# IBM 1627

> 1960s era plotter

**Wikidata**: [Q5968586](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q5968586)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IBM_1627)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/ibm-1627

## Summary
The IBM 1627 is a 1960s-era plotter designed as a computer output device that draws on or cuts into paper or other materials by moving a pen or knife. This early form of computer-aided design technology allowed digital information to be physically rendered onto physical media.

## Key Facts
- The IBM 1627 is a 1960s-era plotter classified as a computer output device
- It operates by moving a pen or knife to draw on or cut into paper or other materials
- It has a Freebase ID of /m/03hp7b and is classified as a subclass of plotter
- The device has 2 sitelinks across Wikipedia and Wikimedia Commons
- It is documented on Wikipedia with the title "IBM 1627" and in the Commons category "IBM 1627"
- The IBM 1627 has an image available at https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:FilePath/IBM_1627_plotter.mw.jpg
- Its Wikidata description identifies it as a "1960s era plotter"

## FAQs
### Q: What was the primary function of the IBM 1627?
A: The IBM 1627 served as a computer output device that could draw on or cut into paper or other materials by moving a pen or knife. This allowed digital information from early computers to be physically rendered onto physical media.

### Q: When was the IBM 1627 produced and used?
A: The IBM 1627 was produced during the 1960s, representing an early form of computer-aided design technology. It was part of the generation of output devices that preceded modern computer graphics and printing.

### Q: How does the IBM 1627 compare to modern plotters?
A: Unlike modern plotters that use advanced digital interfaces and precision motors, the IBM 1627 utilized simpler mechanical mechanisms to move pens across paper. While contemporary plotters can produce high-resolution color output, the IBM 1627 was limited to monochrome line drawings.

### Q: What materials could the IBM 1627 work with?
A: The IBM 1627 could draw on or cut into paper or other materials using its moving pen or knife mechanism. This versatility allowed it to create both visual outputs and cut patterns on various media.

## Why It Matters
The IBM 1627 represents a crucial milestone in the evolution of computer-aided design and digital output technology. As one of the first plotters from the 1960s, it bridged the gap between digital computation and physical representation, allowing engineers and designers to translate digital data into tangible drawings. This capability was revolutionary at a time when most computer output was limited to alphanumeric text or simple graphics. The IBM 1627's ability to precisely draw on paper or cut into materials laid the foundation for modern CAD/CAM systems, which have become indispensable in fields from architecture to manufacturing. By enabling the visualization of complex digital information, it played an essential role in the development of engineering and design workflows that continue to evolve today.

## Notable For
- Being one of the early plotters from the 1960s that enabled digital-to-physical conversion
- Its mechanical design using movable pens or knives to create output on various materials
- Its role in early computer-aided design before modern graphics technology existed
- Its documented presence in both Wikipedia and Wikimedia Commons despite having only 2 sitelinks

## Body
### Technical Specifications
- The IBM 1627 is classified as a plotter, a type of computer output device
- It operates by moving a pen or knife to draw on or cut into paper or other materials
- The device was produced during the 1960s
- It has a Freebase ID of /m/03hp7b

### Documentation and Recognition
- The IBM 1627 is documented on Wikipedia under the title "IBM 1627"
- It has a Wikimedia Commons category named "IBM 1627"
- An image of the device is available at https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:FilePath/IBM_1627_plotter.mw.jpg
- The device has 2 sitelinks across Wikipedia and Wikimedia Commons
- Its Wikidata description identifies it as a "1960s era plotter"

### Historical Context
- The IBM 1627 represents an early form of computer-aided design technology
- It was produced during a formative period in computing history
- The device's design reflects the technological constraints and capabilities of the 1960s
- It represents a transition from purely text-based computer output to graphical representations