Summary of BUILD A PLOTTER USING SCRAP DVD DRIVES
This article details a DIY pen plotter project by [Daniele Tartaglia], repurposing salvaged DVD drives to create X and Y axes. The design utilizes the drives' integrated stepper motors and lead screws, mounted on a custom wooden frame. A servo controls pen lifting while a rubber band ensures consistent pressure for drawing. An Arduino Uno with a stepper driver shield manages the operation, resulting in a compact, aesthetically pleasing machine with minimal mechanical slop.
Parts used in the Pen Plotter Build:
- Salvaged DVD drives
- Stepper motors (integrated in DVD drives)
- Lead screws (integrated in DVD drives)
- Wooden frame
- Pen
- Rubber band
- Servo motor
- Arduino Uno
- Stepper driver shield
Building your own CNC machine can present a series of varied challenges. There are the software considerations, but also the mechanical side of things – motors, shafts, screws and slides all need to be addressed in a working design. Of course, you can always outsource some of the work – and that’s precisely what [Daniele Tartaglia] did with this pen plotter build (Youtube link, embedded below).
The build gains X and Y axes by virtue of two salvaged DVD drives. The tray mechanisms come ready to go with stepper motors and lead screws already assembled, and make a great basis for a compact plotter. A wooden frame is constructed to hold everything together. The pen is held against the paper with a rubber band which helps the ballpoint to draw a nice dark line, with a servo used as a pen retract mechanism. An Arduino Uno with a stepper driver shield is then employed to run the show.
It’s a tidy build, with neat cable management and smart design choices giving it a pleasing aesthetic. The CNC fundamentals are good, too – with minimal backlash and slop, the plotter is able to draw quite effectively. Old optical drives are a popular choice for plotter builds, as it turns out. Video after the break.
Source: BUILD A PLOTTER USING SCRAP DVD DRIVES
- How does the build gain its X and Y axes?
The build gains X and Y axes using two salvaged DVD drives. - What mechanism holds the pen against the paper?
A rubber band is used to hold the pen against the paper to draw a dark line. - Can I use old optical drives for this project?
Yes, old optical drives are a popular choice for plotter builds because they come with assembled stepper motors and lead screws. - What component serves as the pen retract mechanism?
A servo is used as the pen retract mechanism. - Does the plotter have minimal backlash?
Yes, the plotter features good CNC fundamentals with minimal backlash and slop. - What controller runs the project?
An Arduino Uno with a stepper driver shield is employed to run the show. - Why are DVD drives suitable for this design?
DVD drive tray mechanisms come ready with stepper motors and lead screws already assembled.
