Calcomp plotter

From Wikipedia, the free 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 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.