[Jack Boland], a mechanical engineer at the University of Wisconsin, built a cool hanging plotter project called HangBot. It’s a fairly standard setup, where he converts an image to G-Code files, and it is plotted using two stepper motors for control. We’ve seen vertical plotters before, but they tend to only have a single pen. [Jack] expanded this one to bring color into the mix by splitting an image into separate CMYK layers, and plotting each onto separate transparency film. When overlaid, they create something close to a full color image. His idea is to use this setup as a replacement for typical window signage.
Since it’s drawing a continuous line, he appears to be employing a grid instead of a traditional dot pattern. That, combined with the inaccuracy of a marker tip means resolution will be limited. Still, you can tell that he’s made a great start in this (albeit blurry) photo. Check out the video of it’s operation after the break.
'Hangbot' robot sketches images and data from Wisc Institute for Discovery on Vimeo.
Was really hoping to see it printing in multiple colors (or layers) and see an image produced.
Ah I see the image in one of the other links now. Hard to tell how it looks to the naked eye with those photos
This technique is as new as a CRT screen
Where in the article did it state the technique was new?
Actually, your commenting technique predates CRT’s.
He’s really getting nailed by the instability around the attachment point.
Yes, the gear looks cool, but isn’t stable. It needs a wider spread between the attachment points. I think is is trying to avoid contact with the surface to prevent smearing. This may help:
http://makerblock.com/2013/03/ideal-qualities-in-a-drawing-robot-pen-holder/
speaking of crt’s
connect the servo motor wires of the teddy ruxpin for the eyes and mouth to the deflection yoke of the crt and you can get a pattern kind of like what is pictured above
UW needs to get some AV geeks – that video was awful. More a pitch for the Uni instead of a project demo. The “color twist” was what made his hanging plotter different – so of course you wouldn’t want to show even a peek of that in the video.
http://juerglehni.com/works/hektor/
Still my favorite, and the best I’ve seen so far..
Still using that section of an old Playboy centerfold. Let us sing… “The plotterbot is for porn!”
needs a hanging weight or something to reduce the shake.
I’m wondering if you could run a small current to an electromagnet through the wires being used to hang it; then (potentially) use that to create a gap between the board and the marker tip (e.g. power on = magnet charged = repulsion = pen up; power off = magnet off = gravity = pen down).
(I think) there would need to be an oppositely charged magnet on the back side; but you could potentially just tie it to the same movement mechanism to keep it in position.
Wouldn’t a simple retractable tip be easier?
Are you sure the shaking is just not the vimeo player bugging out?
I can never get a clean play while the video is downloading.
Flash player does not have that problem.
Video way to choppy. Sounds like I’m on the road late at night listening to a far out distant Station. Even after the cache completed downloading. That’s pretty bad.