Electrostatic plotter
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An electrostatic plotter is a type of plotter that draws images on paper with an electrostatic process. They are most frequently used for Computer-Aided Engineering (CAE).
Liquid toner models use a positively charged toner that is attracted to paper which is negatively charged by passing through a line of electrodes (tiny wires or nibs). Dry toner models use a process similar to xerography in photocopiers.
Electrostatic plotters can print in black and white or color. Some models can handle paper sizes up to six feet wide. Newer electrostatic plotters are actually large-format laser printers and focus light onto a charged drum using lasers or LEDs. [1]
An electrostatic plotter produces a raster image by charging the paper with a high voltage. This voltage attracts toner which is then melted into the paper with heat.
This type of plotter is fast, but the quality is generally considered to be poor when compared to pen plotters.
A plotter is a printer that interprets commands from a computer to make line drawings on paper with one or more automated pens. Unlike regular printers, the plotter can draw continuous point-to-point lines directly from vector graphics files or commands. Plotters were the first type of printer that could print with color, render graphics and produce full-size engineering drawings. As a rule, plotters are much more expensive than printers. They are most frequently used for CAE (computer-aided engineering) applications, such as CAD (computer-aided design) and CAM (computer-aided manufacturing). Hewlett-Packard is the leading vendor of plotters worldwide.
Types of plotters
There are a different types of plotters available. Drum and Flatbed are mechanical plotters.[2]
Drum
A drum plotter is also known as Roller Plotter. It draws on paper wrapped around a drum which turns to produce one direction of the plot, while the pens move to provide the other direction
Flatbed
A flatbed plotter is also known as Table Plotter. It draws on paper placed on a rectangular flat surface.
References
- ^ Arthur S. Diamond (ed) , Handbook of Imaging Materials, Second Edition, CRC Press 2001 ISBN 0824789032: pages 149-151
- ^ http://computer-help-tips.blogspot.in/2011/04/types-of-plotters.html
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