Using a copy machine as a network printer

[Janie]

We have a Panasonic DP-6030 copy machine with a network card.  Does anyone know a downside to using it as a network printer?

[Jan Regnier]

We have a Canon Imagerunner and we use it as one of the network printers (and scan to files for each workstation and faxing) - we have not had any issues.

[Jeff Zylstra]

The copier will be busy when printing?   JK.  We've done this for years, and print all of our large print jobs on it since the cost per page is smaller on this machine than on our printers, and of course, it is faster than most printers.  The only thing I can think of is it may cost more in maintenance or support costs if you have a "per copy" service agreement and pay by a charge for each one printed.

[Billy Welsh]

We have been doing for some time as well.  Only issues we have run into are "orphan" jobs that no one claims and the occasional confidential job that the user does not password protect like they should.

[Hans Manhave]

As mentioned, it is cheaper to use/buy a multi-function copier than the same model as printer.

We actually bought an Okidata 3641 as a copier/scanner/fax/printer and have only used it as a printer (a very fine one at that).  Supplies are cheaper.  Cost per copy is the same.

Usually this class of machine has different paper handling for the output when a printer or as a copier.  But with the mfgs dropping mailboxes of their options, there is not much remaining to set it apart.

The machines sort out their own service priority (copy/print) and on many you can set it.  It helps to designate the output defaults so you don't have to pick up everything to see if it is yours.

[Jeff Zylstra]

Good points, Hans.  Ours also rotates each different copy of the job so they don't get all messed up within the same print job, and you can also have it rotate each separate print job as well.