This is an idea for a Sharpie attachment I had last night. Instead of trying to get the pen to slide up and down. We could put it in its own carriage and it could slide. The pen would stay solid and not wobble around. With the right bushings and bracing, maybe it could handle the waves in the fff.

I don't have my Phlatprinter 3 yet to check the z axis movement, so the height of the pen is just a guess. The pen is drawn to scale.

Tell me what you guys think.



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I like your idea. looking at your model made me wonder how the weight of the assembly could be controlled to handle more coarse or uneven materials. I was tninking that the addition of low resistance compression springs riding above and below the upper portion of the pen carriage would limit/control the amount of contact point pressure and distance the pen could travel over uneven surfaces. This may yield a variable, yet reasonable amount contact point tension of the pen. The springs could be set up as a travel limiter as well. Lots of options!

 

I have been working on this concept. I think it's working pretty well. I'll try to put a video of it drawing later.

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My ppp/// will be here soon. So I mounted the attachment to my home built router. I know it didn't go back to zero, but I was pushing it pretty hard to make the video short.

My machine doesn't like to go over 60 ipm. Ya, there is no sound. I took the video with my phone.

 

Here is the Sketchup File.

I used 1/4x 3/8 brushing and 1/4 rod for the slides
The carriage MUST slide very freely. So that the weight of itself keeps it down. I tried springs but it well just dent the foam and dig in. You may need to polish the tar out of the rods. To install the pen, just push it in and slide up till tight.

Please check out the tabbing before cutting. Attached files Sharpie Attachment Idea 7.skp (5.2 MB)Â

 

Bruce, I got them at my local Ace hardware. They do have them at Lowes.

 

That looks great Bruce. Your mounting plate is upside down.

 

I guess I forgot to mention that on the slots that hold the sharpie, the bottom is bigger then the top. just turn the whole carriage around. I need to make a note on the plans. Sorry. :nervous:

 

Looks like it's working good. What did you use for bushings and rods?

 

Any Chance that the sharpie attachment idea7.skp is off just a bit somewhere? I have cut 4 of them, and they are all 100% identical, but they will not fit into the keyway on the machine. it appears that the tabs are just a little bit offset inward.

David

 

David, that is the same file that Flash and ewo used, but I will double check just to make sure.

OK David, you were right. I made some minor changes to the bottom tabs and slots. They where about .006" inward on both sides of Mark's original key-way drawing. I did update the file, so it should be a better fit.

 

Craig,

Thanks for posting this. I cut it out and assembled it this weekend. It has been fun using the PP3 as a plotter. It is working well. Good stuff.





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Ben, I am really happy that every thing worked out great and you are enjoying this attachment!

BTW, your pp looks awesome! Love the paint.