Hi,

I probably will build a Polargraph/V-plotter, currently I'm still reading a lot about them, to be a little prepared. Having a few arduinos at home enables me to test different setups virtually, which is already great to do.

One thing wonders me, normal plotters often use several pens and a carousel/cassette to change them, while plotting.
It seems to me (still orientating) that it would have its advantages to be able to change color/penwidth or replace a dying sharpie on a V-plotter as well.

So far I haven't found a multiple-pen V-plotter yet though, has anyone found one/tried ?

Best wishes.

I like how you use/see your polargraph.

While reading your posts I always imagine it to be some sort of squeaking machine, almost alive and certainly having a character of its own. It wouldn't surprise me it ruined the first 1-2 drawings on purpose, if it hasn't been drawing for a while. 🙂 It's perfect as it is.

I'm not looking for a device with the latest features as well by the way.

Since I picked up an old hobby again 5 years back, electronics, I've got a tick of my own, the need to think about what might already be diy-possible with only a few extra components and a bit of coding.

After seeing the MK1-drawings of blackstripes, I noticed they're more or less drawn with 4-bit grey scale and wondered whether it could be increased. Ability to use a few colors would be nice as well and then I read about dying sharpies.

I noticed the MK2 of blackstripes indeed uses multiple pens and Rita of Jurg Lehni, does as well, but both aren't V-plotters. That made me wonder whether there are other good reasons not to use a multiple pen set-up.

Anyway, only working virtually I still have a lot of terrain to cover/experiment.
I do have some ideas/brainfarts and am volunteer in a fablab, the itch is there, but I will start with a single pen set-up, that's for sure.