An Early Flatbed Plotter In the 1970s, this CalComp Model 738 large-format, flatbed plotter was an offline device. Data was delivered to it via magnetic tape. (Image courtesy of CalComp, Inc.) ...

Flatbed plotters use a system where the paper is fixed, and the plotter moves a pen up and down, and left and right to draw the required marks on the paper.

So I bought a used x-y flatbed plotter (Philips 8155) on eBay and a great book by Matt Gilliland, titled Inkjet Applications. I put the two together, to get this nice Latte Art Printing Machine.

The flatbed plotters measured about 4 by 10 feet, and the huge sheets of BoPET polyester film that are used for the drawings rather than paper are held in place by tiny holes in the flatbed that ...