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A serial dot matrix printer is an impact printer that makes text and graphics from dots: pins in its print head strike an inked ribbon against paper. In the traditional printer classification, “serial” describes how the printer builds a line through successive positions. It does not automatically mean the printer connects to a computer through an RS-232 serial port.
How a serial dot matrix printer works
The print head contains pins, also called wires. As it moves across the page, selected pins strike an inked ribbon, transferring small marks to the paper. Repeated dot patterns form characters and graphics. Because the marks are made by impact, this is a serial impact dot matrix printer.
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Unlike a line printer, which prints a full line at once, a serial printer creates a line through successive print positions. This is the traditional mechanism distinction described in the Epson MX-82 manual excerpt.
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The word has two relevant uses. In “serial dot matrix printer,” it describes the printing mechanism: the printer forms a line position by position. In “serial interface,” it describes a data connection between the printer and a computer. The first does not establish the second; check the exact model’s specifications for its ports.
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For example, Epson lists USB and parallel connections for the LQ-590, along with an optional interface-card slot. By contrast, OKI lists an RS-232C interface card for the MICROLINE 5720, and the Star SP312 manual documents an RS-232C connector. These examples show why “serial” in the printer category name is not enough to identify the host connection.
What varies by model
Pin count, speed, paper handling, ports, and compatible accessories are not fixed across the category. Manufacturer specifications for the Epson LQ-590 illustrate how those details are stated for a particular model:
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- Printers Dot Matrix
- Printer
| Specification | Epson LQ-590 |
|---|---|
| Print technology | 24-pin serial impact dot matrix |
| High-speed draft | 529 characters per second at 12 cpi |
| Draft | 330 characters per second at 10 cpi |
| Letter quality | 110 characters per second at 10 cpi |
| Connections listed | USB and parallel; optional interface-card slot |
| Multipart forms | Supports five-part forms |
These are Epson’s specifications for the LQ-590, not category-wide performance or capacity claims. See the Epson LQ-590 product specifications.
What to check when identifying or choosing one
If you need to connect a printer to a particular computer or print on specific forms, verify the exact model rather than relying on the label “serial dot matrix.” Check:
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- OKI MICROLINE 320 Turbo Dot Matrix Printer (9-pin) (435 cps) (64 KB) (240 x 216 dpi) (Max Duty Cycle 20 000 Pages) (Parallel) (Serial) (USB) (120V)
- OKI MICROLINE 320 Turbo Dot Matrix Printer (9-pin) (435 cps) (64 KB) (240 x 216 dpi) (Max Duty Cycle 20 000 Pages) (Parallel) (Serial) (USB) (120V)
- Matrix
- Host interface: Confirm whether the unit has the connection you need, such as USB, parallel, or RS-232C, and whether an optional card is required.
- Paper handling: Verify the supported paper path and multipart-form capacity for that model.
- Print requirements: Compare pin count and speed by print-quality mode; a single speed figure may not describe every mode.
- Consumables and accessories: Match the ribbon and any interface card to the printer’s model. For example, OKI lists a ribbon cartridge and RS-232C 25-pin interface card for the MICROLINE 5720 specifically, not for dot matrix printers generally. See OKI’s MICROLINE 5720 accessories listing.
Manufacturer support catalogs and manuals can help confirm model-specific details; OKI’s dot matrix printer support catalog and the Star SP312 user manual are examples.
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- What's in the box: TM-U220PB printer; User manual; Ribbon cassette; Power switch cover; Paper roll; Adaptor C with AC cord.
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- Reliable 24-pin impact printers boast a long life cycle and speeds up to 584 cps.
- Seamless integration with both new and legacy systems.
- Advanced paper handling.
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