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equipment:laser:plotter [2025/12/20 15:47] – ↷ Page moved from equipment:mainroom:plotter to equipment:laser:plotter kitequipment:laser:plotter [2026/02/03 14:36] (current) – Minor formatting and added resource list kirilljerdev
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   * Electrostatic paper hold-down.   * Electrostatic paper hold-down.
   * Good pens for it are “Staedtler 323 Triplus Colour Fibre” and “Pilot V-Ball” (0.5 or 0.7) but they need adapters. There should be some adaptors in a box on the plotter.   * Good pens for it are “Staedtler 323 Triplus Colour Fibre” and “Pilot V-Ball” (0.5 or 0.7) but they need adapters. There should be some adaptors in a box on the plotter.
 +  * {{:equipment:mainroom:dpx-3300_operation_manual.pdf|Operation Manual}}
 +  * {{:equipment:mainroom:dpx-3300_service_notes.pdf|Service Manual}}
 +  * [[https://github.com/beardicus/awesome-plotters?tab=readme-ov-file#awesome-plotters-|Large list of useful links and resources]]
  
 ===== Drivers ===== ===== Drivers =====
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 You can send images to the plotter from Inkscape. You can send images to the plotter from Inkscape.
  
-First, make sure everything you want to plot is converted to a path by highlighting each thing in turn and selecting “Path > Object to path”. This should work with most vector images and text. With any raster images, you'll need to process them into a vector before plotting+First, make sure everything you want to plot is converted to a path by highlighting each thing in turn and selecting “Path > Object to path”. This should work with most vector images and text.  
 + 
 +With any raster images, you'll need to process them into a vector before plotting. 
 + 
 +Text will vectorise into an inner and outer outline, instead of a simple centreline. "Centerline" or "plotter" fonts are available via Extensions -> Text -> Hershey Text 
 +You can make your own custom font for Hershey Text with [[https://github.com/Shriinivas/inkscapestrokefont|this extension]] - please note this involves hours of faff!
  
 SAVE YOUR WORK. The plotter extension seems quite crash-y, so make sure to save your work before trying to plot it. SAVE YOUR WORK. The plotter extension seems quite crash-y, so make sure to save your work before trying to plot it.
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 ==== Errors ==== ==== Errors ====
  
-If you stop a plot mid-way (e.g. by killing inkscape and turning off the plotter), the serial adaptor can still hold some of the plot in its buffer, so make sure you turn off the plotter AND unplug the adaptor from your computer to kill power to the serial adaptor to purge this.+If you stop a plot mid-way (e.g. by killing inkscape and turning off the plotter), the serial adaptor can still hold some of the plot in its buffer, so make sure you turn off the plotter AND unplug the adaptor from your computer to kill power to the serial adaptor to purge this.  
 + 
 +The Inkscape plot dialogue will freeze until either the plot completes or the serial adapter is removed from the computer.
  
 ===== 3D Printed Pen Holders ===== ===== 3D Printed Pen Holders =====
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 {{:equipment:mainroom:img_20230127_133459.jpg?400|}} {{:equipment:mainroom:img_20230127_133459.jpg?400|}}
  
-There are some 3D printed pen holders in the box. Note that not all of these work and they can be a bit finikey. For the plotter to pick up a pen, it has to detect a pen in the appropriate slot. There's a small microswitch that the pen had to depress. If it doesn't the plotter will pick the next available pen. We're currently experimenting with a few different designs to get to work properly and hold a range of pens.+There are some 3D printed pen holders in the box. Note that not all of these work and they can be a bit finikey.  
 + 
 +For the plotter to pick up a pen, it has to detect a pen in the appropriate slot. There's a small microswitch that the pen had to depress. If it doesn't the plotter will pick the next available pen. You can check the pens are working before starting your plot by using the pen select buttons on the plotter. If you can press the appropriate button and the plotter picks up your pen, then the pen holder is being properly detected and it will work properly when you start your plot. 
 + 
 +An adapter for Staedler Triplus pens is [[https://www.printables.com/model/1580880-plotter-adapter-for-staedtler-triplus-pens|available here]]. It is compatible with normal thickness (1.0 mm) and fineliner (0.3 mm) models but not the mechanical pencil.
  
-You can check the pens are working before starting your plot by using the pen select buttons on the plotter. If you can press the appropriate button and the plotter picks up your pen, then the pen holder is being properly detected and it will work properly when you start your plot.+Print settings are in the linked model description.
  
-The CAD model for the pen holders can be found [[https://cad.onshape.com/documents/a3d810547b16544bace56018/w/a4b763629d7a0270cc1ae55f/e/e5e298b6a8fa12c151bcdc51?configuration=List_tTs5135IU45cds%3DPressure_Pen&renderMode=0&rightPanel=configPanel&uiState=61b1ccdadc14a4109380a8a0|here on Onshape]]. You can open the “Configuration Panel” on the right hand side (second icon down, looks like a white cube with a table on its top left) and choose different pen sizes (right click a row and select “switch to” and the model will update). You can then right-click on the model and “export” to get an STL ready for slicing and 3D printing.+A generic CAD model for the pen holders can be found [[https://cad.onshape.com/documents/a3d810547b16544bace56018/w/a4b763629d7a0270cc1ae55f/e/e5e298b6a8fa12c151bcdc51?configuration=List_tTs5135IU45cds%3DPressure_Pen&renderMode=0&rightPanel=configPanel&uiState=61b1ccdadc14a4109380a8a0|here on Onshape]]. You can open the “Configuration Panel” on the right hand side (second icon down, looks like a white cube with a table on its top left) and choose different pen sizes (right click a row and select “switch to” and the model will update). You can then right-click on the model and “export” to get an STL ready for slicing and 3D printing.
  
 If you create a free Onshape account you can “copy” the CAD file so you can create your own branch and edit it to add more configuration sizes/correct errors in the model. Update the link above with your improved version. If you create a free Onshape account you can “copy” the CAD file so you can create your own branch and edit it to add more configuration sizes/correct errors in the model. Update the link above with your improved version.
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 ==== Pen Force ==== ==== Pen Force ====
  
-The default pen force seems to be tuned to felt-tip pens. For Gel pens, you need more force. You can change the force mid-plot by pausing it, holding down Fast / Pen Force and selecting the pen force you want. It can also be set up in Inkscape.+The default pen force seems to be tuned to felt-tip pens but there may be some variance if the "Auto" light is on - the plotter has an "Pen Type Discrimination Function" that amends speed and force settings based on pen colours. More detail on page 3-8 of the manual. 
 +For Gel pens, you need more force. You can change the force mid-plot by pausing it, holding down Fast / Pen Force and selecting the pen force you want.  
 +Pen force can also be set up in the export plot dialogue but this may be ingored..
  
 ===== Accessing from C ===== ===== Accessing from C =====
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  • Last modified: 7 weeks ago
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