Ans : Plotters :
Plotter is a special kind of output device that prints graphics on papers which includes drawing , graphs , making maps , plotting engineering drawings and machine components.
Difference Between Plotters and Printers :
Plotters can print accurate & continuous lines using a pen while printers stimulate lines by printing a closely spaced series of dots. Multi colour plotters use different coloured pens to draw different coloured lines.
Plotters are more expensive than a printer and used in engineering applications where precision is mandatory.
Types Of Plotters :
Plotters are basically of two types :
(1) Pen Plotters.
(2) Electrostatic Plotters.
(1) Pen Plotters :
They use computer controlled ink pen to draw the images. They are of two types ;
(a) Drum Plotter.
(b) Flatbed Plotter.
(a) Drum Plotter :
In drum plotter the pen move in a single axis track and the paper itself move on a cylindrical drum to add the other axis. The size of the graph is limited in its width but could be of any length.
(b) Flatbed Plotter :
In flatbed plotters the paper is fixed on a flat surface and pens move to draw the image. The size of the plot is limited to the size of the plotters bed.
(2) Electrostatic Plotters :
Drum plotter prints by charging the paper with high voltage which attracts toner and melts it to produce image. This plotter is faster from pen plotter but the quality is poor.