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Overview: iDraw 2.0 Pen Plotter
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Pen plotters are area of interest instruments, however they’re fairly common within the Hackster neighborhood. So when iDraw reached out and requested me to assessment the iDraw 2.0 A4 Dimension Pen Plotter, I jumped on the probability.
Disclaimer: iDraw supplied me with this plotter freed from cost, however this assessment is as unbiased as attainable. iDraw didn’t pay for this assessment and these are solely my very own ideas.
Pen plotter overview
A pen plotter is a machine that attracts on a bit of paper by shifting a pen round in two axes, versus spraying ink line-by-line like an inkjet printer. A pen plotter is to an inkjet printer what a vector picture is to a raster picture. As a result of the machine is bodily shifting the pen alongside a line path, it produces clear strokes as an alternative of pixels.
Whereas pen plotters do nonetheless have some utility within the engineering world for producing technical drawings, they’re now hottest within the interest crafting world. As a result of these machines bodily transfer a pen, customers can create stunning drawings utilizing the whole lot from ballpoints to color markers. And pen plotters just like the iDraw 2.0 aren’t restricted to paper, which implies customers can draw onto different supplies (like wooden, plastic, cloth, and extra).
The iDraw 2.0’s greatest competitors is Evil Mad Scientist’s AxiDraw line of pen plotters. The iDraw 2.0 borrows many options from the AxiDraw and even appears to make use of firmware/software program derived from AxiDraw’s. However the iDraw 2.0 is considerably cheaper than the AxiDraw, which makes it fairly enticing.
There may be additionally a laser engraving head accessible for the iDraw 2.0, which I’ll discuss later on this assessment.
Meeting
It doesn’t take lengthy to place collectively the iDraw 2.0. I used to be taking my time and I used to be nonetheless completed in round 20 minutes. There may be an instruction video to comply with together with, which makes the method straightforward. Although it could be good to additionally see some thorough printed directions for individuals who can’t watch movies.
The machine arrives partially assembled and the tip person solely wants to connect the X axis rail and plug in some wires. All the elements match collectively nicely and I didn’t have any bother with meeting.
First impressions
The iDraw 2.0 feels very nicely made, which is what I’d anticipate at this worth level. The body and each rails are good aluminum extrusion. The drawing platform appears to be some type of powder-coated metal, which is ferrous in order that magnets can maintain down the paper. The X and Y axes journey on V-roller wheels with stepper motors pulling the belts. The steppers are generic, however are of respectable high quality.
The one controls on the machine itself are the ability change and a pause button. I’d have appreciated to have seen some bodily controls for primary operations, resembling homing or dropping/lifting the pen. As it’s, one can solely carry out these features by means of software program on a linked pc.
Talking of the pen, the raise mechanism is easy and efficient. A thumb screw secures the pen and a stepper motor strikes it up and down. The raise mechanism has a spring, which permits for some flexibility if the configured drop distance is inaccurate. The pen mount can settle for a variety of pen dimensions and shapes, which is nice if you happen to plan to make use of one thing apart from a typical ball level
Software program
The iDraw 2.0 is managed by means of Inkscape vector drawing software program or LightBurn laser engraving software program, although one may in all probability additionally use nearly any g-code sender software program if obligatory. Inkscape is a handy answer, since you’ll be able to create your digital paintings, put together it, and management the machine all in the identical place.
It’s price noting that the iDraw extension for Inkscape appears to be derived from the AxiDraw extension. The truth is, once you use the Inkscape installer supplied by iDraw, it provides each the iDraw and AxiDraw extensions. They give the impression of being and act very related, and the unique model of iDraw Management even says it’s primarily based on AxiDraw. That AxiDraw extension is open supply, however I’d be remiss if I didn’t point out the connection.
Establishing a plotting job is fairly simple when you perceive the idea. The software program wants to maneuver the pen in strokes, which implies it wants paths to comply with. Because of this Inkscape is right, as a result of it’s vector drawing software program. Inkscape has basic utilities to transform paintings or textual content right into a sequence of paths that the iDraw extension can work with.
Except you’re already accustomed to pen plotters or related machines, you’ll in all probability must do some experimentation to know how raster photographs convert into paths and the way these paths look as plotted strokes. However even proper off the bat, it’s best to have the ability to get some good drawings with out an excessive amount of bother.
My solely actual grievance in regards to the software program is that it’s rudimentary. For those who don’t know g-code, then you definately’re caught with the built-in instructions and people are just for essentially the most primary features. For instance, there isn’t a interface for returning the present coordinates and jogging the machine is clumsy. That may make it tough to plot one thing at a selected location on the paper.
Efficiency
The iDraw 2.0 plots shortly and cleanly, which is what issues for such a machine. I couldn’t see any segments in curved traces that may outcome from poor stepper decision or coordination. Each axes moved easily, and the lifting mechanism labored nicely.
I did discover that if the pen drop distance was set to a small worth, the pen wouldn’t attain the paper in some areas. This implies that both the platform isn’t fully flat or that the XY axes aren’t fully parallel to the platform. That isn’t an issue for pens, because the raise mechanism’s spring acts as a buffer. However it could be a difficulty for some instruments, like markers, since it could end in a thicker stroke in some areas than in others.
Laser engraving
There are laser engraving heads accessible for the iDraw 2.0 and I used to be despatched one. Sadly, I used to be unable to check this performance as a result of I imagine that it’s unsafe. They do provide a pair of protecting glasses, however that’s all.
Lots of literature is out there on-line concerning laser security, however suffice it to say that it’s irresponsible to function a laser like this with out a protecting enclosure. Even together with your eyes protected by the glasses, it could be straightforward for the laser to hit your pores and skin, another person’s eyes, or just a flammable object in your house.
You may make your individual selections about whether or not or not that’s well worth the danger, however I can’t condone improper laser utilization.
Competitors
The AxiDraw could also be iDraw’s most direct competitor, however the actual rivals are crafting machines like these from Cricut and Silhouette. Many fashions from these corporations are extra reasonably priced than each AxiDraw and iDraw pen plotters, whereas additionally providing much more user-friendly experiences and a number of other different software choices.
There are two causes that you simply may select an iDraw 2.0 pen plotter over these crafting machines. The primary is that it could actually work with thick and inflexible supplies, like wooden, as an alternative of simply supplies like paper. The second is that it’s hackable. A crafting machine isn’t meant for modification or tinkering, however the iDraw 2.0 is ripe for hacking.
Abstract
For those who’re making an attempt to determine between an AxiDraw or an iDraw and price is your main concern, then the choice is apparent. The iDraw 2.0 is extra reasonably priced and doesn’t appear to lack any options that the AxiDraw possesses.
For those who simply desire a machine that may draw on paper or cardstock, then a crafting machine like a Cricut might be a more sensible choice. It is going to be cheaper, simpler to make use of, and can have a greater choice of instruments (resembling vinyl-cutting knives). However if you’d like the power to attract on one thing like a plank of wooden with a paint marker, then a plotting machine just like the iDraw 2.0 is critical.
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