The Calcomp 565 drum plotter, introduced in 1959 was one of the first computer graphics output devices sold. The computer could control (in small increments) the rotation of a 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 taped to 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.

The 565 was the first in a long line of Calcomp plotters, digitizers and scanners, some of which are still sold today (2004).

See also

• Bresenham's line algorithm

External links

• Picture of a Calcomp 565
• Calcomp 563 Incremental Plotter Information