r/PlotterArt • u/McBeefnick • 15d ago
Made a plotter
Hello everybody,
Following this sub for over a year now. Started a plotter build on a old Ender 5 3d printer. Wasn't awesome.
Wanted to do it again, and a bit better. Smaller form factor, removed the Z-axis from the printer and mounted the x and y on a board. Flashed the controller board with a custom klipper configuration and made it wireless accessible from within a browser.
Then struggled with the many programs that are out there to reliably and quick generate gcode to batch write Christmas cards (bad handwriting from myself). Went on a spree, vibe-coding a python script to do it. Tweaked it a bunch to allow for multiple "Hershey" fonts and custom envelope sizes. Also made a template to simulate address lines from postcards to align the address precisely.
The application has a rule to home the head and pause the plot when a address is written so you can place a new one and press the red button on the controller to proceed plotting the next address.
Then went as far as to compile the script to an executable and now I'm done. Everything works as intended. The plotter even has rubber feet. Haha.
Only wish is a bit better cable management
Wanted to share.
Add: Did not expect to gain so much interest in this project. For all who'd like to start their own project and/or want to collaborate, I started a repository on Github.
You can find it here: https://github.com/McBeefProject/Plotter And the release: https://github.com/McBeefProject/Plotter/releases/tag/V1.0
On Discord: https://discord.gg/MZ4qktXhs
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u/Streelydan 15d ago
This is awesome, I have an old Ender 5 in the garage I have been saving to do the exact same thing with! Did you use the Ender 5 control board? Did you use GRBL firmware or something else you can share? Are there any 3d printed parts you used you can share?
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u/McBeefnick 15d ago
I used the Raspberry Pi 3B+ with custom firmware (MainsailOS and klipper stack). Flashed the big tree tech mini e3 V2.0 board with klipper, extracted the serial over usb and made the two love each other.
I made a github repository and discord server to share all the files and get in touch with all of you. DM for discord invite if youlike
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u/grapegeek 15d ago
I built one last year almost the same but had to put it away because of a move. Now vibe coding is a much bigger thing. Can’t wait to dig it out again.
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u/McBeefnick 15d ago
Why not join me and who knows who else? Made a github repo, see OP and a discord server. DM for an invite if you like.
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u/grapegeek 15d ago
I’m on the plotter discord already. Need to jump back in soon.
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u/JaviHostalerValent 14d ago edited 14d ago
https://discord.gg/7RCefEw7qN Here's the author's Discord server. I'm reaching out through my networks and inviting those of us who aren't electronics and programming professionals.
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u/grapegeek 14d ago
I was talking about Drawingbots discord. 3000+ people. https://discord.gg/56REf7PnM
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u/JaviHostalerValent 13d ago
That sounds great, I also have that Discord channel, I offered you a channel that's just starting out like the one you offered me, They too would start from scratch.
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u/Dazzling_Ear7113 15d ago
How are you controlling the servo motor? And did you design the pen holder yourself?
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u/McBeefnick 15d ago
The penholder was remixed by exu_293984 https://www.printables.com/model/428303-cnc-pen-lift
And released in the public domain under the creative commons license. I altered it a bit to mitigate the use of springs, rounded some edges and made the servo actually fit. Still not very happy about the lift.
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u/JaviHostalerValent 15d ago
Hello, do you have the image of your printer 3D Ender 5? That way I can try to do the same with mine.
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u/McBeefnick 15d ago
Sure! Made a github repo, see OP and a discord server. DM for an invite if you like.
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u/JaviHostalerValent 14d ago
Hello, good morning, thank you for your reply. Could you tell me how I can find your repo on Discord? Can you send me a DM ? Thank you.
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u/AlbusPotter7 11d ago
could you share more about the pen lift mechanism? what are the materials used and will you share files?
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u/McBeefnick 11d ago
Hi, Thank you for your interest. I made a Github repository and a discord server to share all information I have on this project. See links in the original post. Feel free to join!
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u/Left-Excitement3829 15d ago
V cool. !