TAVCO AEC Technology Blog

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Blueprints are a classic historical icon of the construction industry. For some more seasoned AEC professionals, blueprints bring back nostalgic memories. For other, younger people, a blueprint (or blueline) drawing may be best viewed in a museum, not at a job site.

But, the fact remains, printed construction plans are still used regularly (I know this because companies still buy a lot of plotters from us). And, while digital files and applications are wonderful to work with, having a set of paper plans available onsite is still useful.

This still leads companies to purchase new plotters or MFPs. And when exploring options, you have probably wondered, “should I get an inkjet or a toner plotter?”

No matter which brand of ink jet plotter you have, most all are built on the same type of mechanical platform. Though there are some specific differences, they all share some similar characteristics. 

Therefore, ALL wide-format printers are susceptible to the same types of operational issues. So, here are the 4 most common issues, and suggestions solutions for each.

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During the mid-to-late 2000s, many architectural, engineering, and construction offices throughout the country purchased Kip 3100 plotters and MFP units.

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The new Canon imagePROGRAF TZ 30000 is specifically engineered to be the fastest imagePROGRAF plotter ever. In addition, it’s packed with many new technologies to make your work more accessible than ever. See how the new automation features of the TZ Series outmatch all inkjet CAD plotters that came before it.

When it comes to construction projects, Subcontractors (Subs) are the heart and soul of any job. General Contractors and Architects rely on their Subs (HVAC, plumbing, lighting, electrical, concrete, etc.) to complete the project on time and under budget. So, efficiency and productivity are the keys to subcontractor success.

But, it is a changing world and some subcontractors have issues adapting to some of the shifting business dynamics within the construction industry. The entire construction workflow us much more digital. Though this change has dramatically decreased the need to print hard copies of construction drawings, the need still exists. 

Plotting needs have certainly changed, but have not gone away completely. In fact, construction-related printing is still very vital, but dynamic. So, every contractor should have access to a wide-format plotter, for a variety of reasons. 

Understanding the different weights of plotter paper is an essential part of any AEC office environment. It’s used for many things, including printing a check-set of architectural drawings, renderings, and maps. But how do you know which type of paper weight will work best for you?

Map Plotter Solutions With a Graphics Printer

As cool as onscreen, interactive maps are, sometimes you just need a high-quality printed one to deliver the "wow factor" to that you need for your presentation. 

But, when it comes to printing maps, many companies often a turn to their standard 4-color CAD plotter for this task. Too bad they don't realize that this is not be the best choice for the job.

This is because printing maps or aerial photos require much more dynamic performance than basic plotters can provide.  

Learn the key points that you should consider when researching a map plotter - here are a few important aspects to keep in mind.

Architectural design is something that is constantly evolving. One ever-changing aspect, that has completely redefined the design-build process, is BIM software (Building Information Modeling).

This is achieved through a variety of different software applications, all of which promote the absence of paper.

But, there are still plenty of opportunities where companies need to print construction plans - and the color is absolutely crucial when printing 3D BIM Images. 

Despite incredible technological advances, the construction industry remains one of the most inefficient enterprises in the nation concerning labor productivity. (Source: Census Bureau, BLS).

The primary reason for this is that many mistakes are made as a result of information not being communicated clearly. So, how can one improve both communication and efficiency? Besides migrating to more digital platforms, a straightforward change is to shift the company’s workflow from black/white plans to color construction documents.

Your old plotter has served you well for years. But, how much is that old technology holding you back? Probably more than you think. 

Companies generally are pretty good about keeping their IT assets up to date. But surprisingly, this is usually constrained to server, workstation and software assets.

[ Free Consultation ] Are you interested in exploring upgrade options for wide-format printers, but have no idea where to start? Get help from our top tech experts in a free consultation call.
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When it comes to researching technology, in Google We Trust! 

Buyers today generally start their research on the web, and for good reason. There is a lot of content available for them to explore. 

So, in an effort to save you a chunk of time, we are providing a comparison between the well-known HP Designjet T730 and the new, popular Canon TM 300.

Duty Cycle -- It's a term that is normally related to office copiers or desktop printers. It usually refers to the maximum number of pages that a particular printer can produce in a month.

So, it is common to see a number like 20,000 or 60,000 when looking at those specs.

But, how does the term “duty cycle” relate to wide format printers?