The Lexmark Form Printer 4227-100 and 4227-200 are dot matrix, electro-mechanical printers that form characters on print media using a printhead and fabric ribbon. The printhead is composed of 18 miniature solenoids containing print wires and operates on electromagnetic principles. When a solenoid is energized, the small print wire pin is “fired” toward the ribbon to make a dot on the paper. The printer receives commands in the form of an electronic data stream from the PC through the parallel or serial port connector. The printer logic receives and translates the electronic data stream into carrier returns, line spacing, characters, or graphics as instructed.