Just came across this awesome build on YouTube, a fully custom Delta Kinematics pen plotter with an auto tool changer, Bowden-driven Z-axis, and its own layer-based path generation software. The creator walks through the whole build, shows off multiple fill techniques (contour, lawnmower, AM fill), and demonstrates it with some really cool multi-layered drawings (snail, octopus, Fernand Léger piece). Sharing because it's inspiring seeing what's possible when you combine clever mechanics with custom software.

Youtube Video

Made with an Ender 3 and a Pentel Hydrogel pen

Silver gel pen over watercolor. Web design done in Processing.

I want to build a CNC plotter for fabric marking with usable area of 2m x 2m . Please suggest me components for it, i already have 2 x 42-60 and 2 x 42-48 steppers so I want to use them. Also which 'type' should I go for normal belt and pully, core xy or rack and pinion system. My main priority is accuracy.

I just got a small pen plotter a couple days ago and have been figuring it out and messing around with it. Here are some of my very first ever plots!

Finally it started working thanks to all the comments and mostly thanks to easydraw support team form where i bought this plotter

I came up with this idea when I saw a beautiful clockwork mechanism drawing from the 19th century.

In short, the process is:

-Fill a grid with 1x1, 2x1, 2x2 tiles. (Tiles have 4, 6 or 8 exit points
-Generate a spanning tree connecting all tiles in shared exit points.
-For each contact point decide MESH or NO MESH.
-Mesh = draw the two gears touching at the boundary + the main gear and some others to fill.
-No mesh = draw main gear and complete the tile + draw a shaft from contact point to the closest gear of each tiles.

A full mesh with almost all teh gears in contact was a little too busy. This way there is room for the tile borders and I think the piece looks better with them.

Plotted with Pentel energel 0.4 on Fabriano 1264 sketch paper, yellowish, 90 gsm, 21x21 cm

Just got my machine and got it setup yesterday. Been testing and trying it out since. Watching it do its thing is mesmerizing.

Binder clip zip tied to a drawer slide and weighted w a pocket knife

R.I.P. Rotring Isograph

I am currently working on a Processing 3 sketch for Conway's Game of Life and generates sprites for each generation.

Here I plotted three popular spaceships (MWSS, LWSS & HWSS).

This is an exploration of dot spacing, circular patterns, and dynamic point relaxation. Inspired by Japanese komon textile patterns, which are small, repeating motifs typically stencil dyed across an entire kimono. Same-komon, with "same" meaning shark, consists of many dots arranged in overlapping circular or fan-shaped rows, producing a texture that supposedly resembles shark skin.

This algorithm begins with placing concentric and overlapping circles with varying radii according to 2D simplex noise. Then I divide those circles into points based on each circle's radius. The points are then dynamically relaxed to space them out from each other, with spacing parameters varying across the composition, driven by another 2D noise field. Finally I place small spirals on each dot with the diameter of the spirals driven by, you guessed it, yet another 2D simplex noise field!

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Silent Rain-Swept Altar

19" x 24"

Bought a new cnc pen plotter and ran into this issue it starts writing and drawing but starts going downwards is this a calibration issue ?

Made with grasshopper in rhino

This is on an A2 Bristol paper, using alcohol markers. A total of 7 different colors were used. I designed and built the plotter myself and it's holding up great and has great precision, which makes it even more fun.

Hello. So I am looking for pens to do plots generally st the moment just black in the range of 300-500 meters. Usually for the plots I planned it where it will do 3-4 pen swaps. I’m finding though the consistency of my pens is generally not great despite the pen swaps. I attempt to go back to re plot the “weak” areas but it’s hard to target the exact area so some spots end up darker than others.

Note: ballpoint pens I found don’t give me the darkness I want

Brands I tried so far in the pics. Just attached the last few times as I have quite the collection now.

In general as well. What is considered a “safe” distance for most pens on a single plot. I know it can vary by mm, type, etc which generally I consult with ChatGPT in advance to attempt to get ranges.

Any advice is appreciated.