Z3200

[Lo J]

I have owned a HP Z3200 for about 4 ½ years now and mostly love it. However it has been acting strange lately.  HP Print Utility constantly crashes. Now, it won't print at all (computer message states waiting for printer to become available but the printer has no error messages, and OS shows the printer as connected). On mac studio with ventura 13.1 connected by USB. Have tried downloading new drivers from HP, and also tried deleting the printer and letting the OS find a driver. Bought new USB cord just to make sure the cable was not the issue. All in all it is just frustrating.  Anyone have a trouble shooting suggestion ( HP support is useless have a case number but no contact yet). Anyone have an opinion on the Epson7570 or Canon 2100 as a potential replacement? Thanks.

[Nora_nor]

I have no idea, but there are some z3200 websites out there, one is this http://www.marklindquistphotography.com/HPZ3200_Repair_Notes_Mark_Lindquist_Photography.htm
and there is https://www.lpscomputer.com/collections/designjet-z3200-parts
I heard rumors the drop detector may fail, or the harddisk, with those printers, and cause weird symptoms
Also several people reported printheads failing. (but could be drop detector fail, this is cheap to replace)
I have this z2100 sitting here and need to replace the belt, it has physically snapped, and I could not get the mac I used with it before, to talk to it

[deanwork]

I guess about 2 years ago was when HP came out with their “universal” combination driver software that worked at that time with the latest Mac OS and the new M1 chip machines, as well as all the legacy macs.

I was shocked to see that my Mac mini with M1 chip and Big Sur works on both of my Z3200 and Z3100 machines, also with my old mac pros. I was Shocked because HP had said at that time that there was no more tech support for those printers ( and I don’t know if that is true now  but probably ).

I seriously doubt that they are continuing to write driver firmware for anything beyond Bg Sur, but you never know. There are still a lot of these units out there and they are selling plenty of ink and heads for them.

Do a search on this list and the Epson i0 group for posts about the 7570. They seem to be doing better than the 9570 which has been a disaster for a lot of users the last 3 years.  If I only did prints 24” wide, I’d consider one.



John

I have no idea, but there are some z3200 websites out there, one is this http://www.marklindquistphotography.com/HPZ3200_Repair_Notes_Mark_Lindquist_Photography.htm
and there is https://www.lpscomputer.com/collections/designjet-z3200-parts
I heard rumors the drop detector may fail, or the harddisk, with those printers, and cause weird symptoms
Also several people reported printheads failing. (but could be drop detector fail, this is cheap to replace)
I have this z2100 sitting here and need to replace the belt, it has physically snapped, and I could not get the mac I used with it before, to talk to it