Hey all! This is so exiting! However, instead of building a full reprap I want to make a printer. I was thinking of a basic XY system holding a ink pen on a paper and a Z for lifting the pen from the paper. Now here is the question. Could I use a reprap setup: arduino board (with g-code firmware), three stepper motor drivers, six opto end stops and a powersuply. Could I set this up as if it was a reprap but completely skip the other parts like basically the whole head and such. Then feed the arduino a g-code file of the 2D drawing. Only adding instructions in the file of where to lift the Z (the pen), move it, and lower it again. Any thoughts or suggestions? :) https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,18600,18600#msg-18600 Mon, 16 Mar 2026 22:49:19 -0400 Phorum 5.2.23 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,18600,18637#msg-18637 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,18600,18637#msg-18637 building IS fun, but only for those who want to build things not for those who need it working yesterday, that's why I mentioned ;)

You may want to keep the design as it is, because you can use that as a small plotter (keep in mind that you only have a standard size of ~30 x ~30 cm )
but the real funpart of keeping this design as a plotter is, you can draw on almost every 2.5D surfaces (2.5 because you'll have to access the spot from straight above) not only flat objects ;)

'sid]]> sid General Thu, 20 Nov 2008 13:12:07 -0500 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,18600,18628#msg-18628 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,18600,18628#msg-18628
Forrest Higgs: Thats a nice tips. I'l look into that. It looks exactly like what I need. :)

sid: I know, it would probably be easier to by one from ebay. But is not building it the fun part? When it's finished and you have printed a few things. Then the question is, how can I improve this and make it do so and so? It's just for fun :)

Another thing. Maybe it's good to base it on the reprap system. It might be easier if I want to expand or change something.

Next step: find out what things I can find here for cheep or free. Then how to use it to make the rig. Up, up, up and away! ;)]]> Martin Isak Jansen General Thu, 20 Nov 2008 08:36:01 -0500 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,18600,18608#msg-18608 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,18600,18608#msg-18608 but wouldn't it be a much simpler approach to just go and buy one of those oldschool flatbed plotters they sell at ebay for cheap?
you wouldn't have to spend hundreds of dollars but some twenty bucks
and you can plot right away and don't have to spend hours in building a printer ;)

But, be welcome to build a darwin of course...
maybe one day you want 3d as well ;)

'sid]]> sid General Wed, 19 Nov 2008 18:54:12 -0500 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,18600,18601#msg-18601 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,18600,18601#msg-18601
[www.youtube.com]

You can follow the discussion he's having at...

[forums.reprap.org]]]> Forrest Higgs General Wed, 19 Nov 2008 16:53:03 -0500 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,18600,18600#msg-18600 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,18600,18600#msg-18600
This is so exiting! However, instead of building a full reprap I want to make a printer. I was thinking of a basic XY system holding a ink pen on a paper and a Z for lifting the pen from the paper.

Now here is the question. Could I use a reprap setup: arduino board (with g-code firmware), three stepper motor drivers, six opto end stops and a powersuply.

Could I set this up as if it was a reprap but completely skip the other parts like basically the whole head and such. Then feed the arduino a g-code file of the 2D drawing. Only adding instructions in the file of where to lift the Z (the pen), move it, and lower it again.

Any thoughts or suggestions? :)]]> Martin Isak Jansen General Wed, 19 Nov 2008 16:26:51 -0500