Look into parallel port alternative modes.

[karliss]

In the default "compatibility/centronics" mode only one directional communication+busy state is possible.

HPGL and many vintage plotters support bidirectional command at least when used with serial port.

http://www.linuxfocus.org/common/src/article205/ppdev.html

http://techref.massmind.org/techref/io/parallel/1284/1284int.htm

It's unclear if any of them support alternative parallel port modes which would let receiving command output. Many of the docs sound like they don't.

• DXY-1300-1200-1100 clearly says no "With a parallel connector, the computer cannot receive the data output by the
  plotter. It cannot, therefore, be used with this command."
• Others like DXY-1150A, and CM24 simply say "Parallel (contronics compatible)" which might mean the default centronics mode or might just refer to using centronics connector instead of DB-25
• some newer inkjet plotters which support HPGL mostly for backwards compatibility reasons mention Bi-tronics(nibble) mode support but supporting those devices feels like out of scope for this project

[karliss]

Looks like nibble mode was introduced in ~1992-1993 [1] all the HP pen plotters are older than that [2] many pen plotters from other manufacturers are similar age.

[1] http://www.hp.com/hpinfo/newsroom/feature_stories/2004/printerstimeline.pdf
[2] https://www.hpmuseum.net/exhibit.php?class=4&cat=24

There is still a chance that some relevant devices support it. Maybe some of newer vinyl cutters, if anything due to using one chip solution for parallel port support which due to being sufficiently new could also support all the newer modes.