As someone who started using computers in the last century, I find the current resurgence of pen plotters somewhat nostalgic. The difference, of course, is that this century it is easier to make your own, which is what [Miguel Sanchez] is doing.
Inspired by the Axidraw, he is making his own pen plotter. He’s made great progress so far, creating a design that looks quite simple to build. His design is driven by an Arduino Uno with a stepper shield, a couple of NEMA 17 stepper motors and a servo to raise and lower the pen. Throw in a few rods, a belt or two and a number of 3D printed parts, and you’ve got a decent looking pen plotter.
He originally started with laser cut components, but shifted over to 3D printing as the design evolved. It’s not as fancy as the HP pen plotter I used to print out rude words in giant letters with in my youth (a HP7475, I think), but it is a neat build. Check it in action in the video below.
I had a HP7475 running here at home right up until a few years ago ’till my son took it away.
I loved those plotters and they worked fantastic! I was rebuilding the HP pens by hand using parts from regular pens and craft store ink
That’s actually really soothing to watch but it just kinda ends out of nowhere.
Check this guy’s work on DC motor replacement for servos. His code on PID controller tuning is great and helped me advance quite a bit in my effort to build DC-motor 3D printer.
Heh. Le lenny mona lisa ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)
Here is my try at the same week-end project (when you have a 3D printer)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zicQWK-pz5g
I need firmwear for this machine and controller, you can share!!!
Made one too: http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:1514145
I’m printing your version right now… Liked the stepper in the pen (because this is what I have right now available) Hope to have it running this week.
Tell me (on TGV) if you hit any difficulty.
Very cool. Although, commercially, pen plotters are relics, it is really cool to see you put this together. Nicely done.
could you help me out with its g code
hello could someone help me with my servo that is not working but the stepper motor runs smoothly thank you https://www.youtube.com/edit?o=U&video_id=agIXJdVZNmM