Electrostatic plotter

An electrostatic plotter is a type of plotter, or a computer printer for printing vector graphics, that draws images on paper with an electrostatic process. They are most frequently used for Computer-Aided Engineering (CAE), producing raster images via either a Liquid Toner or a Dry Toner model.

Liquid Toner models use toner that is positively charged and thus becomes attracted to the negative charge given off by paper. This occurs after the products pass through a line of electrodes in the form of tiny wires, or nibs. Dry Toner models use a process similar to xerography in photocopiers.

Electrostatic plotters can print in black and white or in color. Some models are built to handle paper sizes up to six feet wide. Newer versions of electrostatic plotters are large-format laser printers and focus light onto a charged drum using lasers or LEDs. ^[1] Considered fast, the image quality produced by electrostatic plotters is generally considered to be poor when compared to the quality of images produced by pen plotters.

References

Look up plotter in Wiktionary, the free dictionary.