cost. (Tried tested kicked and squeezed etc.)
I have a Xerox Phaser 6100BD, £304.32 inc VAT from ameiva.co.uk; replacement toner costs £92.71 for the colours (claimed 5000 pages at 5%) and £69.80 for black (claimed 7000 pages at 5%) - I haven't yet used up the originals so I don't know how accurate the lifetime is.
It's A4 and 5ppm, and can print double-sided (this was a key feature for me as I bought it to print my thesis, but could also be useful for printing descriptions). Using decent paper the print quality is reasonably good - I printed the maps for the JEC sprint using it, and it's also likely to be used for most of CROC's future events.
It's fairly large and heavy, so I haven't thought about taking it to events, but I'm sure that in combination with a suitable generator it would be possible to print on demand if the numbers attending an event are low (or if most maps are printed in advance and the at-event facility is used to cope with an unexpectedly high demand for a particular course).
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MarkC - orange
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- Joined: Mon Jan 26, 2004 9:46 pm
- Location: Farnham
things to be look out for
running costs are going to far outway the initial purchase cost after a few years as colour toner is very expensive.
Have a look at toner capacities against price when comparing the machines.
Make sure you can replace the colours separately ( we use twice as much yellow toner as cyan and magenta.)
There are also other consumables - eg the fuser unit which will last approx 3 years is normally very expensive.
ppm rates are often given in draft mode (300 dpi) and to go higher (you really need 600 for decent maps) some machines slow down alot (check spec sheet carefully). There is also normally a huge difference in speed between B/W and colour.
running costs are mostly given with a 5% ink paper coverage which isn’t true of most maps.
For purchasing if you are not happy to do mail order try going into a PC world and going to the back where there is normally a business centre (large discounts off of store prices if you blag it)
watch for connectivity - make sure you have the means to print to it. -
Parallel now dead - USB, Firewire or Ethernet the one to go for.
The type of paper is less important for lasers as it is for inkjet where it makes a huge difference both in quality and cost.
for training maps cheapo photocopying paper is fine through our Ricoh, otherwise we just use cheap 90 gsm colour laser paper (although 110 is better)
If you want me to look at some alternative specs post the ones you have in mind and Ill have a look.
oh and watch the size and weight - our ricoh is the size of a washing machine and takes two people to lift. mind you it will do 1500 A4 maps per hour
running costs are going to far outway the initial purchase cost after a few years as colour toner is very expensive.
Have a look at toner capacities against price when comparing the machines.
Make sure you can replace the colours separately ( we use twice as much yellow toner as cyan and magenta.)
There are also other consumables - eg the fuser unit which will last approx 3 years is normally very expensive.
ppm rates are often given in draft mode (300 dpi) and to go higher (you really need 600 for decent maps) some machines slow down alot (check spec sheet carefully). There is also normally a huge difference in speed between B/W and colour.
running costs are mostly given with a 5% ink paper coverage which isn’t true of most maps.
For purchasing if you are not happy to do mail order try going into a PC world and going to the back where there is normally a business centre (large discounts off of store prices if you blag it)
watch for connectivity - make sure you have the means to print to it. -
Parallel now dead - USB, Firewire or Ethernet the one to go for.
The type of paper is less important for lasers as it is for inkjet where it makes a huge difference both in quality and cost.
for training maps cheapo photocopying paper is fine through our Ricoh, otherwise we just use cheap 90 gsm colour laser paper (although 110 is better)
If you want me to look at some alternative specs post the ones you have in mind and Ill have a look.
oh and watch the size and weight - our ricoh is the size of a washing machine and takes two people to lift. mind you it will do 1500 A4 maps per hour
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stodge - blue
- Posts: 411
- Joined: Wed May 05, 2004 12:02 pm
- Location: Milford
stodge wrote:
The type of paper is less important for lasers as it is for inkjet where it makes a huge difference both in quality and cost.
for training maps cheapo photocopying paper is fine through our Ricoh, otherwise we just use cheap 90 gsm colour laser paper (although 110 is better)
Choice of paper is actually very important:) I have run on some maps using crap paper - laser & normal printing - and it can make orienteering really hard work:)
Also on some paper used with lasers the toner rubs off on folds.... don't know if that's a paper or toner problem
- gross2004
I have to agree with gross, the paper is just as important as the printer and the ink. crap paper will give youu crarp maps, its as simple as that. I dont remember thinkining the maps at SHIs were bad, so Gross musst have donne a pretty good job.
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mharky - team nopesport
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- Joined: Fri Oct 24, 2003 3:39 pm
I think alot is to do with how good the laser printer is.
Our machine produces really quite good results on cheapy paper - yes they are better with the top money paper but for training the cheapo is fine.
though compared to the petrol getting somewhere 10 p on the cost of a map is peanuts...
Our machine produces really quite good results on cheapy paper - yes they are better with the top money paper but for training the cheapo is fine.
though compared to the petrol getting somewhere 10 p on the cost of a map is peanuts...
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stodge - blue
- Posts: 411
- Joined: Wed May 05, 2004 12:02 pm
- Location: Milford
I guess it really all comes downn to what'Redkite' wants to use the printer for, if its juts traininng and small local events then there is no need for a several thousannd pound printer and water marked embossed paper, iif however its for the JK or somthing i guess quality is required.
Redkite, what are tha maps for?
Redkite, what are tha maps for?
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mharky - team nopesport
- Posts: 4541
- Joined: Fri Oct 24, 2003 3:39 pm
mharky wrote:however its for the JK or somthing i guess quality is required.
I hope it's a very long time before events like the JK which are important resort to producing maps with lasers.... At present old fashioned technology still outshines modern methods:)
Go orienteering in Lithuania......... best in the world:)
Real Name - Gross
http://www.scottishotours.info
Real Name - Gross
http://www.scottishotours.info
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Gross - god
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- Location: Heading back to Scotland
I hope it's a very long time before events like the JK which are important resort to producing maps with lasers.... At present old fashioned technology still outshines modern methods:)
PM me your address and Ill send you a map in the post
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stodge - blue
- Posts: 411
- Joined: Wed May 05, 2004 12:02 pm
- Location: Milford
WCOC and LOC both have the Minolta QMS 2350. You have to set the colours (CMYK percentages), but that is soon set up in an OCAD map and then copied to others. The WCOC machine has printed 36,000 maps to date. Every event has overprinted and bagged maps.
Work on about 15p per A4. Paper cost is extra. I use 150gsm coated paper. You would need to source that from a printer, perhaps 4000 A4 at a time.
We have used the printers at events with no problem, once or twice in the boot of a car. They have paid for themselves a couple of times over!
I chose the 2350 because it has postscript capability, but you can get a cheaper version that doesn't and will print direct from OCAD.
Work on about 15p per A4. Paper cost is extra. I use 150gsm coated paper. You would need to source that from a printer, perhaps 4000 A4 at a time.
We have used the printers at events with no problem, once or twice in the boot of a car. They have paid for themselves a couple of times over!
I chose the 2350 because it has postscript capability, but you can get a cheaper version that doesn't and will print direct from OCAD.
- RJ
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