DOT MATRIX PRINTERS

&
GRAPH PRINTERS
 Dot matrix printers
Uses of dot matrix printers
• Are a type of impact printer where a print
head presses against an inked ribbon. They
• They can be used in noisy or dirty

tend to be slow, noisy and the output is not environments in applications where print
that good compared to inkjet and laser quality is not that important
printers.
• They are used in applications where
• They are still useful, however, where
multi-part stationery are needed such
multipart stationery (carbon copies) or
as; when producing physical ‘carbon
continuous rolls of paper. Work well in dirty
atmospheres (such as on a factory floor). copies’ such as when producing wage slips

• Still widely used in till receipts.

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Advantages of dot matrix printer Disadvantages of dot matrix printers
• They can be used in dusty/dirty or moist • Very noisy – not good in an office
atmospheres.
environment.
• Carbon copies or multi-part outputs can
• Actually cost more than an inkjet printer
be produced.
to buy initially.
• Very cheap to run and maintain.
• Very slow, poor-quality printing.
• Easy to use if continuous stationery is
required (for example, long print jobs
such as wages slips).

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 (Graph) plotters
• A (graph) plotter print on paper, they
• The size of the paper can be anything
work very differently to printers
from A4 up to several metres.
• Instead of toner or ink cartridges,
• They produce vector graphic drawings
plotters use a pen, pencil or marker pen
and are often used in conjunction with
to draw multiple continuous lines,
CAD and CAM (computer aided
rather than a series of dots like a
manufacturing)
printer
• Some plotters are used to cut out
material by replacing the pen with a
cutting blade.

• Plotters are being phased out, as wide-

format inkjet printers
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• Uses of plotters • Disadvantages of plotters
• Producing architectural drawings.
• Very slow at printing.
• Producing engineering drawings.
• Expensive equipment (and software)
• Drawing animation characters (cartoon characters).
to purchase initially; although
running costs are low once
Advantages of plotters
purchased.
• Very high-quality output.
• Have a very large physical footprint
• Able to produce large, monochrome and colour
compared to a printer.
drawings to a high accuracy.
• Able to print on a variety of materials (for
example, aluminium, cardboard,
plastic, steel and wood) as well as paper.
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3D PRINTERS
 some of the features of 3D printing
3D printers
i. 3D printers use additive manufacturing;
3D printers are used to produce solid objects
that actually work.
the object is built up layer by layer)
ii. Direct 3D printing uses inkjet technology;
They are primarily based on inkjet and laser a print head can move left to right as in a
printer technology, and the solid object is normal printer. The print head can also
built up layer by layer (0.1 mm thick) using move up and down to build up the layers of
materials such as: powdered resin, powdered an object
metal, paper or ceramic.
iii. Binder 3D printing
This method uses two passes for each of the
layers; the first pass sprays dry powder and
then on the second pass a binder (a type of
glue) is sprayed to form a solid layer.
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 How to create a solid object using 3D printers
i. A design is made using computer aided design v. The object is removed from the printer and
(CAD) software is then prepared, with a the use a jelly-like
ii. The finalised drawing is imported into some support that needs to be washed away by
special software that prepares it in a format immersion in water, some require the removal
that is understood by the 3D printer of excess plastic powder and others require
the cutting away of unused material; in many
iii. The 3D printer is first set up to allow the cases, the object has to be left to ‘cure’ for a
solid object to be made few hours
iv. The solid object is built up layer by layer
(often only 0.1 mm thick); this can take several
hours depending on the thickness of the layers,
the material used and the size of the final
object
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 Uses of 3D printing
i. Prosthetic limbs for injured body parts

ii. Items to allow precision reconstructive

surgery (e.g. facial reconstruction following
an accident)

iii. In aerospace, manufacturers are looking at

making wings and other parts using 3D
technology

iv. Fashion and art – 3D printing allows new

creative ideas to be developed

v. Making parts for items no longer in

production e.g. suspension parts for a vintage
car
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Advantages of 3D printers
Disadvantages of 3D printers
• Manufacturing of customized items has become much
• The potential to make counterfeit items
easier, it allows a user to create their own designs in
3D and have them printed in solid form. or items that infringe others’ copyright

• 3D printers can manufacture items relatively quickly, • All new technologies in the hands of the
it allows rapid prototyping wrong people can lead to dangerous
• Cost is still less when compared to labour costs and or illegal activities.
other costs involved in manufacturing a product in the
• There is the potential for job losses if
more conventional way.
this technology takes over from some
• Medical benefits are emerging, such as producing
types of manufacturing
artificial organs, prosthetics and precision-made items
for reconstructive surgery

• Parts for machinery that are no longer made could now

be manufactured using 3D printers.
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