Plotters and drawing robots are fun tasks that permit you generate artwork with all the precision and perfection that laptop numerical regulate can provide. [TUENHIDIY] demonstrates that ably with the Multicolor DrawBot.
The make relies on a very simple XY Cartesian style, making use of a pair of NEMA 17 stepper motors. It is constructed in the standard CoreXY fashion, operating GRBL firmware on an Arduino Uno.
Exactly where [TUENHIDIY] receives inventive is in the pen itself. Somewhat than employing a simple ballpoint or marker, rather, a retractable multicolor pen is applied instead. With the multicolor pen on board, [TUENHIDIY] notes the relevance of restrict switches in the style and design. These allow for the the ‘bot to make several passes, each time in a different colour, to build up a multicolor impression. With no the limit switches in place, it would be unachievable to line up just about every next pass.
We’d really like to see the construct taken even further more with a servo-based system for switching shades mechanically. As it is, although, [TUENHIDIY] has a capable plotter that can deliver tidy multicolor artworks.
One of the extra curious applications of plotters of late are people made use of to deliver fake handwritten letters by means of the postal system. Video clip just after the break.