DIY Plotter Pen

[Josh Beckmann]

I couldn't find a fine tip plotter I liked, so I made my own with an instructable as my guide. My post might be most useful for the shopping list, but also see my modifications.

INSTRUCTIONS:
http://www.instructables.com/id/Coil-over-Pen-for-CNC-Plotting/


MY MODIFICATIONS:
-Most of the parts were easy to source from McMaster and Amazon instead of playing guessing games at lowes. That's just my personal preference.
-I didn't glue a stopper to the top of the pen, but it might need one if the plastic wears. The pen widens towards the top, so it stopped the tube from coming off on its own.
-I may continue to modify spring and tube length to reduce tension. Right now the spring exerts a lot of force on the tip of the pen. I could also reduce the "depth of cut" in my CAM.


MY SHOPPING LIST:
1/2 aluminum fab pipe with .049 wall thickness- cleared the ID with a 13/32 drill bit (2-3 passes) and cut to 2.5 inches long
---McMaster Carr Item #: 9056k65
Grommets to fit 3/8 diameter hole at 1/16 thickness
---McMaster Carr Item #:9600K42
.48 x .038 x 1.5 SS gardner springs
---McMaster Carr Item #:943k111
SCA-UF Pilot Permanent Markers
---http://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B004ARHT9Y/ref=od_aui_detailpages00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

[scottp55]

Bookmarked:)
Thanks for the details Josh,
Normal Sharpies just too big for my kind of stuff...May give it a shot:)
scott

[Burkhardt]

FWIW, Monteverde has a spring loaded fine liner pen refill (http://www.amazon.com/Monteverde-Refills-Spring-Fineliner-Fibertip/dp/B009E89O2Y) that can be used as-is. The tip stroke is quite small, though (maybe 0.05") but works quite well when the surface is reasonably flat. Can be mounted to the z-plate directly.

[scottp55]

Thanks G. !
Bookmarked.:)