A curated list of code and resources for computer-controlled drawing machines and other visual art robots.
 
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README.md

Awesome Plotters Awesome Build Status

A curated list of code and resources for pen plotters and other robots that draw.

Contributing

Contributions are very welcome. Please see CONTRIBUTING and CODE-OF-CONDUCT for details.

Contents

Hardware

Plotters

Motor Controllers

  • grblShield – all the stepper motor control hardware needed to turn an Arduino into a G-code-based motion controller using the grbl firmware (adafruit)
  • TinyG – more featureful and robust 6-axis G-code-based motion control hardware (adafruit)
  • Arduino CNC Shield – grbl-compatible stepper motor control shield for Arduino, similar to the grblShield
  • Raspberry Pi CNC Hat – Raspberry Pi add-on board w/ stepper controllers and a microcontroller running grbl. Interfaces with the Pi's serial pins

Accessories

  • WiFi232 – wifi to RS-232 serial via a DB25 plug. Control your serial plotter wirelessly
  • Plotter Cable Pinout (PDF) – schematic for a plotter cable that will work for most HP and Roland plotters. Search eBay or Amazon for DB9 to DB25 Serial Null Modem Cable or similar to find them for sale

Pens

Software

HPGL

HPGL is a serial/text-based protocol used by most old pen plotters, and even many new vinyl cutters.

G-code

G-code is a text-based standard for controlling CNC machines. Though it was designed for industrial machines, its use in many hobbyist 3d printer firmwares has made it ubiquitous in small-scale DIY projects as well.

  • grbl – a high-performance G-code interpreting firmware for the Atmega 328 microcontroller and Arduino
  • cncjs – a web-based interface controlling CNC machines running grbl, TinyG, or other G-code-based firmware
  • node-gcode – Node.js-based G-code interpreter and similator
  • svg2gcode – Node.js-based command line utility for converting SVG to G-code
  • svg2gcode – Python-based utility for fast SVG to G-code conversion
  • Universal-G-Code-Sender – Java-based grbl-compatible cross-platform G-code sender
  • ChiliPeppr Hardware Fiddle – modular web-based workspaces to visualize G-code and control hardware

Plotter-Specific

Software that is specific to a particular plotter or controller.

  • axidraw – official AxiDraw extensions for Inkscape
  • axi – unofficial Python library for the AxiDraw v3
  • xy – utilities for the Makeblock XY Plotter Robot Kit
  • LaserGRBL – laser-optimized Windows GUI for grbl controllers. Could be repurposed for DIY pen plotters that use a solenoid for pen up/down movements
  • Line-us Inkscape Plugin – sends drawings to the Line-us plotter directly from Inkscape
  • Line-us API Examples – example code for the Line-us plotter's G-code-based API
  • PenPlotter – polargraph controller that uses repetier firmware
  • Makelangelo-firmware – firmware for the Makelangelo polargraph robot
  • RoboPaint – software for the WaterColorBot
  • AxiTurtle – turtle graphics for AxiDraw in Processing

Vector Creation

Tools to create vector artwork from scratch or by conversion from other formats.

  • Inkscape – popular cross-platform open source vector graphics editor
  • p5.js – "javascript library that makes coding accessible for artists, designers, educators, and beginners"
  • Paper.js – "The Swiss Army Knife of Vector Graphics Scripting"
  • ln – vector-based 3D renderer written in Go
  • autotrace – converts bitmap images to vector graphics
  • stipplegen – creates intereting stippled drawings from bitmap images (blog post)
  • SquiggleDraw – "SquiggleDraw will create a SVG file from an image, using the brightness to change the amplitude of sine waves"
  • svgurt – web-based PNG to SVG creative noodler
  • maptrace – produce watertight polygonal vector maps by tracing raster images
  • venation – modeling and visualization of leaf venation patterns
  • Drawbot_image_to_gcode_v2 – creates G-code for use on drawbots
  • blackstripes - turns a PNG image into a SVG line drawing
  • Ribbon – ribbon diagrams of proteins in #golang
  • penplot – a development environment for plotter art in JavaScript
  • penkit – a Python library for creating line-based SVG graphics
  • generativeExamples – example Processing code that generates plottable PDFs
  • Let's make map – web-based tool to export an SVG map from Mapzen tiles
  • SuperformulaSVG for web – a generative line art web app
  • scribbleplot – scribbly image transformations in Processing

Vector Utilities

Tools to manipulate and optimize vector-based file formats.

  • svgsort – path planning for plotting SVG files, reduces time spent moving with the pen up
  • svgo – Node.js-based tool for optimizing SVG files
  • Polargraph Optimizer - optimize drawing plan for a polargraph
  • penkit-optimize – an SVG optimizer that uses a vehicle routing solver to minimize plot time.

Fonts

Single-line vector fonts or "engraving fonts".

  • Summary of single line fonts – good information and links to other resources and fonts
  • Hershey Vector Font.fnt format of vector fonts from the 60s. Includes a good overview of the original data format of the fonts
  • hershey-fonts – C library and original font data for the Hershey fonts
  • OneLineFonts.com – commercial site with some single-line fonts available for purchase

Inspiration and Instruction

Blog posts, articles, tutorials, galleries, videos, et cetera.

Community

Where to find other plotter and drawbot friends.

Plotter Art For Sale

Other Awesomes