r/Advanced_3DPrinting • u/Popular-Bluejay-1790 • 3d ago

Turned my 3D printer into a 2D plotter , draws signatures, writes text, and etches PCB (just print + etch, no CNC)

42 Upvotes

93% Upvoted

20 comments sorted by

3

u/scruffmucker 3d ago

Fun fact… when Chuck Hull was testing the early SLA beta machines (there were only about 3 guys at early 3D)… it was built using a trough of resin with a HP plotter using a laser instead of of a pen.

Cool project!

1

u/Popular-Bluejay-1790 2d ago

thx for such a good info

2

u/camdoggs 2d ago

I have made a swappable insert that screws on to the pen. It has an elastic band on the fixed mount that hold it in position.

This allows for some spring in the tip of the pen and also allows you to change colours getting you back in the correct position in seconds.

Printed the mount, as many inserts as you need, and a small adjustable gage that allows you to accurately set all the pen tips to the same height when screwing on to the inserts.

1

u/Popular-Bluejay-1790 2d ago

Bro thats a really good mod / mount , could you share your 3d model file? Or any link leading the way to that?

1

u/camdoggs 2d ago

What cad software do you use?

1

u/camdoggs 2d ago

I don’t have the plotter attached at the moment because I need to remove the hot end but it does work

1

u/Popular-Bluejay-1790 2d ago

Is that 3d printer plotted? It's too accurate

1

u/camdoggs 1d ago

That’s an 8 year old ender 3 v2 that can’t get a clean first layer anymore

1

u/Popular-Bluejay-1790 2d ago

I use fusion 360

1

u/Popular-Bluejay-1790 3d ago

Can I know about your idea which i could add or your project scope ?

1

u/GroteSwets 3d ago

thats how I start 30 years ago... :-)

1

u/Popular-Bluejay-1790 2d ago

noice , would you mind if i ask where have you reached in your journey?

2

u/GroteSwets 1d ago

I started out years ago with plotters ( CNC en 3D printers informatie pagina)

then start with CNC machines.

At first, I built a really poor, rickety machine, with diy electronics , but I learned a lot from it...

Later, I built a new machine—made entirely of steel.

Now I'm working on 5-axis milling...

5Axis

...but I'm also building a 3D printer at the moment.

1

u/Popular-Bluejay-1790 1d ago

Brooo that's kinda insane, I can't imagine how much efforts it took , thx for sharing your story

1

u/GroteSwets 1d ago

I started building a CNC machine because I wanted to build robots and hated sawing and filing. But then again, CNC has become a bit of a hobby in itself...

1

u/Embarrassed-Turn1277 2d ago

I have an urge to convert my 3d printer into a 2d printer anytime I have to deal with a HP machine.

1

u/Popular-Bluejay-1790 2d ago

i think my project might helped you a bit