🦐 Got an old 3D printer gathering dust? Don't toss it — turn it into something new!
Elliot Madsen is an engineering student obsessed with his field's history. He took parts from a retired 3D printer and built a fully functional Pen Plotter powered by the Arduino UNO Q.
What is a Pen Plotter?
A pen plotter is a machine that moves a pen around on X and Y axes to draw technical illustrations, schematics, and architectural plans. These were huge in engineering before digital workflows took over — and they're making a quiet comeback in maker circles.
Parts Used (All Salvaged from the Old 3D Printer!)
- Stepper motors — driving the X and Y axes
- Aluminum extrusion — the machine frame
- Pulleys + Belts — smooth motion transfer, CoreXY kinematic setup
- Solenoid-actuated pen lifter — gives a satisfying clack every time the pen lifts
The Cool Part: Vacuum Table
Instead of using mechanical clamps, Madsen built a Vacuum Table powered by four 12V fans that suck the paper flat against the surface. Simple, elegant, and way cleaner than clips.
Arduino UNO Q: Dual-Brain Architecture
The UNO Q board runs Linux on one side and interfaces directly with stepper motor drivers through the STM32U585 on the other. That means you can control it straight from the terminal — or even over SSH. Clean.
💡 Project Ideas
Turn your old 3D printer parts into a plotter for:
- PCB layout drawings
- Architectural drafts
- Custom greeting cards
Source Code
Open-source and available here: https://github.com/madfrozen/penplotter
Source: Arduino Blog - Old 3D printer becomes new Arduino UNO Q-controlled pen plotter