Editing Dot matrix printing (section)

==Design==
[[File:Dot matrix example text.png|thumb|left|Typical output from a dot matrix printer operating in ''draft'' mode. This entire image represents an area of printer output approximately {{convert|4.5|x|1.5|cm|abbr=on}} in size]]
[[File:Printer dot matrix EPSON VP-500.jpg|thumb|[[Epson]] VP-500 Printer with its cover removed]]
[[File:Tally Genicom T2240 print head assembly - cross section.jpg|thumb|Tally Genicom T2240, 24-Pin printer head cross section. This print head has 24 solenoids at the top arranged radially inside a circular casing. Each solenoid is connected to a lever, which is connected to a long rod, which acts as a pin at the bottom of the print head.]]

Dot matrix printing uses a print head that moves back-and-forth, or in an up-and-down motion, on the page and prints by impact, striking an ink-soaked cloth ribbon against the paper, much like the print mechanism on a [[typewriter]]. However, unlike a typewriter or [[daisy wheel printer]], letters are drawn out of a dot matrix, and thus, varied fonts and arbitrary graphics can be produced.

Each dot is produced by a tiny metal rod, also called a "wire" or "pin", which is driven forward by the power of a tiny [[electromagnet]] or [[solenoid]], either directly or through small levers (pawls).<ref name=Ink.NotDot/> {{anchor|Butterfly}}Facing the ribbon and the paper is a small guide plate named ribbon mask holder or protector, sometimes also called ''butterfly''<!-- they are officially called butterfly (Schmetterling) at least in the [[NEC Pinwriter]] series --> for its typical shape. It is pierced with holes to serve as guides for the pins. The plate may be made of hard plastic or an artificial jewel such as [[sapphire]] or [[ruby]].

The portion of the printer that contains the pin is called the print head. When running the printer, it generally prints one line of text at a time. The printer head is attached to a metal bar that ensures correct alignment, but horizontal positioning is controlled by a band that attaches to [[sprocket]]s on two wheels at each side which is then driven with an electric motor.<ref>{{cite web |title=MX-70 - User Manual |website=epson.com |url=https://files.support.epson.com/pdf/mx70__/mx70__u1.pdf |access-date=2018-10-17 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181018043227/https://files.support.epson.com/pdf/mx70__/mx70__u1.pdf |archive-date=2018-10-18}}</ref> This band may be made of stainless steel, phosphor bronze or beryllium copper alloys, nylon or various synthetic materials with a twisted nylon core to prevent stretching.  Actual position can be found out either by dead count using a [[stepper motor]], [[incremental encoder|rotary encoder]] attached to one wheel, or a transparent plastic band with markings that is read by an optical sensor on the printer head (common on [[inkjet printing|inkjets]]).

Because the printing involves mechanical pressure, dot matrix printers can create [[carbon copy|carbon copies]] and [[carbonless copy paper|carbonless copies]].<ref>{{cite web |title=impact printer |website=AllBusiness.com (Barrons) |url=https://www.allbusiness.com/barrons_dictionary/dictionary-impact-printer-4946840-1.html |access-date=2019-10-12 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191012060734/https://www.allbusiness.com/barrons_dictionary/dictionary-impact-printer-4946840-1.html |archive-date=2019-10-12}}</ref>
[[File:Epson dot matrix printer.jpg|right|thumb|Epson LQ 850]]
Although nearly all [[inkjet printer|inkjet]], [[thermal printer|thermal]], and [[laser printer]]s also print closely spaced dots rather than continuous lines or characters, it is not customary to call them dot matrix printers.<ref name=Ink.NotDot>{{cite web |title=Dot Matrix vs. Inkjet |website=YourBusiness.AZcentral.com |url=https://yourbusiness.azcentral.com/dot-matrix-vs-inkjet-2827.html |access-date=2019-10-12 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191012060734/https://yourbusiness.azcentral.com/dot-matrix-vs-inkjet-2827.html |archive-date=2019-10-12}}</ref>

Dot matrix printers have one of the lowest printing costs per page.{{citation needed|date=October 2023}}

They are able to use fanfold [[continuous paper]] with tractor holes.

Dot matrix printers create noise when the pins or typeface strike the ribbon to the paper,<ref name="AutoX6-5"/> and sound-damping enclosures may have to be used in quiet environments.

They can only print lower-resolution graphics, with limited color performance, limited quality, and lower speeds compared to non-impact printers.<ref>{{cite web |title=Full Color Dot Matrix Is The Art We Need |date=January 19, 2019 |url=https://hackaday.com/2019/01/19/full-color-dot-matrix-is-the-art-we-need/ |access-date=April 20, 2021 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210420063410/https://hackaday.com/2019/01/19/full-color-dot-matrix-is-the-art-we-need/ |archive-date=April 20, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=PC Mag |date=24 November 1992 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=RJBJPJvct40C&q=4+color+ribbon+dot+matrix+pc+mag&pg=PA362}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=PC Mag |date=13 November 1990 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=WIeyaksLI8gC&q=4+color+ribbon+dot+matrix+pc+mag&pg=PT374}}</ref>