Canon imagePROGRAF iPF655

This machine fits a small architecture studio, engineering satellite office, survey group, or field-support location printing a manageable mix of 11 x 17-inch check plots and 22 x 34-inch plan sheets. Its roll and cut-sheet support matters when the day moves from a marked-up half-size PDF to a full-size civil plan. Nobody wants to unload a roll just to print one letter-size approval sheet. That is how small jobs become large annoyances.

The four listed inks—black, cyan, magenta, and yellow—support color-coded MEP layers, utility maps, phasing plans, and general drawing review. Plain, matte, coated, glossy, proofing, opaque, and photo papers are supported, so it can also cover modest presentation work. The 0.003-inch to 0.031-inch media-thickness range gives it room for ordinary technical media as well as heavier specialty sheets.

Connectivity is period-appropriate: USB Type-A, Fast Ethernet, and network protocols including TCP/IP and HTTP. Windows and Macintosh compatibility are listed, but the supported operating-system list is from an earlier era. IT should validate driver behavior, security requirements, and print-server compatibility before treating an installed unit as a long-term shared resource. Bottom line: it is most comfortable in a known, stable workflow.

The IPF655 tops out at 24 inches wide and A1 output. That rules out 30-inch and 36-inch plan workflows without scaling, tiling, or sending work elsewhere. It also has no listed scanner or multifunction capability, so it is not the machine for a construction office that must routinely copy marked-up plans, scan as-builts, or archive legacy drawings.

Its 256 MB of internal memory and older network environment deserve context. A simple CAD plot is one thing. A complex, image-heavy PDF with transparency, aerial imagery, and multiple sheets is another. The machine may still be useful, but the operator should test the actual files that cause trouble at deadline—not the clean sample drawing everyone uses in demos.

Within the catalog, the Canon iPF770 36-in is the more appropriate direction when the workflow needs wider output and an MFP/scanner configuration. The Canon iPF605 24-in stays in the same 24-inch class for teams comparing a current catalog alternative. Use the comparison tool to keep the decision tied to width, resolution, and workflow needs rather than nostalgia for the machine already in the corner. Bottom line: if scanning or wider sheets are routine, this is the wrong tool.

For an installed IPF655, confirm consumable availability before committing it to a deadline-sensitive role. The resolved supplies include Canon PFI-102BK ink cartridge Original Black, Canon PFI-102C ink cartridge Original Cyan, Canon PFI-102Y ink cartridge Original Yellow, Canon PFI-104M ink cartridge Original Magenta, the Canon PF-04 printhead, and Canon MC-10 maintenance support. Keep the parts conversation separate from the output conversation: a printer that works well on Tuesday is not much help if a needed item is unavailable on Thursday.

It weighs 96.1 lbs and measures 39.3 x 27.5 x 20 inches, which suits an office or departmental print point more readily than a large production setup. Printing sound pressure is listed at 47 dB, so placement near focused desk work still deserves some thought. See the 24-inch class ranking for broader context. Bottom line: retain it when it is supported and fits the work; replace it when the workflow has outgrown 24-inch plotting.