flat bed plotter
In the flatbed plotter, also known as an XY plotter, the paper or film is in a fixed, static position on the flat plotter bed. Ink or felt pens are used as plotter pens. The plotter pens are mounted on a carriage that can be controlled in both coordinate axes.
During the plotting process, the carriage is steered in the X and Y coordinates to the position where plotting is to begin. During the actual plotting process, the drawing pen is pressed onto the media. If a line is plotted, the drawing pen remains in the pressed position while the carriage is moved in the X and Y directions via stepper motors.
On multi- color plotters, the colored drawing pens are in a magazine located on one side on the flatbed. When the color is changed, the drawing pen with the selected color is retrieved from the magazine by the carriage, while the previously used drawing pen is deposited in the magazine.
The standard language for plotter controls is Hewlett Packard Graphics Language( HP-GL). It takes care of controlling the plotter pens, raising and lowering the pens and changing the pens.