Thread: Dot Matrix Printing

The daisy wheel printer is obsolete today, so our review of the various printer types begins with the dot matrix printer. The dot matrix printer uses a matrix of pins in its printhead to create text and graphics with a pattern of dots. The dot matrix printer is much faster and quieter than a daisy wheel printer, but it is still considered somewhat noisy. Dot matrix printers incorporate tractor-feed mechanisms to feed continuous form paper and documents. The Centronics Corporation produced many of the popular dot matrix printers for the early Apple computers. The cable connector that Centronics chose to be used on its printers was a distinctive 36¬pin connector that featured pins arranged on a center bar. The "Centronics" connector was actually developed by the Ampenol Corporation, but due to the early popularity of Centronics printers, it is commonly referred to as the "Centronics connector."



Dot matrix printers are impact printers, and have generally been replaced by inkjet and laser printers in the home and small offices. Dot matrix printers are common in accounts department, warehouses, and have many administrative purposes, including mailing labels, cash registers, and automated teller machines (ATMs). Several manufacturers, including IBM and Epson, still offer full lines of dot matrix printers. After having fair knowledge about the basics of printer, let us now discuss each type of printer in detail. Dot matrix printers are available in two standard physical widths: narrow and wide. A narrow-width dot matrix printers are typically used only for correspondence and letter-size (8.5 x 11 inch) forms. A wide-width dot matrix is typically used as a general printer. Wide-width dot matrix printers can be adjusted down to narrow widths to accommodate narrower paper sizes.