Segment 1 machines will quickly frustrate you with slow copy times unless you operate a very small office or work out of your home. Generally, most companies will be satisfied with copiers from Segments 2, 3 and 4. Segment 3 and 4 copiers tend to have more features and are suited for networked use. Unless you have extremely large copy volumes, a segment 5 or 6 copier is overkill.
Monthly Copy Volume?
Your monthly copy volume is as important a consideration as speed: exceeding the manufacturer's recommendations for how many copies a machine should make a month – often called the "duty cycle" – can lead to breakdowns and potentially void your warranty.
If you already own a copier, estimate your volume by checking the counter on the machine itself, which is usually found under the copier glass. You can also track your paper usage to get a rough estimate.
If you donÂ’t have a copier, you may be able to tally up your copy expenses (from outsourcing copy jobs) to see your current copy volume. Or, you may just have to take your best guess based on the number of users that will be relying on the copier and what types of copying requirements your office might produce.
When do create an estimate, a good rule of thumb is to add about a 15% buffer. For example, if you expect your ten users to make 50 copies a week, add a 15% buffer, for an estimate of 2,600 pages per month.
The buffer will help make sure you donÂ’t overwork the copier, which will almost guarantee increased downtime and service requirements. In addition to the 15% factor, you should also scale up your paper use estimates by 50% or more if youÂ’ll be using your copier as a printer.
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