Plotter printers are no small purchase, and when determining if they’re worth the investment, you might ask about the upfront costs and the price of paper and ink. However, one of the most common questions people ask is what the lifespan of a typical plotter printer is. Unfortunately, there’s no clear and concise answer, as it depends on a number of factors.
What Is the Lifespan of a Typical Plotter Printer?
The average lifespan of a plotter printer is about three to eight years, and if you think that’s quite a large range for a printer, you’d be correct. Almost every professional you talk to will have a different answer. Some might say five to six years, while others will give you a hard three. However, three to eight generally encompasses these varied ranges. There’s no real way to give a solid answer because, as we’ll get into, many things affect the lifespan of a plotter printer.
What Affects Lifespan?
The quality of the machine, how much you print, the quality of what you’re printing, and maintenance affect the lifespan of a typical plotter printer. As with any other machine, the more you use it and the more demand you put on it, the shorter its lifespan will become. If you print at a printer’s max PPM on high-quality mode every single day, you’ll significantly decrease its lifespan. If you notice your printer is taking longer to print, print quality has taken a dive, or you’re experiencing breakdowns, it’s probably time to replace your printer.
How Can I Extend the Lifespan of a Plotter Printer?
Preventive maintenance is the only way to extend the lifespan of your printer, or at least make sure it doesn’t break down too soon. This includes cleaning the guide ramps, cleaning the maintenance station can cap, and printing a test pattern once a week to make sure the ink is flowing correctly. It’s also best to print in draft mode when you can and unplug your printer when it’s not in use. If your printer is on, the print head will periodically flush out the ink nozzles as a part of self-maintenance. This costs money, and the less you can run your printer, the less wear and tear you put on its parts.
At Plotter Paper Guys, we know how important it is to keep your printer and business running at prices you can afford. That’s why we sell affordable plotter printer paper and other printer supplies and accessories in one place.
