Summary of PEN PLOTTER IS ABOUT AS SIMPLE AS IT CAN GET
This article reviews a simple DIY pen plotter by DAZ Projects, featuring an Arduino, CNC shield, 3D printed pulleys, and a Core XY mechanism. Constructed from inexpensive parts like bearings, motors, strings, rubber bands, and scrap lumber, the design allows for quick assembly. A key feature is an RC servo that lifts the pen off the paper using motion play, though the setup is not easily adaptable for laser engraving without modification.
Parts used in the Simple Pen Plotter:
- Arduino
- CNC shield
- 3D printed pulleys
- Bearings
- Motors
- Strings
- Rubber bands
- Scrap lumber
- RC servo
- Pen or pen horn
Sure, we see quite a few plotters and other motion machines, but the one from [DAZ Projects] has the virtual of looking dead simple. The Arduino and CNC shield are old hat, of course. But some 3D printed pulleys and a very simple-looking core XY arrangement looks like this could be a pretty quick build.
You might ask; if you have a 3D printer, why you wouldn’t just mount a pen on it and call it a day? Well, you could do that, of course, but what fun is that? Besides, that will tie up your printer, too. You can see a video of the project, below.
The build looks inexpensive using just a few bearings and motors. Most of it looks like things you probably have hanging around such as strings and rubber bands with some scrap lumber. We enjoyed how the play in the motion mechanism allowed an RC servo to easily lift the whole pen off the sheet. Of course, the pen or the servo horn slides across the paper, so we don’t think you could easily hang a laser module to make an engraver, although we don’t doubt you could figure something out.
We can tell [DAZ] likes to make motion-based projects. We also thought this reminded us of a whiteboard plotter we saw recently.
Source: PEN PLOTTER IS ABOUT AS SIMPLE AS IT CAN GET
- Why build this plotter instead of mounting a pen on a 3D printer?
Building this plotter avoids tying up your 3D printer and offers more fun. - What makes the motion mechanism unique?
The play in the motion mechanism allows an RC servo to easily lift the whole pen off the sheet. - Can this project be built cheaply?
Yes, the build looks inexpensive using just a few bearings and motors along with common items like strings and rubber bands. - Is it easy to adapt this plotter into a laser engraver?
No, because the pen or servo horn slides across the paper, making it difficult to hang a laser module without figuring something out. - What type of mechanical arrangement does this plotter use?
The project uses a very simple-looking core XY arrangement. - Who created this motion-based project?
The project was created by [DAZ Projects]. - Does the author think this is a quick build?
Yes, the simple appearance of the components suggests it could be a pretty quick build.
