_     _
                       _ __ | |__ | | ___   __ _
                      | '_ \| '_ \| |/ _ \ / _` |
                      | |_) | | | | | (_) | (_| |
                      | .__/|_| |_|_|\___/ \__, |
                      |_|    ...2018-03-15 |___/

Notes on 2D plotting with my 3D printer
So, the old saying goes, that the first "useful" stuff people print is stuff
for their 3D printers.. Well, it's not entirely true in my case.. I printed
some useful stuff that was not for my 3D printer, like a project case, and a
mount for my gopro (but I need to redo that in ABS)..
Anyway, the first thing I 3D printed for my 3D printer is a pen-holder so
I can mount a pen on it. I took a different approach than what I've seen
elsewhere.. I have a "SpiderMaker" which is basically a re-branded (or cloned)
Monoprice Select Mini.. Anyway, the fan assembly comes off really easily,
so I decided to just remove that and create a pen holder that fits where the
fan assembly was supposed to go.. What I want here, is to put a few notes, so
that I have a chance of remembering it in the future..

Software:
Inkscape for vectoring stuff.
A plugin for inkscape that allows saving as gcode (much better than the
extension that comes with it). The plugin is called: gcodeplot
It is from here: https://github.com/arpruss/gcodeplot/releases
Repetier-Host, kill the server, but the standalone is awesome.
Website that can do the kind of tracing that inkscape cant (single paths
instead of filled polygons):
http://online.rapidresizer.com/tracer.php

Method:
After getting some good paths, do save-as and select "3 axis gcode plotter"
Then fiddle with settings here's what I (remember) changing from default:
Lift-z height: 2mm
Work-Z: 15mm
Park-z: 20mm
Now: Save, and open in Repetier-Host
Print preview > Show travel moves
Edit gcode, remove G28 (xyz)
Now: Turn on the printer, remove pen, make it move home.
This is kind of silly, but it works:
Start the print, adjust the pen while printing (use "up" time to tweak the pen
downward), when it starts drawing, fix it a bit better to the holder, then
kill the print. Replace paper, start the print: The printer will move to 0,0
and then print correctly.

Note on searching on the phlog:
The http query format I made is stupid, but it's there..
Add /find?KEYWORD where KEYWORD is the word(s) you want to search for to the url.
Example: http://dusted.dk/pages/phlog/find?webcams

You are viewing proxied material from dusted.dk. The copyright of proxied material belongs to its original authors. Any comments or complaints in relation to proxied material should be directed to the original authors of the content concerned. Please see the disclaimer for more details.