Thermal Wax-Transfer Printers
A thermal wax-transfer printer uses heat to bond a wax-based pigment to paper. These printers usually have resolutions of 150 or 300 dpi. At one time, these devices were used for color graphics and photo-reproduction; more recently, they have been replaced by ink-jet and color laser printers, which are less expensive to own and operate.
The bewildering assortment of transport rollers, heating arrays, and electronics make field repair of these printers impractical, except by a specially trained technician equipped with special tools.