Pen plotter - devlog 3

CoreXY system

For some strange reason, I decided to scrap the old version with the single x axis, and the string drive. Instead, I’m going for a CoreXY system with fancy timing belts. After 10 hours of wrangling with Fusion and trying to get a functional design, I’m starting to slightly regret it, and I almost wish that I just went with a generic gantry system or even a bed slinger

I posted this devlog because I’m up to the 10 hour limit, and I need to post or else my time won’t count. By chance it happens that I’m just about finished the first prototype of the CoreXY system, and just need to wait a couple days until the parts arrive. It uses timing belts and idlers, NEMA 17 stepper motors, and a single SG90 servo motor, plus a bunch of parts I’ll 3D print myself.

What next?

I’ve had so many issues with this project:

• The CAD is a complete mess and I’ll almost certainly have to remake it using a better method
• I still don’t know if the CoreXY will even work, I’ll need to wait and see
• I don’t know if the screws are strong enough to hold it onto the baseplate
• There’s probably a number of parts with clearance issues and the carriage probably won’t run properly

So next I’ll work on making the first prototype and after that, if it works I’ll take a break from CAD to work on some software for it, and get it to draw things. If it doesn’t work… I guess back to CAD.