HP Z3100/Z3200 long term experiences / extended warrenty necessary?

[EOTS]

Hello,

as my Epson 4900 died, I switched to a HP Z3200,
which came Dead-On-Arrival:
http://www.largeformatphotography.info/forum/showthread.php?98496-HP-Z3200ps-DOA

So I'm wondering if I should buy the 3-year (around 1100 EUR + tax)
or 5-year extended warrenty (around 2400 EUR + tax).

What are your experiences on this?

Which long term issues did you experience?

Best regards and thanks,
Martin

[Peter Mounier]

Sorry to hear about your Z3200. I made my first print on 8-28-2008 with my Z3100. Unfortunately (for me, boo hoo) I had to replace the spectrophotometer ($385 part) last Aug, after 4 years of moderate use (over 16,000 square feet of media through it, and 12,815 ml of ink). I haven't read anywhere that that is a common problem. It was a 5 hour job for me, moving very slowly and deliberately, but very doable following the step by step instructions in the Z3100 service manual. I only needed a philips head screw driver and a star shaped screw driver bit, which I got at the local hardware store, to do the entire job. There was a lot of disassembly to get to the spectro, but I was impressed by the engineering, and the instructions in the service manual, which makes it a user serviceable printer (if you're inclined).
Other than that, no problems.
More common, I think is replacing the carriage belt, which is also user serviceable. There's a video on YouTube that goes through the procedure. Apparently the belt starts to deposit flakes on the prints as a warning to the user before it breaks. On my 4.5 yr. old printer, I don't see any wear on the belt yet.

Peter

[Jim collum]

my z3100 (24" use has been very light.. I got mine back in 2006, and have had only one problem... the belt drive belt. There are repair manuals online, and although a lot of disassembly to get there .. again.. the same tools as above were needed. In that entire time, I haven't had to replace a head, nor have I had a head clog.

The only issue that i've seen of late is the console LCD will occasionally dim (contrast low) to where it's hard to see. turning up the contrast (and then back down) cures that for a while. I'd imagine I might need a new one some day.. but all-in-all... i've been a *very* happy user

i'

[EOTS]

Thanks Peter and Jim!

Good to hear that the issues are mostly minor and mostly user-doable.

I would be very much interested in the repair/service manuals.
Are those available officially?
Or from "more unofficial" sources ;-)

Best regards,
Martin

[Peter Mounier]

Here's one I found online for the Z3200. If that doesn't work for you, I'll send you my Z3100 service manual. It's 16mb, so try the link first.
http://printermanualndriver.com/download/hp-designjet-z3200-service-manual

Peter

[sully75]

I don't know anything about that printer. I did have an HP B9180, which was supposed to be awesome. Initially it was, but it turned into a total POS...I ended up getting 6 of them from HP, all DOA. Total waste of time. I didn't make prints for several years because of it.

I'd go back to Epson. I would not deal with HP again.

[EOTS]

Thanks for the link Peter!

In the meantime, the issues seem to be resolved (partially yet to verify):
( http://www.largeformatphotography.info/forum/showthread.php?98496-HP-Z3200ps-DOA )

One other question: does it work to create a profile using sheet paper (A2)
or do I have to use the roll?

The printer did seem to use the whole width of the 24" roll (with the HP Professional Paper)

Best regards,
Martin

[Peter Mounier]

Before you create a profile, you need to calibrate the printer using an A4 or A (8.5"x11") sheet. After calibration you use an A3 or B (11x17) sheet to profile a paper. I always use sheets, but you can use the roll if you want to. Sometimes the carriage will traverse the width of the printer regardless of what size the paper is.
If you calibrate or profile with roll paper, just tell the printer that the paper size is A4 (or whatever) in the print size dialog and it will only print on that size, as if it were a sheet of that size. Choosing either roll or sheet only determines how the print will be ejected when it's finished. If it's a roll, the print is either automatically cut, or ejected far enough for you to manually cut the print from the roll. If you choose sheet, it will eject the sheet until it's free from the printer.

Peter

[EOTS]

Thanks a lot for the detailed explanation Peter!

Will try the Canson Baryta Photographique,
which I'm very curious about :-)

Best regards,
Martin

[SergeyT]

When using roll do your Calibrate Color from the printers menu and you won't need to worry about the paper size...

[EOTS]

Thanks Sergey!

[Photomagica]

I got a z3100 24 inch about a year after they came out and I've had a z3200 44" for about two years. Each machine has had one significant repair, the z3100 had a drive issue quite awhile after I sold it, but that was solved for a couple of hundred dollars by a local independent service firm. It continues to run fine. My z3200 blew a red print head and spewed ink inside the machine. I diagnosed the problem, did the cleanup and replaced the head. There have been no further problems. I've heard varying experiences from z-series users I keep in touch with ranging from no problems whatsoever in most cases to a succession of expensive repairs in two cases.

Personally I have not bought the extended warrantees, feeling that one or two repairs over the warrantee period would be unlikely to exceed the price of the warrantee. If I were running a job shop and depended upon the machine to earn income everyday, I might decide differently. Also think about who in your region could do a repair for you if you do not have the warrantee.

Bill

[Don Kellogg]

I would definitely get the longest warranty available for the HP Z3200 if you decide to get the Z3200. I am on my 4th--- that's right 4th ---formatter board for the Z3200. If I didn't have the extended warranty I would have had to replace them at about $1250.00 apiece. The PCA board has also had to be replaced which is not a user replaceable item. There have been four service calls on the printer. In fact, the last technician said that he would contact the company about possibly replacing the entire printer if I had another issue. So far I haven't had any belt trouble which seems to be another common problem. Also, the inks have the habit of expiring and you get a terse little message saying the the warranty will expire if you don't replace the cartridges with fresh ones (at $70.00 apiece). I am happy with the spectrophotometer/calibration features and print quality but the reliability concerns would make me not consider another HP product when the current one dies and is out of warranty. Don Kellogg