11. Open Source Hardware - From Fibers to Fabric¶
Research & Ideation¶
Building a plotter was on my list for a long time. A plotter is a device that can draw text and pictures on paper using a pen, functioning much like a printer but with a distinct, handcrafted aesthetic. Unlike traditional printers, plotters move a pen or marker in continuous lines, making them ideal for producing vector-style art, architectural plans, or creative generative designs. The idea of transforming digital designs into physical drawings with such mechanical precision has always fascinated me
References & Inspiration¶
That’s such a fun and clever hack — turning a 3D printer into a drawing plotter! I love how accessible and modular the whole process is, especially the idea of using a clipping mechanism for quick pen swaps. The guide is super thorough too, walking from mounting and calibration to the quirks of Gcodetools in Inkscape.
How to turn your 3D printer into a plotter in one hour
Turning a 3D printer into a drawing plotter¶
After conducting some research, my friend Magali and I decided to repurpose a 3D printer into a drawing plotter. We were inspired by the precision and movement capabilities of 3D printers, which make them ideal for controlled, repeatable drawing tasks. By replacing the extruder with a pen holder and using the printer's existing XYZ axis system, we aim to create a machine capable of producing detailed and intricate drawings on flat surfaces. This transformation allows us to explore new creative possibilities while making use of tools already available to us.
This is a plotter adaptor designed for the Ender 3 V2 Neo, but it is also compatible with most CR Touch-equipped printers. The parts shown in the photos are from an early prototype that required some adjustments; however, the files provided include all the improvements and final modifications made after testing.
Design the adapter¶
First, we began by designing the adapter in SolidWorks, which was my main contribution to the process of transforming the 3D printer into a pen plotter. I took the lead in creating the initial part of the adapter, focusing on ensuring it would fit securely and function effectively. After completing the first part, Magali continued by developing the next section, building on the foundation I had laid. here is files
| Print Settings | |
|---|---|
| Printer brand: | Creality |
| Printer: | Ender-3 V2 Neo |
| Rafts: | No |
| Supports: | Yes |
| Resolution: | 0.2–0.3 mm |
| Infill: | 50% |
| Filament brand: | eSun |
| Filament color: | blue |
| Filament material: | PLA |
After finalizing the design, we continued with the 3D printing of the adapter, ensuring that the dimensions matched our setup and the part was properly fabricated for assembly.
we sat down and started planning the hardware when we suddenly realized that my 3D printer already includes all the hardware and electronics we need. Instead of building a machine from scratch, we just needed to figure out how to attach a pen to it and how to tell it to draw.
After printing, we had a working prototype. It was much easier than Iweinitially expected. In this blog post, you will learn how you can make your own printer draw.
Step 1 — Attaching a Pen¶
You want to reliably mount a pen to your printer’s head and ensure that the tip of the pen extends slightly below the nozzle for consistent contact with the paper while drawing. I use a small M3 screw to secure the pen in place, ensuring it stays steady during the drawing process.
Step 2 — Calibration¶
Once you have successfully mounted your pen to your printer, it’s time to calibrate it. Start by attaching a piece of paper securely to your printer’s bed, making sure it won’t shift during the plotting process.
Step 3— Choosing a what to print¶
It can be tricky since there are countless choices out there. What you’ll need is an image in vector format. If you're searching on Google Images, add type:svg to your search to find files that are ready to use. Although you can convert JPEG or PNG files into SVGs, it's much easier to begin with something that’s already a vector.
Step 4 — Generating GCode¶
When I began this project, I assumed that getting the hardware to work would take several hours. To my surprise, the hardware setup came together quite smoothly. The real challenge, as is often the case, turned out to be the software. After diving into research for hours, I eventually found a workflow that performs reliably—though it does require a bit of setup.
step five - starting drawing¶
More to come¶
For this first drawing, we were a bit disappointed with the results. Moving forward, we'll focus more on size measurements, fine-tuning the settings, and other key factors to ensure we get a better outcome. The goal is to adjust the print and plotter settings to achieve more accurate and consistent results in the next attempt.💪 ⚡
Repeating the experiment¶
For the second time, we tried making some adjustments to improve the results. After carefully analyzing the previous outcome, we identified specific areas that needed refinement and focused our efforts on those points. Although the process required patience and several small corrections
For the first attempt, we tried to write on paper. We wanted to see how the material would react and whether the method would give us the results we hoped for. Although it seemed simple, we quickly realized that achieving a clean and consistent outcome required more precision than expected. This first trial helped us understand the challenges better and prepared us for making improvements in the next steps.
First one¶
Design by joselyn ingabire
Visuals¶
Second one¶
Design by joselyn ingabire
Visuals¶
Result¶
As a result, we wrote on the fabric. After testing on paper, we decided to move forward and apply the technique directly onto the material. This step allowed us to see how the fabric absorbed the writing and how the texture affected the final appearance. It was an important part of the process, helping us understand how to adjust our method for better results.
Design by joselyn ingabire
Visuals¶
