The drum plotter is a relatively simple device. The main components are the drum, the pen, the pen motor, and the control electronics. The drum is made of a cylindrical piece of paper or plastic. The pen is attached to a pen motor that moves it back and forth across the surface of the drum. The control electronics receive the data from the computer program and control the movement of the pen motor.
The drum plotter works by first rotating the drum at a constant speed. The pen motor then moves the pen in the x-direction. The computer program that is generating the plot controls the movement of the pen in the y-direction. This is done by sending a series of pulses to the control electronics. Each pulse moves the pen a small amount in the y-direction.
As the pen moves back and forth across the drum, it draws lines. The lines can be used to create a variety of different types of plots, including graphs, charts, and diagrams.
Drum plotters were once very common, but they have been largely replaced by inkjet plotters and laser printers. However, drum plotters are still used in some applications where high precision is required.
Here is a more detailed explanation of how a drum plotter works:
1. The computer program that is generating the plot sends data to the control electronics of the drum plotter.
2. The control electronics receive the data and convert it into a series of pulses.
3. The pulses are sent to the motor that controls the movement of the pen.
4. The pen motor moves the pen in the x-direction, while the drum rotates at a constant speed.
5. The movement of the pen in the y-direction is controlled by the computer program. This is done by sending a series of pulses to the control electronics, which moves the pen a small amount in the y-direction for each pulse.
6. As the pen moves back and forth across the drum, it draws lines on the paper or plastic.
7. The lines can be used to create a variety of different types of plots, including graphs, charts, and diagrams.