Review
Epson SC-T3100M The wide format printing market is so dominated by HP that it’s often hard for other manufacturers to be heard. But, with a new compact 24-inch (A1) multifunction printer (MFP), Epson has plenty to shout about, writes Greg Corke
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hen large format printer distributor ArtSystems asked if I’d be interested in reviewing Epson’s new multi-function printer (MFP) I have to admit I was a little hesitant. Where on earth would I find room for a 24-inch (A1) printer / scanner / copier in my space constrained home office? And how would I even get it up the stairs? The reality is, the Epson SC-T3100M is not your average wide format MFP. The compact unit is considerably smaller and lighter than comparative products from HP and Canon. It measures 970mm (w) x 505 (d) x 292 (h) and weighs 35.3kg. This means it’s relatively easy for two people to carry and sits comfortably on a desk or sideboard (although there’s also an optional stand with catch basket). And because the device is WiFi-enabled it can go anywhere. The SC-T3100M is not a completely new product. It’s an evolution of the SC-T3100 and SC-T3100N inkjet printers that Epson www.AECmag.com
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launched a couple of years ago, but the new model has an integrated 600dpi Contact Imaging Sensor (CIS) colour scanner. Impressively, turning it into a 3-in-1 device has not increased its size one bit. As a printer, the SC-T3100M supports a single 2-inch core roll of paper up to 24-inches wide x 100m long and cut sheets up to A1. It can automatically switch between the two with no manual intervention. There’s also a built in auto sheet feeder for up to 50 sheets of A4 or A3, so the machine can double up as a standard office printer. Like all Epson inkjets, the SC-T3100M features micro piezo print head technology, rather than the more common thermal inkjet print heads that you get with HP and Canon. The technology works by applying an electrical voltage to a piezo crystal, which then expands and contracts to propel thousands of ink droplets through the nozzle. In contrast, thermal printheads feature a heating element that creates an
air bubble which ejects the ink. According to Epson, because piezo print heads are not subject to the same heating and cooling stresses as thermal print heads are, they don’t lose their shape or accuracy over time and therefore don’t need to be replaced. In fact, the print heads are included in the machine’s one year warranty, which is a big plus for a product type often known for its big running costs. The SC-T3100M uses four inkjet cartridges — Black (50ml or 80ml) and CMY (26ml or 50ml). At £23.20 (ex VAT) for the 26ml cartridges and £36.59 (ex VAT) for the 50ml, these seem reasonably priced and even though our 26ml colour starter cartridges drained quickly on initial setup they actually ended up lasting for a considerable number of prints. The machine uses pigment ink, which has a better resistance to water and smudging than dye ink, making it well suited to construction sites. It’s also lightfast, so good for display posters. The machine is controlled through an January / February 2021
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