Ready to Ship! 

I’ve fixed a huge bug I had where the machine would only work every other time (It was a soft limits problem). It’s a good thing I caught this since it was very random. If the user tried to write again, the plotter would like freak out and make this ugly noise and send a ton of errors. Turns out it was because it thought it was homed. Since the motors were still moving, it wouldn’t home, and it would think that it hit its soft limits. Besides fixing this bug, I also added the following:

• Longer speech recognition and more time to talk. Sometimes the microphone would stop before you finished talking.
• Finished my readme file on Github and posted my 2 versions of the laser head on Printables! The link is here.
• Added some delays to prevent motors from overflowing and added clearer instructions.
• Took some videos of the plotter in action, will be uploaded on my GitHub soon!

This is my submission for outpost as well!
I spend quite a lot of time in my readme, so I would really appreciate it if ya’ll could give m some feedback or anything I could change. It’s my first time posting on my GitHub and using Git, so any advice is appreciated. Thanks!

(note: gif doesn’t appear to work but it is the same gif as in my GitHub)

1st official working version of my code! I have added a ton of things, so I’ll listen them out in order of importance:

• I updated the code to make the plotter continue writing even when reaching the end! It will move down and continue writing there, allowing the user to say much longer sentences. Its only limit is the actual space (150mm x 150mm), but more words can fit if the font size is changed.
• I spent some more time at my local library and updated the pen holder! While the original holder worked, the screw I used to lock in the pen either forced the pen too deep into the paper, or forced it to scrape the paper. This made the writing look really ugly. I changed it to now use the weight of the pen as the holder! Essentially, the pen is holding itself down, making the writing much smoother.
• Debugged and simplified a good portion of my code! Since I added the ability for the plotter to continue writing, I had to change the way g-code was sent. After a bit of learning, I was able to make my code much more efficient. This also allowed for the code to sent 1 by 1, giving the plotter time to move. Originally, it would get overflowed with code and would start to scribble.
• Downloaded git and creating a Github for my plotter! I honestly knew nothing about git or GitHub, and I somehow deleted my entire folder, alongside my code. Luckily, I had copied and pasted my code into a repository, so I was saved there. I’m currently working on the GitHub page, but it should be done very soon and I will be ready to ship! And hopefully qualify for Outpost!

While the base product is done, I have a ton of ideas to add. This project was originally built to allow my disabled niece to write. While it allows her to take physical notes, the need for a computer and an IDE like VScode takes away from the accessibility. Because of this, my main idea is to connect the plotter to a raspberry pi (or any sort of microcontroller) to allow the user to just click a button when wanting to use the machine. Not only would this make the process much easier to understand, but it would erase the huge cable mess I currently have when connecting my MacBook to the machine. I have much more stuff to add, so please let me know any ideas or feedback! This is my first time actually using code for something physical, so it was definitely a great learning experience. I hope I can take this project much, much further. (Much more photos + videos will be uploaded to the GitHub!!)

This Devlog is from a day ago, I just realized I never hit post 😭
I got my software to work! While it’s fairly simple, it can write basic phrases. I used python for my script, and I primarily used googles “speech recognition” library for the voice detection. Then, using the Hershey fonts library and a function, I was able to convert the string of text into g-code that would then be sent to the printer (This part took a while to figure out). Currently, since my plotter doesn’t have a z-axis, I figured that using the cursive font would work best since there is not much lifting in cursive. I also went to my local library to use their computers fusion software to designa pen holder (My Mac refuses to download fusion for some reason, it’s always unresponsive). I added the photos below (Since this was on a library computer the blocks screen recording, I’m not able to record my time with timelapse. The design took me around 2 hours though since I’m not the best with fusion 360) While it definitely could be improved, it works for now. Additionally, I made it so that the size of the letters vary on the amount of letters said. For example, if I say a long sentence that would normally extend past the paper, the code will scale this sentence down until it fits onto the paper. Now, the basics to my project are finally done! There’s still so much to improve upon, but the idea works. For now, I’d like to add:

• code that will make the plotter write more than 1 sentence. (This would require it to move down the paper, which would drag the pen across the paper, so I gotta figure something out)
• A way to click/unclick the pen OR a way to move the pen up a down. A super simple z-axis
• A better pen holder, sometimes this one doesn’t write as well. I’ll be back at the library.
• Try and get the code onto a raspberry pi or arduino (Don’t know which would nworkbetter) To erase the need for a computer.

Took me a while to figure out that I need to write the g-code in a separate area and that the software wouldn’t actually work as an IDE (Like I thought it did). After some annoying code, I got it to draw a heart! (ignore the blotching I left the sharpie uncapped and was moving the axis’s around) Also, since it doesn’t have a z-axis, it drags everywhere (hence the long line). Now I need to make a pen holder since my zip tie is (barely) holding it down.

Finally configured the laser printer I found on the side of the road. I’m guessing either the PCB or the motors are damaged since the machine basically has a mind of its own. Sometimes, the Y-axis controls need to be inverted, and other times, the x-axis controls need to be inverted. I think I found the sweet spot this time though. (Maybe this was on my part too since I barely know the $ commands)
My pen plotter can now:

• Move in the direction told WITHOUT triggering an alarm
• Successfully Home itself (It would go to the other end and make the most gruesome sound)
• Move the actual distance shown (Would move 0.8mm and think it moved 1mm). - Doesn’t send power to z axis! (Doesn’t have one).
• Recognize soft limits and restrict its movement if the code goes beyond the machines size.

I’m barely getting started with this too. Now, I need to send it some G-code and see how it writes. Also, I need to make a custom pen holder to mount the pencil/pen. Gonna have to use Thinkercad. Also gotta figure out how I’m gonna get it to translate words into G-code, but it’s 1 step at a time.

Spend an ungodly amount of time trying to put everything in a window. Genuinely wanted to give up, even Gemini couldn’t help me. Fixed all my code (it was very messy) and was finally able to get it all in the same box. made the clock and background move as you scroll. Moved the javascript over to a new file; made the window moveable and draggable (Clock doesn’t move). Added more bands + clickable links. Added a handle on top to move the window around.

I added a background, a clock, added fonts/changed colors, a box, made link that actually works, and I made background and clock move with you as you scroll. Most of the time spent I was just playing around with fonts and centering. Planning on adding more windows now, and if possible, music that plays every time you open a tab!

Working on my first OS! Also my first time ever using HTML. I was just messing around with the formatting; figuring out how to format photos, fonts, and tags; as well as inputting links. I plan to make this based off of my music taste! I’ve only started. (ran webpage locally)