The Improved 2d Pen Plotter

It feels different when lifeless meaningless machines make things that make sense to us humans. I always wanted to make real 2d plotted with bigger stepper motors, that can cover A4 paper and can do much more than just writing fonts. For the start, I made this easy version 2d plotter. Yes, I know it had already made by many people but, Its for start and why not reuse some part of my collection of old PCs.

Supplies

I mainly use wood, easy to work with and sturdy. Other then that

2 old DVD driver(pc ones)

Arduino with 2 motor drivers

Servo and some resistors for limit switches

All the Arduino and processing(.pde) files are here:https://github.com/tapish101/2dPlotter

Step 1: The Frame for Plotter

Full reference to the attached photo. You know what to do.

Use long screws from sides to attach the middle two square pieces and to the base, DVD driver empty box. Keep in mind both planes should be perpendicular to each other whatever method you use to attach them.

Step 2: Electronics and Head

Attach the two stepper motor with perpendicular movement to each other. Stepper motors are connected to motor driver with connectors striped out of old pcb. One motor driver can control two dc motor but unconventional to dc motor, stepper motor has two different coils. So two drivers two motor. Arduino and drivers are hidden inside the dvd box and a type-c external power input.

The head part is also made with thin strip of wood that is parallel to other two moving axis. Servo moves pen up and down attached to third axis.

Step 3: Changes and Result

Since motor drivers were overheating, i updated the code to use drivers engage and disengage g-codes to disable motor drivers when not in use also add a button in the box, connected to arduino interrupt pin to disengage servo and stepper motor to freely move the base and a indicating light. Base also have magnets to hold the paper in place.

Also added the auto home feature with both x and y axis homing switch. These small switches are also from old DVD driver pcb, these were used to detect if tray was in or out. For all the connections refer to arduino code.

Step 4: Conclusion

Motor drivers don't support micro-stepping, hence all the curves are not smooth. Drawing area is just too small, smaller than you imagine it to be and the thing you only notice when you are done is the stepper motor were used to only slide a small plastic piece so they need not to have much power. These stepper motor are very sensitive to paper pen resistance when moving.

But all and all still fun machine to try.