DuckPlotter

Arduino plotter made with a 3d printer capable to draw G-Code on paper.

Video demo of the DuckPlotter in action:

How to use DuckPlotter

Configure the system

Create the physical structure of the DuckPlotter
Send code to Arduino
Install all python requirements:

go into computer_code folder and run

pip install -r requirements.txt

Generate the Gcode file from an image

First solution

Download and install the program Image to gcode - DP created ad hoc for the DuckPlotter.

Second solution

Download and install the Inkscape program and its Laser Tool Plug-In
Open your image with Inkscape
Convert the image to a Path image using the grey scale option
Ungroup the layers of the image
Choose the best layer and fix it removing or adding pixels

If you need help doing these steps follow this video.
Finally export Gcode from your image using the "Extensions" tab and selecting the option "Generate Gcode"

Start the plotting process

Execute the duckPlotter program:

usage: duckPlotter.py [-h] [--continue PREV_FILE_NAME] file_name serial_port

DuckPlotter pc program. Send g-code instructions to Arduino.

positional arguments:
file_name                       g-code file to plot
serial_port                     serial port of Arduino

optional arguments:
-h, --help                      show this help message and exit
--continue PREV_FILE_NAME       previous g-code file

Example of usage:

python3 duckPlotter.py my-gcode-file.gcode /dev/ttyACM0

The --continue option allow to continue plotting without resetting to the initial position. It needs to know the previous file.

You can split a gcode file in more files in order to avoid overheatings:

python gcodeSplitter.py gcode-file [max-lines]

The max-lines option allow to split the gcode file every max-lines lines. (Default value: 2500)

All required gcode files will be generated. They have to be executed in order, with the --continue option specifying the previous g-code file.

Used libraries

Used hardware

Arduino Mega 2560
RAMPS 1.4 (RepRap Arduino MEGA Pololu Shield)

davidezanella/DuckPlotter