Cartesian Plotter

thingiverse

Note 2020-03-04: there is a newer version of this project with many improvements here: https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:4037180\r\n\r\nPlease also check the full project write-up at: http://andrewsleigh.com/plotter/\r\n\r\n---\r\n\r\nThis updated design builds on my previous plotter, taking advantage of traditional cartesian architecture where movement in the y-axis is driven by a motorized arm while the drawing surface remains stationary. This setup offers greater accuracy and enables drawing on any flat surface.\r\n\r\nHowever, this approach also introduces drawbacks:\r\n\r\n1. It requires more space to store and operate, with approximately 50 cm of travel in each axis necessitating a large storage area and 1 m x 50 cm of operating space.\r\n2. The long arm, comprised of steel rods in my design, is heavy and tends to dip at the end of its reach, causing issues with pen height or pressure. To mitigate this, I've incorporated bolt-down points on the x-axis that allow me to secure it to a piece of plywood, significantly increasing the frame's stiffness.\r\n\r\nOther notable features include:\r\n\r\n* The use of small kite pole sections to hold together the two parts of the pen lifter assembly, providing 0.1 mm of extra clearance for smooth running without wobble.\r\n\r\n* Thin strips of flexible polypropylene plastic are used to support wires to the servo and y-axis stepper, an idea inspired by Evil Mad Scientist's AxiDraw that ensures smooth operation.