Did you know that the width of an engineering bond paper sheet can be up to 36″? This may seem big, but the width of a paper is a fraction of what makes engineering bond so unique.
There are many sizes and types of bond paper. Should your company have a project that needs production bond paper, would you know what to order?
This article will explain what you need to know about 20 lb. engineering bond paper. We’ll cover the differences between xerographic and engineering paper. We’ll also review how the common types of paper are available in sheets or on rolls.
What is Engineering Bond Paper?
In general, engineering bond paper is a lightweight version of the infamous ‘blueprints’. This paper replaced blueprints when computers entered the world of engineering.
The modern-day blueprint maintains its integrity because of its physical construction. Engineering bond paper has three main layers. This includes the sheet of mulberry or rayon fabric, a layer of sizing, and watermarked tissue.
This tissue gives engineering bond paper its strength. This protects the paper from giving out when exposed to the humidity.
Engineering bond paper was once manufactured in a small town in Ohio. Today it’s produced globally. Countries like Canada and China now produce bond paper.
Sizes of Engineering Bond Paper
There are three popular sizes of engineering bond paper including 36″x500′, 18″x500′, and 24″x500′. Most likely, you’ll want to order the 36″x500′ size. It’s wide enough for detailed graphics or images, and it’s also long enough to provide ample space for text.
If you’re looking for smaller bond paper options, the 18″x500′ size would be a good choice. The 24″x500′ size is perfect for large projects that need more than one sheet of paper.
Xerographic Paper or Engineering Paper?
The term “engineering bond paper” refers to the type of paper that most engineers print on. When making a purchase for this type of paper, it is important to know what kind of printer that you have, so that you can order the correct type of paper.
Xerographic Paper
Xerographic paper is manufactured on a 3” core and the roll lengths are 500ft and 650ft. This paper is designed to be printed on a wide-format printer that uses powder toner (Oce, KIP, Xerox, OKI-DATA/Seiko, etc.). It’s high quality, smooth, and durable, and is also available in a wide range of colors including smooth bright white.
This paper is often referred to as production bond or fanfold copier paper. Xerographic paper is also known for being strong and versatile. The plotter paper handles detailed printing and imaging.
Xerographic printers are also known as xerographic plotters. They use xerography to reproduce documents in color. This type of printing technology is often found in an office setting.
Inkjet Paper
Inkjet paper is manufactured on a 2” core and the roll lengths are 150ft or 300ft. This paper is designed to be printed on a wide-format printer that uses dye or pigment aqueous ink (HP Designjet, Canon, Epson).
Inkjet paper is a cost-effective type of paper and it is often used for engineering drawings and blueprints. The paper is usually lighter-weight paper, 20lb, that uses a different printing technology. It works well with printers and photocopiers, and prints clearly.
As engineers need an advanced level of printing technology, the use of a wide format printer for complex prints is common. These machines handle very large sheets of paper (“wide format”). The high resolution created by these printers ensures the images are sharp, which makes them readable over long distances.
Buying Engineering Bond Paper
Buying engineering bond paper is not the same as buying 500 sheets or a ream of photocopier paper. The wide format paper comes in sheets or paper rolls, and the rolls are available taped or untaped to core. Rolls are available in 500ft or 650ft, by the box or pallet, and the sheet quantity varies based on the size of the sheet: increments are 500, 1000, and 2000 sheets per package. The popular Ultra Bright bond paper is only stocked on paper rolls, but we can custom make sheets as needed.
Print Material Needs
Engineers use engineering bond paper for wiring diagrams, piping/plumbing diagrams, blueprints, and elevation drawings.
The best paper providers get the ordered paper into the hands of the user when needed. The Plotter Paper Guys pride themselves on meeting the demand. They make sure their customer’s orders get out the door in a quick, hassle-free manner.
Their quality service has made them leaders in the following markets:
- Architecture
- Engineering
- Construction
- Signage
- Display
The Plotter Paper Guys are troubleshooters who gather information to solve customer problems, bringing 40-years of experience providing solutions to their customers.
Select Your Production Bond Solution
You’ve learned that 20 lb. production bond paper comes in two types. Determine if your project needs xerographic or inkjet engineering bond paper. Your project will determine your needed paper size.
There are several common wide-format sizes to select from. Some sizes are available in sheets and others on rolls. You can also order custom sizes for special projects.
Contact the Plotter Paper Guys to learn more about the quality of paper and pricing. They will answer any questions you have about engineering bond papers.
