Pen plotters are popular builds amongst DIY CNC enthusiasts. They’re a great way to learn the fundamentals of motion control and make something useful along the way. In that vein, [Maker101] has created a neat barebones plotter for tabletop use.
The basic design relies on familiar components. It uses a pair of MGN15 linear rails as the basis of the motion platform, along with NEMA 17 stepper motors to run the X and Y axes. These are assembled with the aid of 3D-printed parts that bring the whole frame together, along with a pen lifter operated with a hobby servo.
The neat thing about the design is that the barebones machine is designed to sit upon an existing tabletop. This eliminates the need to integrate a large flat work surface into the plotter itself. Instead, the X axis just runs along whatever surface you place it on, rolling on a small wheel. It’s likely not ideal for accuracy or performance; we could see the machine itself skating around if run too fast. For a lightweight barebones plotter, though, it works well enough.
If you dig building plotters, you might like to step up to something more laser-y in future. Video after the break.
What keeps the paper from moving when the pen is dragging on it?
I’ve wanted a plotter for a long time, just didn’t find one for the right price.
Most likely the paper is taped down.
You can see the tape at the corners
glue, screws, nails, heavy weights, holding it down manually, asking somebody else to hold it down for you, electrostatic charge, vacuum, chewing gum… there are plenty of option to hold the paper down, just chose one of the here mentioned and you’ll be fine.
back in the day, yhere was an article in hp journal about an experimental plotter. it gripped the edge of a sheet of paper using fingers with sandpaper on them, moving the sheet back and forth as one axis. the other axis was a metal measuring tape that went in and out. a small pen was mounted at the end of the tape with a piezo actuator to raise and lower it. the unit was small enough to fit in a pocket, but could plot on 8.5×11 paper.
the samdpaper fingers eventually turned into the grit wheels that hp inkjet printers used to move paper.
Could you remember more details about this? By the sound of it it must have been a sight to behold, I’d love to read about it.