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110
Radix User's MMU~
ter, download characters can be used to print a logo, special char-
acters for foreign languages, scientific and professional applica-
tions, or any other specific printing task.
Dot Matrix Printing
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In order to create download characters, you'll need some
understanding of how dot matrix printers work. They're called
I
"dot matrix" because each character is made up of a group of
dots. Look closely at some printed characters produced by your
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Radix and you will see the dots. Figure
11-l
shows how the letter
I
"C" is formed by printing 15 dots.
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I
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I
4
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Figure 11-l. The letter "C" is created by printing 15 dots.
The printhead in Radix consists of nine thin wires stacked
one atop the other. Figure 11-2 shows an enlarged schematic view
of the front of the printhead, showing the ends of the wires and
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their relationship to the printed characters. As you can see, the
capital letters use the top seven wires of the printhead, and the
descenders (such as the lower case "g" shown) use the bottom
seven pins. As the printhead moves across the page (in either
direction-that's what is meant by b&directional printing) it prints
one column of dots at a time. Each time a dot is supposed to print
an electromagnet inside the printhead causes the appropriate
wire to strike the ribbon (making Radix an impact printer).
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