Originally shared by Peter Terren
The VIC-20 computer of the 1980's, had a 5V supply bus which happens to be the same as that used for radio control servos for models. Servos are set to a degree of rotation by a 1.0 to 2.0 mS pulse which could be programmed by the computer using a machine code subroutine for speed. By combining 3 of these servos it was possible to make a printer / plotter and still have a massive 1.5 k of memory left over to program it to do patterns. It was published in an Electronics Today International magazine in 1984. I was a bit niftier with the maths in those days. And I knew how to use string and gum to make things. Printers have advanced a little from these times.
Actually, looking at it, this is not the low pressure ink stylus I used, but a small light and photocell to scan things. I remember doing a scan of Mona Lisa and printing it back later. So printer, scanner and copier in one, 1980's style. Held together by tape and dust.
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