What Is a Thermal Printing Calculator?

Thermal printing calculators use heat, rather than ink, to print on paper

There are two basic types of printing calculators. An impact printer uses an ink ribbon or ink roller to produce images. Thermal printing calculators use direct thermal printing. Heat sensitive paper is sent past heating elements to produce images on the paper.

History

The first mass-produced calculators were large and expensive. Smaller machines were more attractive to the consumer. Texas Instruments introduced the "Cal Tech" in 1967. Canon offered the "Pocketronic" to the United States market in 1971.

Advantages

Thermal printers print crisp and clear characters onto paper. They are faster and quieter than impact printers. Thermal printers do not use ribbons or any ink supply, so there are no messy ribbons to change.

Disadvantages

Thermal printers require a heat sensitive paper for printing. They will not print on traditional paper add rolls. The specialty paper tends to be more expensive. The print on thermal paper tends to fade with time, making it a poor choice for permanent records.

References

• The Old Calculator Web Museum: Canon Pocketronic Electronic calculator
• Texas Instruments: Electronic handheld calculator invented
• PCMag: Definition of a Direct thermal printer
• Zebra Technologies: Direct Thermal and Thermal Transfer Printing