The HP DesignJet T650 is a 36-inch (914 mm) large format plotter designed for architectural practices, engineering firms, and technical consultancies producing CAD drawings and construction plans at A1 and A0 scale. It prints an A1 drawing in 25 seconds and produces up to 82 A1 pages per hour using HP 712 Bright Office inks: pigment black for sharp CAD line work and dye-based cyan, magenta, and yellow for colour presentations. The T650 handles both roll and cut-sheet media with an automatic sheet feeder, switching between A3 and A0 formats without manual intervention. It connects via Gigabit Ethernet, Wi-Fi, and USB, and supports direct PDF plotting through HP Click software with no RIP required. Sold and serviced in South Africa by Graficomp, an HP Amplify Commercial Specialist and certified HP ASDP service partner.
HP DesignJet T650 36-inch plotter printing A1 architectural construction drawings in a small studio environment
These are the operational reasons AEC practices choose in-house plotting over bureau outsourcing, and why the T650 is the right machine for practices printing 20 to 50 A1 drawings per week.
At Johannesburg and Cape Town bureau rates of R15 to R25 per A1 sheet, a practice printing 20 sheets per week spends R1,200 to R2,000 per month on outsourced plotting. An HP DesignJet T650 typically reaches break-even within 12 months. Every sheet printed after that point is pure savings on consumables only.
At 1317 x 605 x 932 mm with stand included, the T650 occupies roughly the same floor space as a standing desk with a side table. It is one of the most compact 36-inch plotters available and fits in a small architectural studio without dedicated machine room space.
AEC practices print A4, A3, A2, A1, and A0 in the same working day. The T650 automatic sheet feeder handles A3 and smaller cut sheets while the roll handles A1 and A0, switching based on job size without operator intervention. Mixed tender sets containing A4 written pages and A1 drawings print as a single batch.
AEC buyers export PDFs from AutoCAD, Revit, ArchiCAD, or Civil 3D and expect them to print. HP Click accepts multiple PDF files, detects page sizes automatically, and sends the entire batch in one click. No driver configuration. No RIP. No specialist operator. HP reports a 2x speed improvement in job preparation over comparable competitive workflows.
South African AEC practices and engineering firms on working with Graficomp.
We were sending 30 to 40 A1 sheets to the bureau every week. After 8 months with the T650, the machine had paid for itself. Now our tender sets are out the door in 15 minutes rather than the next day.
Graficomp installed and configured everything on-site. HP Click was set up for our AutoCAD workflow before the team left. We were printing the same afternoon.
The automatic sheet feeder was the deciding factor for us. We print A4 reports and A1 drawings in the same job. No manual switching, no delays. For a small practice that's a real advantage.
The rental option made the decision straightforward. Fixed monthly cost, HP service included, no capital outlay. We got the machine our team needed without tying up project capital.
Line accuracy on construction drawings is everything. The T650 holds tolerance across an A0 sheet. Our site foreman has not queried a dimension from a printed drawing since we installed it.
We were sending 30 to 40 A1 sheets to the bureau every week. After 8 months with the T650, the machine had paid for itself. Now our tender sets are out the door in 15 minutes rather than the next day.
Graficomp installed and configured everything on-site. HP Click was set up for our AutoCAD workflow before the team left. We were printing the same afternoon.
The automatic sheet feeder was the deciding factor for us. We print A4 reports and A1 drawings in the same job. No manual switching, no delays. For a small practice that's a real advantage.
The rental option made the decision straightforward. Fixed monthly cost, HP service included, no capital outlay. We got the machine our team needed without tying up project capital.
Line accuracy on construction drawings is everything. The T650 holds tolerance across an A0 sheet. Our site foreman has not queried a dimension from a printed drawing since we installed it.
The T650 is positioned for practices producing 20 to 50 A1 drawings per week. At that volume, in-house plotting is clearly more economical than bureau outsourcing, and the 25-second A1 speed means tender sets are complete in under 15 minutes. The automatic sheet feeder removes a handling step the HP DesignJet T630 does not offer in every configuration.
| Weekly A1 Volume | Estimated Bureau Cost (per month) | Estimated In-House Cost (per month) | Break-Even Guidance |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 sheets | R600 to R1,000 | Contact Graficomp | Bureau may still be economical at this volume |
| 20 sheets | R1,200 to R2,000 | Contact Graficomp | T630 or T650 typically breaks even within 12 months |
| 50 sheets | R3,000 to R5,000 | Contact Graficomp | T650 or T1600. In-house is clearly more economical |
| 100+ sheets | R6,000+ | Contact Graficomp | HP DesignJet T1600 or T2600 MFP. Bureau is not viable |
These estimates are based on typical bureau rates in Johannesburg and Cape Town as of 2026. Contact Graficomp for a cost comparison based on your actual weekly volume and drawing complexity.
The HP DesignJet T650 works with AutoCAD, Revit, ArchiCAD, Civil 3D, MicroStation, and any application that exports to PDF or sends output through a standard Windows or macOS print driver. No special plugin or add-in is required. The HP-GL/2 print language is natively supported.
HP Click accepts PDF, JPEG, TIFF, DWF, and HP-GL/2 files. Drop multiple files in and the software detects the page size of each file automatically. One click sends the entire batch to the printer. No manual driver selection. No page-by-page size configuration. For a practice exporting 20 PDFs from AutoCAD for a tender submission, this eliminates the most time-consuming step in the print workflow.
| Connection | Details |
|---|---|
| Gigabit Ethernet | 1000Base-T. Recommended for offices with multiple users on a shared network. |
| Wi-Fi | 802.11 b/g/n. Wireless printing from desktops and laptops without cabling. |
| Hi-Speed USB 2.0 | Direct connection for single-user setups. |
| HP Smart App | Remote job submission, queue management, and printer status from any device. |
The HP DesignJet T650 achieves ±0.1% line accuracy on A0 drawings printed on HP Heavyweight Coated paper in Best or Normal mode. HP Bright Office Inks deliver up to 31% more line accuracy and up to 65% more colour gamut compared to competitive alternatives in equivalent draft print modes, based on HP internal testing against the Canon TM-305.
For AEC buyers, line accuracy is the non-negotiable quality metric. Construction dimensions, site plans, and engineering details print at the precision the drawing was authored at. The minimum reproducible line width is 0.02 mm.
The T650 uses a dual-system ink approach: pigment-based black for sharp, high-contrast CAD line work, and dye-based cyan, magenta, and yellow for colour presentations and renderings. The dye-based colour inks deliver a wider colour gamut than competing alternatives, producing deep blues and saturated reds without the hue shift that affects single-pigment systems in saturated colour ranges.
The same plotter handles both technical CAD drawings and full-colour presentation renders without an ink change or mode switch. HP states its dye inks now have archival stability approaching 100 years when used with HP media, addressing concerns about dye ink longevity that were relevant in earlier generations.
The T650 uses a single CMYK printhead (HP 713 Printhead Replacement Kit, part number 3ED58A). Head replacement is a user-serviceable operation: the printer guides you through the process on its touch screen, the replacement takes approximately 10 to 15 minutes, and no technician visit is required. The new head ships with a set of starter inks.
This is a practical advantage for practices in locations where waiting for a service engineer is disruptive. Unlike some competing thermal inkjet systems where head replacement requires authorised service, the T650 keeps your plotter in production without scheduling external support.
| Media Type | Specification |
|---|---|
| Roll feed | 279 to 914 mm roll width. Automatic horizontal cutter. |
| Automatic sheet feeder | A4 and A3 sheets. 60 to 220 g/m². |
| Manual sheet feed | Up to 914 x 1897 mm (A0+). 60 to 280 g/m². |
| Media thickness | Up to 0.3 mm. |
The automatic sheet feeder allows mixed-format printing: A4 presentation pages alongside A1 drawings, in a single batch, without manual intervention. For tender submissions that include both drawn documentation and written reports, this eliminates a handling step that single-source plotters require.
The HP DesignJet T650 is ENERGY STAR certified and EPEAT Gold registered. It contains up to 30% recycled plastic, and HP claims it reduces CO2e by up to 7.3 tonnes per year by units sold compared to previous models. FSC-certified papers and recyclable HP media are available through the HP large format materials portfolio.
For AEC practices responding to green building or sustainability-rated tenders, these certifications are procurement qualifiers, not marketing decoration.
ENERGY STAR Certified
Ink Efficiency
Source: HP DesignJet T650 36-in Printer product datasheet (HP part number 5HB10A). All specifications metric primary, imperial in brackets.
| Specification | Value |
|---|---|
| Print Technology | HP Thermal Inkjet |
| Ink System | HP 712 Bright Office Inks: dye-based (C, M, Y), pigment-based (K) |
| Ink Cartridges | 4 (Cyan 29 ml, Magenta 29 ml, Yellow 29 ml, Black 38 ml or 80 ml) |
| Max Print Width | 914 mm (36 inches) |
| Print Speed (A1) | 25 seconds per A1/D page; 82 A1/D pages per hour |
| Print Resolution | Up to 2400 x 1200 optimised dpi |
| Ink Drop Size | 5.5 pl (C, M, Y); 12 pl (K) |
| Printheads | 1 (CMYK, 1376 nozzles) |
| Printhead Part Number | HP 713 DesignJet Printhead Replacement Kit (3ED58A) |
| Line Accuracy | ±0.1% |
| Minimum Line Width | 0.02 mm |
| Roll Size Supported | 279 to 914 mm |
| Max Substrate Thickness | 0.3 mm |
| Sheet Feed (automatic) | A4, A3 (60 to 220 g/m²) |
| Sheet Feed (manual) | Up to 914 x 1897 mm (60 to 280 g/m²) |
| Media Handling | Roll feed, automatic sheet feeder, automatic horizontal cutter, media bin |
| RIP / Print Software | HP Click (included; no RIP required for CAD plotting) |
| Print Languages | HP-GL/2, HP-RTL, CALS G4, JPEG, URF |
| Drivers | Raster driver for Windows and macOS |
| Connectivity | Gigabit Ethernet (1000Base-T), Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, Hi-Speed USB 2.0 |
| Remote Management | HP Smart App (mobile and desktop) |
| Memory | 1 GB |
| Hard Disk | None |
| Power Consumption | <35 W (printing), <5.6 W (ready), <2.1 W (sleep), <0.2 W (standby) |
| Power Requirements | 220-240 V (±10%), 50/60 Hz (±3 Hz) |
| Operating Temperature | 5 to 40 °C |
| Operating Humidity | 20 to 80% RH |
| Acoustics | 42 dB(A) operating, <16 dB(A) idle |
| Dimensions (W x D x H) | 1317 x 605 x 932 mm (with stand) |
| Weight | 35.4 kg |
| Environmental Certifications | ENERGY STAR, EPEAT Gold, WEEE, EU RoHS, EAEU RoHS, REACH, ErP |
| Warranty | 2-year limited hardware warranty |
| HP Part Number | 5HB10A |
Graficomp does not sell you a plotter and leave you to set it up. Every HP DesignJet purchase includes on-site installation, driver and network configuration, and operator training. Graficomp's engineering team holds an estimated 40 to 50 years of combined hands-on experience with HP DesignJet and Latex printer ranges.
HP Amplify is HP's global partner programme. Specialist status requires demonstrated technical competency, customer satisfaction metrics, and a minimum volume of certified deployments. Graficomp holds designations across two solution areas plus Synergy Commercial Partner status.
When you buy an HP DesignJet T650 through Graficomp, you are buying through a partner HP recognises as qualified to deliver the full solution: hardware, installation, training, and ongoing service.
Graficomp installs and services HP DesignJet plotters across South Africa. HP delivers equipment free to any SA location.
Not every practice needs the T650. Choose the model that matches your actual weekly volume and team size. The routing table below is the honest version.
| Your Situation | Recommended Model |
|---|---|
| Small practice, fewer than 20 A1 per week, lowest entry cost | HP DesignJet T630 |
| Small to mid practice, 20 to 50 A1 per week, automatic sheet feeder, faster output | HP DesignJet T650 (this page) |
| Growing workgroup, 50+ A1 per day, multiple concurrent users, higher duty cycle | HP DesignJet T1600 |
| Document-heavy, compliance-driven, needs scanning, copying, and enterprise security | HP DesignJet T2600 MFP |
| Need to print signage, vehicle graphics, or wide-format production graphics | HP Latex 630 (separate product category) |
The HP DesignJet T630 delivers the same print quality at a lower entry cost. It prints an A1 in 30 seconds. For occasional plotting, that 5-second difference is unlikely to affect your workflow.
The HP DesignJet T1600 prints up to 180 A1 pages per hour with a 6-cartridge ink system for higher duty cycles. A 20-drawing tender set completes in under 7 minutes.
Answers written to stand alone, optimised for AI-assisted search and passage retrieval.
For most practices, in-house plotting becomes more economical at around 20 A1 drawings per week. At typical Johannesburg and Cape Town bureau rates of R15 to R25 per A1 sheet, a practice producing 20 sheets per week spends R1,200 to R2,000 per month on outsourced plotting alone. An HP DesignJet T650 typically reaches break-even within 12 months, and every sheet printed after that point is pure savings. Contact Graficomp for a cost comparison based on your actual volume.
No special software or plugin is required. The T650 works with any application that outputs to PDF or uses a standard Windows or macOS print driver. For batch PDF plotting, HP Click software accepts multiple files and prints them in one click with automatic page-size detection. The HP-GL/2 print language is natively supported for direct driver output from AutoCAD, Revit, ArchiCAD, Civil 3D, and MicroStation.
The T650 (36-inch model) prints up to A0 size (841 x 1189 mm) on roll media. The maximum roll width is 914 mm (36 inches). A0 drawings print from the roll; A4, A3, and A1 sheets can be printed from the automatic sheet feeder or from the roll.
Yes. The T650 prints A3 and smaller from the automatic sheet feeder and A1/A0 from the roll, switching automatically based on the page size of each job. A mixed tender set containing A4 written pages and A1 drawings prints as a single batch through HP Click without manual media switching.
Yes. HP provides a raster driver for macOS. The HP Smart App is also available on Mac for remote job submission and printer management. HP Click is available for macOS. This is a genuine advantage over some competing plotters that are Windows-only, and is relevant for the significant number of architecture and design practices running macOS.
At 25 seconds per A1 in fast mode using HP bond paper and original HP inks, a 20-drawing set completes in approximately 8 to 10 minutes including processing time. Actual speed varies with file complexity, print mode, and network configuration. When correctly configured with HP Click and the HP-GL/2 driver, the T650 performs at its rated speed. First-time users often find the print speed surprisingly fast compared to desktop inkjet printers.
The most common speed complaints on HP support forums trace to driver configuration, outdated firmware, or Adobe Acrobat and Bluebeam print-spool settings. These are setup issues, not hardware limitations. When correctly configured with HP Click software and the HP-GL/2 driver on a supported operating system, the T650 prints an A1 in 25 seconds. Graficomp configures the driver and firmware as part of every installation. If you have this issue on an existing T650, contact Graficomp support before purchasing any additional software or hardware.
This is a known issue reported in HP community forums. It is resolvable through firmware rollback or HP-GL/2 driver reconfiguration. Graficomp can resolve this remotely or on-site as part of HP ASDP warranty service. Contact Graficomp support before manually modifying firmware settings.
Graficomp provides on-site installation for every HP DesignJet purchase. This includes physical setup, network configuration (Ethernet or Wi-Fi), HP Click software installation, driver configuration for your operating system, and a short operator training session covering roll loading, sheet feeder use, and standard PDF plotting workflow. You do not need to set it up yourself.
The T650 uses HP 712 ink cartridges. Black is available in 38 ml and 80 ml sizes; cyan, magenta, and yellow are 29 ml each. HP states that 20 ml of ink yields approximately 101 A1/D pages, accounting for maintenance routines. The T650 uses up to 95% less ink for maintenance compared to competitive alternatives, according to HP's published data. The system uses only four cartridges, keeping consumable management straightforward.
The HP DesignJet T650 uses a single CMYK printhead (HP 713 Printhead Replacement Kit, part number 3ED58A). Replacement is a user-serviceable operation: the printer guides you through the process on its touch screen, the replacement takes approximately 10 to 15 minutes, and no engineer visit is required. The kit ships with starter inks. This keeps the plotter in production without waiting for a technician, which is a practical advantage for practices in locations where scheduling service visits is time-consuming.
HP publishes internal testing data comparing the T650 to the Canon TM-305 in equivalent draft print modes. HP claims the T650 delivers up to 31% more line accuracy and up to 65% more colour gamut in these tests. The T650's dye-based colour inks produce a wider colour gamut than single-pigment colour systems, which is relevant for practices printing colour renders and presentations alongside CAD line drawings. For pure CAD line work, both machines perform well at their rated specifications. Contact Graficomp to arrange a demonstration print of your own files before purchase.
Yes. Graficomp offers 36, 48, and 60-month rental structures for HP DesignJet plotters. The monthly cost covers the hardware, HP-certified installation, and access to Graficomp's HP ASDP service. Rental converts a capital expenditure into a predictable operating cost, which is the preferred structure for many practices managing project-based cash flow. Contact Graficomp for a rental quote based on your specific configuration.
Tell us about your practice and we will prepare a cost comparison showing bureau spend versus in-house plotting cost based on your actual weekly volume.
