Monthly Duty Cycle Is Confusing

The “monthly duty cycle” specification that is found on most Xerox printers, and multifunction devices can get a customer thinking down the wrong path. Simply put, it’s entirely possible that a potential buyer can interpret this number to mean something that it isn’t. For example, the Xerox Phaser 8860, a fantastic solid ink printer is advertised as having a 120,000 page per month duty cycle. Does this mean you can run this printer at that volume consistently for every month you own it? No. It simply won’t hold up for very long.


Why does Xerox “advertise” this number?

Xerox defines duty cycle as “the maximum number of pages a device could deliver in a month. This metric provides a comparison of robustness in relation to other Xerox printers and MFP’s.”

The key word here is could.

In layman's terms, your car may register 240 mph, but more than likely you’re not going to consistently travel at that speed. Duty cycle is an advertisement more than anything. Every major manufacturer unfortunately does it - not just Xerox. Just understand that duty cycle is not the end-all barometer to base your volume needs when you’re evaluating office equipment.

Fear not. There’s recommended Monthly Page Volume.

Recommended Monthly Page Volume, also known as Average Monthly Print Volume (AMPV), is what needs to be considered the most. It is defined as the “range of pages that helps customers evaluate Xerox’s product offerings based on the average number of pages customers plant to print on the device each month. Xerox recommends that the number of pages per month be within the stated range for optimum device performance...etc.”

The only issue with AMPV is finding the particulars because it’s usually buried in a White Paper somewhere. You’re best suited to contact your local Xerox Sales Representative for these details. They should be able to find this information within a few mouse clicks.

To finish our thoughts on the Xerox Phaser 8860 printer, it’s only recommended to run between 1,000 and 10,000 impressions per month. This is nonetheless a far cry from the 120,000 monthly duty cycle mark. As mentioned before, get advice and be an informed buyer - vendors and customers alike don’t like a bad sale.

Labels: AMPV, duty cycle, Phaser 8860, Xerox Sales Agent