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Pen Plotter

After over a decade of working with CNC machining and 3D printing, I became interested in exploring digital fabrication from a more fundamental perspective—starting with a simple, scratch-built machine. I came across Andrew Sleigh’s minimal pen plotter design and decided to build a version of my own.

The system runs on an Arduino Uno with a CNC shield and GRBL firmware. I use Rhino to create vectors, export it as DXF files, convert them to G-code in LightBurn, and send them to the plotter via Universal G-code Sender.

Inspired by Florian Markus’ use of brush-applied paint, I liked the intersection of uniformity and serendipity. I began by replicating some of his techniques before branching out into my own experiments—playing with gradients and brush techniques.

At Double Take’s annual open studio, we paired the plotter with our robot Rene to read and draw visitors' auras, combining analog expression with digital control in a playful, interactive installation.

I continue to evolve the process with new materials and ideas. Check back for future explorations and works in progress.