Printer for just printing out mounting patterns

[AdmiralSigns]

Our old Roland VP-540 finally became unsalvageable, and we're opting to get a separate vinyl cutter since we do more of that than printing. But, we've always printed out our mounting patterns on large drawing paper, and if we sent them to a 3rd party printing source, with how many patterns we use, it would eventually cost as much as printer anyways.

Do you have any recommendation for the cheapest printer we can go with that doesn't have any excess color options? Preferably 48in, but I can make 36in work.

 

[JBurton]

Maybe a used hp 360? Less maintenance, and used models are abundant. Power needs may be more of an issue than you want to get into for a printer with such a narrow use case.
What about just slapping a pen in whatever plotter and penning patterns instead?

 

[unclebun]

You'll find markedly lower pricing if you get printers that are designed for printing on paper only. Oddly they tend to come in 24" or 44" widths. Some 36". But roughly half the price of a solvent inkjet.

 

[RabidOne]

Why can't you get a pen tool for your plotter? We make all our fabrication and installation patterns on our Graphtec.

 

[Signstein]

If you're already getting a new plotter, than just get a felt tipped pen to go along with it. Not sure if all plotters have optional pens for drawing patterns, but every one I've ever used has had a little pen insert that you can pop in for drawing patterns.

 

[unclebun]

Why can't you get a pen tool for your plotter? We make all our fabrication and installation patterns on our Graphtec.

This is how we make our paper patterns. I was guessing the OP was printing color pictures for some reason.

 

[AdmiralSigns]

The plotter pens I didn't know about. That seems like a really convenient option too. I would jsut set it up like a regular pattren too right?

 

[signheremd]

The plotter pens I didn't know about. That seems like a really convenient option too. I would jsut set it up like a regular pattren too right?

Pen traces where it would have cut - so send it over like cut vinyl, but change out the tool. Don't know which plotter you have, but for a Graphtec FC9000 or FC75-100 you use a Graphtec PHP31-FIBER pen holder and Staedtler Lumocolor non-permanent marker STD-3169 (Art. Nr. 316-9)

 

[unclebun]

This is how we make our paper patterns.

We have a Graphtec with the pen holder. You can fit a round bic stic in the holder or the expensive Staedtler pens which like to dry out even with the cap on. You change the pressure to the pen setting and plot it just as if you were cutting vinyl.

 

[BetaCtz]

The actual graphtec holder is silly expensive.
I know there's a number of different ones on aliexpress/ebay, but one needs to measure pretty closely.

Anyone have a good example of an FC9000 that for sure works?

 

[ikarasu]

The actual graphtec holder is silly expensive.
I know there's a number of different ones on aliexpress/ebay, but one needs to measure pretty closely.

Anyone have a good example of an FC9000 that for sure works?

The 9000 comes with a fiber tip (steadtler,) pen holder in the box - for felt pens like sharpies. I've never bought a steadtler felt as I never use it... but it says it's universal and fits all them.

Other than that.... The blade holder is the same for the older graphtecs too, so anyone marked for graphtec should work.

 

[Ronny Axelsson]

...change the pressure to the pen setting and plot it just as if you were cutting vinyl.

And set the offset value to '0' to get the corners correct.
There is probably a 'Pen' setting among the defaults in your cutting software.

 

[chester215]

You could find a used 'good' printer that maybe needs a print head.
There are printers out there that need a print head because they do not print 1 color well but the other colors still work.
If you don't care about the color it prints, you could probably find one cheap.

 

[AdmiralSigns]

If you're already getting a new plotter, than just get a felt tipped pen to go along with it. Not sure if all plotters have optional pens for drawing patterns, but every one I've ever used has had a little pen insert that you can pop in for drawing patterns.
View attachment 181126

These ones seem to be out of stock, but it seems like, looking at a lot of other videos, any pen/marker can do it. I'll look into that adapter.

 

[JBurton]

We used to buy the clickable sharpies, add a wrap or two of tape around them, then put them into the regular old graphtec blade holder holder. The tape was mostly there to give some friction so it would slide up. I think the clickable sharpies had just the right diameter to fit in the holder.

 

[Signstein]

If I remember correctly, the legit holders/pens are ridiculously expensive for what they are. I'm actually using Gerber/HP pens - they work in the EnVision and the HP/Summa plotters.

 

[RabidOne]

If I remember correctly, the legit holders/pens are ridiculously expensive for what they are. I'm actually using Gerber/HP pens - they work in the EnVision and the HP/Summa plotters.
View attachment 181183

The actual plotter pens are too pricey. We just use the pen holder and buy Staedler pens by the box.

 

[cornholio]

I suggest a water based DesignJet. They are fast and used ones are cheap.

 

[BetaCtz]

anyone know of an aftermarket pen holder like the one that comes with Graphtec?
My FC9000 was bought second-hand, so I didn't receive one.