The sound of a dot-matrix printer was probably synonymous with computing in the 1980s, just as the handshake that accompanied modems would be with desktop experiences a decade later. In 2023, dot-matrix printers are still useful devices. Why not? They’re cheap to operate and can produce surprisingly good quality when paired with suitable drivers. While cartridges for some popular models are still available, many others are no longer in production. [Drygol] After discovering that all of his cartridges had become non-functional on an Apple ImageWriter II, he looked into how to get them working again.
The fabric ribbon that was once found inside a typewriter is now a part of a dot matrix cart. It’s not on a roll but folded into the space, and it’s drawn through by a pair of rollers. In addition to the fabric being dried, the foam of the rollers was also disintegrating. O-rings were the solution after some careful dismantling. Those and a bit of mineral oil to soften the ink had the vintage Apple printing again as though it was the ’80s once more.
It’s a subject we’ve looked at before, as it turns out WD-40 makes a good ink solvent.