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

• ArduinoJson
• Servo by Michael Margolis, Arduino

Used hardware

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

Authors

• Davide Dorigoni
• Davide Zanella