Been working on a case for the tiny ALPS pen plotter mechanism.
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Been working on a case for the tiny ALPS pen plotter mechanism. It takes 2.25” wide receipt roll paper. Electronics will go beneath. Might add a roll paper holder. Maybe a battery pack too?
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Been working on a case for the tiny ALPS pen plotter mechanism. It takes 2.25” wide receipt roll paper. Electronics will go beneath. Might add a roll paper holder. Maybe a battery pack too?
My tiny plotter works! I finished most of the controller board last night. It’s running GRBL for ESP32 so I can send jobs over WiFi or BT. Still some clean up and tweaks to the case to make maintenance easier.
It follows B. Dring’s project from 2019 but modified for this tiny plotter.: https://www.buildlog.net/blog/2019/09/inktober-2019-project-post-1/
What should I name it?
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My tiny plotter works! I finished most of the controller board last night. It’s running GRBL for ESP32 so I can send jobs over WiFi or BT. Still some clean up and tweaks to the case to make maintenance easier.
It follows B. Dring’s project from 2019 but modified for this tiny plotter.: https://www.buildlog.net/blog/2019/09/inktober-2019-project-post-1/
What should I name it?
I think I've finished building my tiny plotter. It consists of modular 3D-printed boxes that snap together in colors borrowed from the JLPGA edition of the PowerBook 170.
In the top is an ALPS DPG-1302 2.25" wide receipt paper plotter. In the middle section is the ESP32 and motor drivers. In the bottom is a 18650 battery pack with USB-C charger. Hanging off the back is a roll paper holder borrowed from the Commodore 1520 plotter.
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I think I've finished building my tiny plotter. It consists of modular 3D-printed boxes that snap together in colors borrowed from the JLPGA edition of the PowerBook 170.
In the top is an ALPS DPG-1302 2.25" wide receipt paper plotter. In the middle section is the ESP32 and motor drivers. In the bottom is a 18650 battery pack with USB-C charger. Hanging off the back is a roll paper holder borrowed from the Commodore 1520 plotter.
I love these big chunky Radio Shack buttons. I got them years ago when they went out of business. The left one is latching on/off.
Edit: How could I forget the chromed panel mount power LED on the front
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I love these big chunky Radio Shack buttons. I got them years ago when they went out of business. The left one is latching on/off.
Edit: How could I forget the chromed panel mount power LED on the front
This tiny plotter prints in four colors, weighs 0.6 kg, stands about 10 cm tall, is battery powered, and prints over WiFi using GRBL.
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This tiny plotter prints in four colors, weighs 0.6 kg, stands about 10 cm tall, is battery powered, and prints over WiFi using GRBL.
If it reminds you of your Atari 1020 you had, that's because ALPS made the plotter mechanisms and they use the same pens. The difference is my plotter uses the 2.25" wide variant and the Atari 1020 (and Commodore 1520, and many, many others) used the 4.5" wide type.
ALPS also made a 8.5" wide type that was used in many typewriter plotters. Yes, typewriters!
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If it reminds you of your Atari 1020 you had, that's because ALPS made the plotter mechanisms and they use the same pens. The difference is my plotter uses the 2.25" wide variant and the Atari 1020 (and Commodore 1520, and many, many others) used the 4.5" wide type.
ALPS also made a 8.5" wide type that was used in many typewriter plotters. Yes, typewriters!
Got a vintage ALPS plotter? Two things you need to know.
1. The X/Y gears on the motor spindle are likely cracked. I had 3D printed versions available at Shapeways. Maybe they'll be available again soon? There's also brass ones too.
2. Pens are likely still available from Best Electronics in California. They have black and 4 color sets. They're NOS so it's a roll of the dice how long they'll work. Search for Atari 1020 pens.
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Got a vintage ALPS plotter? Two things you need to know.
1. The X/Y gears on the motor spindle are likely cracked. I had 3D printed versions available at Shapeways. Maybe they'll be available again soon? There's also brass ones too.
2. Pens are likely still available from Best Electronics in California. They have black and 4 color sets. They're NOS so it's a roll of the dice how long they'll work. Search for Atari 1020 pens.
Plotting differential growth of a circle on my tiny plotter
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