Awesome, I think you will love it. Note: You can also use a few metal coils you snip from a 80 to 100 page spiral notebook (with back to school sales going on now you can pick up a notebook for 35cents) instead of trying to locate a plastic binding coil. Let me know how you like your CNC drawing tool once its made. If you have any questions just let me know.
I suppose the center hole of the 3rd plug depends on the diameter of the marking utensil. Wonder what you used. My thought would be to use a short Sharpie...and hope the ink lasts and comes out consistently. Also worry that the threaded bolt will damage the collet when tightened down?
Short Sharpies I've tried before but the only ones i've found are taped. You may have to use some epoxy to fix in place (to the floating third plug). If you have success with the small sharpies let me know. The most improvement of the precision of the plotting tool is actually obtained by carefully tweaking the size of the hole in the bottom plug (plug 2) for a snug fit. If you have the Z height the "Micron" archival ink pens are awesome to use in plotter (I've 3d printed a different taller design that takes full size pens and it works well but I must mount it to my full z axis so it isn't centered under my router which is a bummer). On my CNC I have limited z height so that was the main reason I went the way I did. As far as the threaded bolt I haven't seen any damage or wear on my collect but I don't crank it down that hard when using my pen tool (not needed). If you are worried about it, you might try getting an oak 1/4 inch dowel and use in replacement of the threaded bolt and epoxy it into place (or cut off the top shank of an old dull 1/4 inch bit and try the same thing). I think that might work.
Fantastic info! I'll let you know. Appreciating your style and format. I saw there are additional videos expanding on your original pen holder, yet to view. I think there's a caterpillar air cleaner build in my near future, too, now, lol. Thank you for your reply!@Simplifycnc
Thanks for watching. I am so glad you enjoyed the video and hope you will make the pen tool (if you haven't already). As far as your question, yes, I did mean the same sheet. You had a great suggestion that I write out all the depths of cut. I originally didn't because I was worried that someone wouldn't take into account the difference between the board thickness they were using and what I used in the video (and cut into their spoil board or even their CNC Bed damaging it) Down below in this comment, I have included the depths of cut I used in the video taken from the surface of a board that was 19.8 mm thick (Side note to anyone who is reading/his in the future If your board you are cutting is a different thickness you must adjust these measurements or you may cut deep into your spoil board or CNC Machine bed damaging it or your bit or even causing injury). Also as a cautionary reminder for everyone ALWAYS use safety goggles and feeds and speeds appropriate for your machine. The ones that I used in the video are what worked for me and may not be appropriate or safe for your particular machines. Adjust and use the numbers shown below with feeds and speeds based upon your CNC manufactures operational/safety guideline. Sorry for all the safety lectures but I was a high school teacher for many years and its a tough habit to stop (particularly when I don't know who might eventually read this months or years later and assume that since numbers have been given that they automatically will work with any machine and any board thickness). Plug1&2 I used a quarter inch upcut bit Plug 1 Ring3 Pocket DOC 4 mm Plug 1Ring2 Pocket DOC 15.5 mm from surface (or 11.5 mm from 4mm depth) Plug 1 Ring1 Pocket DOC 19.9 mm (will cut 0.1mm into spoil board) Plug 1 Ring4 Profile Outside DOC 19.9mm (remember to include tabs) --- note will cut 0.1 mm into spoil board Plug 2 Ring3 Profile Outside DOC 3.6 mm Plug 2 Ring2 Pocket DOC 16 mm Plug 2 Ring2 Pocket DOC 19.9mm (will cut 0.1mm into spoil board) Plug 2 Ring4 Profile Outside DOC 19.9 mm (remember to include tabs) -- not will cut 0.1 mm into spoil board Plug 3 I used a 1/8inch upcut bit Plug 3 Ring2 Pocket DOC 6.0mm Plug 3 Ring1 Pocket DOC 19.9mm (will cut 0.1mm into spoil board) Plug 3 Ring2 Profile Outside DOC 19.9mm (will cut 0.1mm into spoil board) Yes, the pen tool in the video could be modified to be used as a vinyl cutter. Good idea. However, you would need to use a much stiffer spring I suspect to get acceptable results. The pen tool (as currently made in the video with the plastic coil used as a spring) does work very well with a pencil,a crayon, or even a piece of chalk. I have tried them all out and was pleasantly surprised at their performance. By the end of the month I plan on releasing another video showing how to optimize this pen drawing tool. Subscribe to the channel above if you want to be notified when new videos pop up (if you haven't already). Thanks again for sharing your insight. I read all comments and try to respond as soon as possible. Sorry it took me a few days to get back to you but I was at an Artistry in Woods show all weekend and I have been trying to catch up on everything that was pushed aside. Good luck with you CNC. Mark
I really enjoyed this video. When you said place the plugs on the same page, did you mean the same sheet? Also, seeing the depths of the tool paths would be nice, however you did mentioned all of the depths. I think another good use for this plan would be for a Roland vinyl cutter. Everything would need to be modified but it would be basically the same.
Sorry it has taken me awhile to respond. This comment somehow wasn't showing up on my channel page (probably my fault). Good point on the depths, in future videos I will try to list them directly. I am unfamiliar with the Roland vinyl cutter. If you end up making one out of vinyl I would love to see a picture (and of course feel free to share your modified design with others if you like -- the heart of my channel is to be promote opensource solutions as much as possible). As a side note, I did do a 3d printable version of the drawing tool on my channel of this recently that has I a simpler design (and uses a notebook metal coil for a spring which is easier for some people to obtain). You might want to check it out. Thanks for your input and insight. I do apologize for not replying sooner.
Great Tutorial! Thank You! I am going to get building one in the very near future. Thanks again!
Awesome, I think you will love it. Note: You can also use a few metal coils you snip from a 80 to 100 page spiral notebook (with back to school sales going on now you can pick up a notebook for 35cents) instead of trying to locate a plastic binding coil. Let me know how you like your CNC drawing tool once its made. If you have any questions just let me know.
I suppose the center hole of the 3rd plug depends on the diameter of the marking utensil. Wonder what you used. My thought would be to use a short Sharpie...and hope the ink lasts and comes out consistently. Also worry that the threaded bolt will damage the collet when tightened down?
Short Sharpies I've tried before but the only ones i've found are taped. You may have to use some epoxy to fix in place (to the floating third plug). If you have success with the small sharpies let me know. The most improvement of the precision of the plotting tool is actually obtained by carefully tweaking the size of the hole in the bottom plug (plug 2) for a snug fit. If you have the Z height the "Micron" archival ink pens are awesome to use in plotter (I've 3d printed a different taller design that takes full size pens and it works well but I must mount it to my full z axis so it isn't centered under my router which is a bummer). On my CNC I have limited z height so that was the main reason I went the way I did. As far as the threaded bolt I haven't seen any damage or wear on my collect but I don't crank it down that hard when using my pen tool (not needed). If you are worried about it, you might try getting an oak 1/4 inch dowel and use in replacement of the threaded bolt and epoxy it into place (or cut off the top shank of an old dull 1/4 inch bit and try the same thing). I think that might work.
Fantastic info! I'll let you know. Appreciating your style and format. I saw there are additional videos expanding on your original pen holder, yet to view. I think there's a caterpillar air cleaner build in my near future, too, now, lol. Thank you for your reply!@Simplifycnc
Thanks for watching. I am so glad you enjoyed the video and hope you will make the pen tool (if you haven't already). As far as your question, yes, I did mean the same sheet. You had a great suggestion that I write out all the depths of cut. I originally didn't because I was worried that someone wouldn't take into account the difference between the board thickness they were using and what I used in the video (and cut into their spoil board or even their CNC Bed damaging it)
Down below in this comment, I have included the depths of cut I used in the video taken from the surface of a board that was 19.8 mm thick (Side note to anyone who is reading/his in the future If your board you are cutting is a different thickness you must adjust these measurements or you may cut deep into your spoil board or CNC Machine bed damaging it or your bit or even causing injury). Also as a cautionary reminder for everyone ALWAYS use safety goggles and feeds and speeds appropriate for your machine. The ones that I used in the video are what worked for me and may not be appropriate or safe for your particular machines. Adjust and use the numbers shown below with feeds and speeds based upon your CNC manufactures operational/safety guideline. Sorry for all the safety lectures but I was a high school teacher for many years and its a tough habit to stop (particularly when I don't know who might eventually read this months or years later and assume that since numbers have been given that they automatically will work with any machine and any board thickness).
Plug1&2 I used a quarter inch upcut bit
Plug 1 Ring3 Pocket DOC 4 mm
Plug 1Ring2 Pocket DOC 15.5 mm from surface (or 11.5 mm from 4mm depth)
Plug 1 Ring1 Pocket DOC 19.9 mm (will cut 0.1mm into spoil board)
Plug 1 Ring4 Profile Outside DOC 19.9mm (remember to include tabs) --- note will cut 0.1 mm into spoil board
Plug 2 Ring3 Profile Outside DOC 3.6 mm
Plug 2 Ring2 Pocket DOC 16 mm
Plug 2 Ring2 Pocket DOC 19.9mm (will cut 0.1mm into spoil board)
Plug 2 Ring4 Profile Outside DOC 19.9 mm (remember to include tabs) -- not will cut 0.1 mm into spoil board
Plug 3 I used a 1/8inch upcut bit
Plug 3 Ring2 Pocket DOC 6.0mm
Plug 3 Ring1 Pocket DOC 19.9mm (will cut 0.1mm into spoil board)
Plug 3 Ring2 Profile Outside DOC 19.9mm (will cut 0.1mm into spoil board)
Yes, the pen tool in the video could be modified to be used as a vinyl cutter. Good idea. However, you would need to use a much stiffer spring I suspect to get acceptable results.
The pen tool (as currently made in the video with the plastic coil used as a spring) does work very well with a pencil,a crayon, or even a piece of chalk. I have tried them all out and was pleasantly surprised at their performance.
By the end of the month I plan on releasing another video showing how to optimize this pen drawing tool. Subscribe to the channel above if you want to be notified when new videos pop up (if you haven't already).
Thanks again for sharing your insight. I read all comments and try to respond as soon as possible. Sorry it took me a few days to get back to you but I was at an Artistry in Woods show all weekend and I have been trying to catch up on everything that was pushed aside.
Good luck with you CNC.
Mark
I really enjoyed this video. When you said place the plugs on the same page, did you mean the same sheet? Also, seeing the depths of the tool paths would be nice, however you did mentioned all of the depths. I think another good use for this plan would be for a Roland vinyl cutter. Everything would need to be modified but it would be basically the same.
Sorry it has taken me awhile to respond. This comment somehow wasn't showing up on my channel page (probably my fault). Good point on the depths, in future videos I will try to list them directly. I am unfamiliar with the Roland vinyl cutter. If you end up making one out of vinyl I would love to see a picture (and of course feel free to share your modified design with others if you like -- the heart of my channel is to be promote opensource solutions as much as possible). As a side note, I did do a 3d printable version of the drawing tool on my channel of this recently that has I a simpler design (and uses a notebook metal coil for a spring which is easier for some people to obtain). You might want to check it out. Thanks for your input and insight. I do apologize for not replying sooner.
would be much more enjoyable to watch without the awful background soundtrack
I am reducing the amount of music. Thanks for your input.