I was looking around to see if there was already a project being developed for a...."plotter car", kind of like the old school turtle drawing robot or this project, but I want to be able to use a dxf, bitmap, gcode, etc instead of polar commands for each line.
My goal is to be able to plot parts to be cut out (later by hand) on plywood or foam sheets. Like 20"x30" dollar tree foam board for RC airplanes or wood panel parts for projects. I am planning on trying out a polargraph wall plotter as well, but I want to do this project so I can learn more. I can work out the mechanics and physics of it, I just don't know enough about programming to know where to start
I have a basic understanding about grbl, but don't know how I would translate the x y commands from garble for a vehicle with two wheels instead of two perpendicular axis.
I suspect the challenge will be to get the sort of accurate positioning needed to produce a correctly dimensioned drawing when the drawbot has not absolute point of reference.
It was going to try to build it heavy with an 18 volt cordless tool battery, a couple small Nema 17 stepper Motors, and either small rubber wheels or maybe tracks/treads. I figured that much weight and slower speeds with grippy tires would keep it reasonable.
interestingfellow:
I figured that much weight and slower speeds with grippy tires would keep it reasonable.
Rubber tyres actually get their grip by distorting a tiny bit. These will quickly accumulate.
For high accuracy you need hard plastic or metal wheels - which will probably slip. That's why mechanisms that need precision use gears or toothed belts.
It will also be very difficult to predict precisely what path the wheels will follow on a curve - that's why trains use flanged wheels.