Documentation / Wide-format plotter
Canon imagePROGRAF TM-300
36-inch plotter aimed at technical drawings and posters. Five-colour ink set, quiet enough for an open office.
On this page
1. Specifications 2. Installation 3. Drivers and integration 4. Maintenance schedule 5. Common faults1. Specifications
| Type | Thermal inkjet, wide format |
|---|---|
| Media width | Up to 914 mm (36 in) |
| Ink set | Five colours including two blacks |
| Resolution | 2400 x 1200 dpi |
| Speed | A1 in about 26 seconds, fast mode |
| Connectivity | Gigabit Ethernet, Wi-Fi, USB |
| Media handling | Roll feed with auto cutter, manual sheet feed |
| Hard disk | Optional, for reprint queues |
2. Installation
- Level the stand before mounting. An unlevel plotter drags media to one side and you will chase phantom skew for weeks.
- Fit the printheads, then the tanks, then let initialisation run to completion.
- Register the media type before the first plot. The machine holds separate profiles for bond, coated and photo stock.
- Set a static address and export the settings — rebuilding media profiles by hand takes a morning.
Keep the transport locks and packaging until the machine has run a full week without fault. Wide-format and industrial units are shipped with several restraints, and a missed one shows up as a media fault days later.
3. Drivers and integration
- Deploy the model driver for CAD; the universal one loses pen tables.
- Enable the reprint queue if the optional disk is fitted: reprinting a drawing at the panel avoids a round trip to the workstation.
- Direct printing from a USB stick works for PDF and TIFF — useful on a site office machine with no network.
4. Maintenance schedule
Intervals assume normal duty. Dusty warehouses and continuous shifts need the shorter end of every range.
| Weekly | Wipe the platen and check for ink mist around the carriage rails. |
|---|---|
| Monthly | Print the nozzle pattern and compare with the reference sheet. |
| Every 500 m of media | Clean the cutter track and check blade wear. |
| Yearly | Maintenance cartridge replacement and a full head alignment. |
5. Common faults
Two blacks print differently on the same sheet
Normal: matte black is for bond and coated stock, photo black for gloss. The media profile decides which is used.
Repeating marks down long plots
Ink mist on the carriage rail transfers to the media. Clean the rail with a dry lint-free cloth.
Plot cut short
The roll ran out mid-job, or the media length counter was not reset after loading.
Panel reports a head error after a power cut
Run the head cleaning routine once; a hard power loss during a pass can leave the head parked wet.
Slow first plot of the day
The machine runs a warm-up and nozzle check. Expected — schedule the first job a few minutes early.
Isolate the machine at the mains before reaching into the media path. Thermal printheads and fusers hold heat for a long time after the last job, and cutter blades stay under spring tension.