Calcomp plotter
Encyclopedia
The Calcomp
560 drum plotter
, introduced in 1959, was one of the first computer graphics
output devices sold. The computer
could control in 0.01 inch increments the rotation of an 11 inch (280 mm) wide drum and the horizontal movement of a pen holder over the drum. A solenoid
could press the pen against paper scrolling across the drum. This arrangement allowed line drawings to be made under computer control. A version with a wider drum was also available.
IBM
sold the Calcomp 565 as the IBM 1627
for use with its low-end scientific computers, first the IBM 1620
, and, later, the IBM 1130
. It was perhaps the first non-IBM peripheral that IBM allowed to be attached to one of its computers.
The paper rolls were 120 feet (36.6 m) long. A metal bar above the take-up reel allowed a finished plot to be torn off and removed. The drum would then be advanced using the manual controls and the fresh paper end taped to the take-up reel. The standard pen was a ball-point, but liquid ink pens were available, and typically used for higher quality plots intended for publication. Other paper stock could be taped to the drum if desired. A chart drive switch was provided to turn off the motorized paper supply and take-up reels for this purpose.
Calcomp
Calcomp Technology, Inc., usually known as Calcomp, was a company best known for its Calcomp plotters, which it was founded to produce in 1959. It produced a wide range of plotters , digitizers, and other graphic input/output devices. It also produced IBM plug-compatible disk and tape products...
560 drum plotter
Plotter
A plotter is a computer printing device for printing vector graphics. In the past, plotters were widely used in applications such as computer-aided design, though they have generally been replaced with wide-format conventional printers...
, introduced in 1959, was one of the first computer graphics
Computer graphics
Computer graphics are graphics created using computers and, more generally, the representation and manipulation of image data by a computer with help from specialized software and hardware....
output devices sold. The computer
Computer
A computer is a programmable machine designed to sequentially and automatically carry out a sequence of arithmetic or logical operations. The particular sequence of operations can be changed readily, allowing the computer to solve more than one kind of problem...
could control in 0.01 inch increments the rotation of an 11 inch (280 mm) wide drum and the horizontal movement of a pen holder over the drum. A solenoid
Solenoid
A solenoid is a coil wound into a tightly packed helix. In physics, the term solenoid refers to a long, thin loop of wire, often wrapped around a metallic core, which produces a magnetic field when an electric current is passed through it. Solenoids are important because they can create...
could press the pen against paper scrolling across the drum. This arrangement allowed line drawings to be made under computer control. A version with a wider drum was also available.
IBM
IBM
International Business Machines Corporation or IBM is an American multinational technology and consulting corporation headquartered in Armonk, New York, United States. IBM manufactures and sells computer hardware and software, and it offers infrastructure, hosting and consulting services in areas...
sold the Calcomp 565 as the IBM 1627
IBM 1627
The IBM 1627 was a rebranded Calcomp plotter sold by IBM for use with the IBM 1620, and, later, the IBM 1130 computers. It became perhaps the first non-IBM peripheral that IBM allowed to be attached to one of its computers....
for use with its low-end scientific computers, first the IBM 1620
IBM 1620
The IBM 1620 was announced by IBM on October 21, 1959, and marketed as an inexpensive "scientific computer". After a total production of about two thousand machines, it was withdrawn on November 19, 1970...
, and, later, the IBM 1130
IBM 1130
The IBM 1130 Computing System was introduced in 1965. It was IBM's least-expensive computer to date, and was aimed at price-sensitive, computing-intensive technical markets like education and engineering. It succeeded the IBM 1620 in that market segment. The IBM 1800 was a process control variant...
. It was perhaps the first non-IBM peripheral that IBM allowed to be attached to one of its computers.
The paper rolls were 120 feet (36.6 m) long. A metal bar above the take-up reel allowed a finished plot to be torn off and removed. The drum would then be advanced using the manual controls and the fresh paper end taped to the take-up reel. The standard pen was a ball-point, but liquid ink pens were available, and typically used for higher quality plots intended for publication. Other paper stock could be taped to the drum if desired. A chart drive switch was provided to turn off the motorized paper supply and take-up reels for this purpose.