Pen plotters/Pen Hacking
Revision as of 22:48, 27 December 2023 by Thijshijsijsjss (talk | contribs) (Add alignment rig image to pen alignment section)
Page dedicated to the modification of Pen Plotter Pens
Pushing Technique
If you're lucky, you have a pen lying around without head. If you're luckier still, the top of the pen will pop right off. A toothpick is the perfect tool.
Cutting Technique
When you're not so lucky, you might need to use a knife immediately. A few notes:
- Not all pens are created equal, some plastics seems to be softer than others
- Cosider pulling the pen-intestants out from the head of the pen (easy after the top has been cut off). This will allow you to more easily push out the top of the pen.
- Be careful!
Pen Alignment
When using a custom pen, you want to make sure the pen is placed properly in the holder. This includes:
- The pen is properly aligned height wise: the tip of the pen just touches the paper when the plotter holds the pen down.
- The pen is secured, so that it won't loosen or move during plotting.
The former, in particular, can be tricky. You can hold your custom pen next to a regular pen plotter pen and compare the heigts. To make life easier, a vertical alignment rig has been made.