I have been asked to make a report print using a dot matrix printer but i have no experience with these what so ever.
Does anyone have any tips or things i should look out for before i choose one to buy.

Thanks for your Help

Alex

Hi Alex

The only thing I can say about them is they are very noisy so make sure you get the quietest one you can. Other than that you can treat them like any other printer.

Helena

All I can say about dot-matrix printers is that they are loud very slow and the quality is not that good. but they are cheap and effective.

The only other piece of advice, if it is not too late, is why a dot matrix and not a laser/bubble jet? Is it because the client will be using carbon paper hence the need for an impact printer. If so make sure that it can feed the paper source without jamming and that the impact is strong enough.

Yes it is for carbon copies so i will check that before i buy one.

Thanks for all your help, speak to you all again soon

Alex

One thing I have found when trying to use Dot Matrix before now is that if it is set up as 'Generic Text Only' in Windows, your reports will look terrible, (it's virtually impossible to get the right line spacing on the report and so it comes out with unpredictable extra spaces between some, but not all lines.

If you set the printer up with it's own driver, you should get reasonable quality, but the printing will be slower than generic text.

We use OKI Microline 395 printers - they are very reliable, have a long duty cycle and are not too noisy but cost about £800 each, they will print up to 6 copies on NCR (non-carbon) paper.

Mike

PS is this because the client already has stationery that they want to use? - It might be better in the long run to go for laser stationery and just print several copies.

it is mainly because the report to be printed is a delivery reciept which has to be signed by the customer when the product is delivered and this is split into four parts (2 to the customer & 2 on file). I did suggest printing out the copies on a laser printer but the were not keen on the custome having to sign it four times. Not Ideal I Know. But i can't see any way around it to be honest.

It is possible to get A4 laser paper that is NCR coated, then the copies could be printed separately and assembled into a set. - any signatures etc would copy through because of the NCR.

Mike

thanks for your help mike
i will get that paper costed up it could be a serious option.


Alex

I agree with Mike Gurman - The Okidata printers are best for pushing large amounts of paper and they hit (impact) very well. The model he mentioned will print the 4 part forms nicely. If your client requires an even heavier duty machine, look at the Okidata 4410. Not only is it durable, it's extremely fast. It has a 9 pin printhead, which prints in lower quality detail than a 24 pin printhead, but far outlasts them.
Shep

One last thought....

A bit low tech, but you could print the copies on laser and just use carbon paper.....hmmm....probably not.

Mike