Project · draft
Classroom Pen Plotter for Geometry and Art (Machine Design)
- advanced
- 20-30 hours over 1-2 weeks (group project)
A shared open-hardware machine that lets learners turn coordinate geometry, code and art into drawings, built and repaired by the class.
Safety notes
- Use only a certified external adapter; do not open, build or modify mains supplies.
- Pinch points: keep fingers and hair away from belts and pulleys while powered; add an accessible power switch.
- Stepper drivers and motors get hot; set driver current limits before first run.
Draft and unofficial, not affiliated with Fab Academy or the United Nations. Check prices, GST and parts before you buy.
Summary
An A4/A3 drawing machine with printed carriages and a laser-cut base. Students write programs that draw spirals, graphs and patterns, then see the maths on paper. Built as a team in machine design week.
What it teaches
Design a 2-axis gantry with 8 mm rods, LM8UU bearings and GT2 belts, size steps per mm, drive two Nema 17 motors through bipolar drivers, add a servo pen lift, and stream G-code from a simple web or Python interface.
Topics it touches, in Fab Academy-style terms:
- Mechanical design
- Machine design
- Output devices
- Embedded programming
- 3D scanning and printing
- Interface and application programming
Parts list
Parts cost
Some parts are not priced yet, so there's no total.
10 required parts are marked not priced yet below. Where a price is known it is shown per part, GST-inclusive as the seller listed it on 24 Oct 2026, with the GST rate unverified. Shipping is not included.
| Part | Qty | Unit | Price, GST-incl. as listed | Line cost | GST | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Seeed Studio XIAO RP2040 Development Boardxiao-rp2040 | 1 | pcs | ₹513 | ₹513 | GST unverified, typically 18% | Robocrazeread 24 Oct 2026 |
| Nema 17 bipolar stepper motornema17-stepper | 2 | pcs | not priced yet | not priced yet | GST unverified | no seller yet |
| Bipolar stepper motor driverstepper-driver-bipolarSet current limit before running | 2 | pcs | not priced yet | not priced yet | GST unverified | no seller yet |
| TowerPro SG90 9G Micro Servo Motor 180° for Arduino & Roboticsservo-sg90Pen lift | 1 | pcs | ₹98 | ₹98 | GST unverified, typically 18% | Robocrazeread 24 Oct 2026 |
| Smooth steel rod, 8 mm x ~400 mmsmooth-rod-8mm-400 | 4 | pcs | not priced yet | not priced yet | GST unverified | no seller yet |
| LM8UU linear ball bearing, 8 mmlm8uu-bearing | 6 | pcs | not priced yet | not priced yet | GST unverified | no seller yet |
| GT2 timing belt, 6 mm widegt2-belt-6mm | 2 | m | not priced yet | not priced yet | GST unverified | no seller yet |
| GT2 20-tooth pulley, 5 mm boregt2-pulley-20t-5mm | 2 | pcs | not priced yet | not priced yet | GST unverified | no seller yet |
| 608ZZ ball bearing, 8x22x7 mmbearing-608zzIdlers | 4 | pcs | not priced yet | not priced yet | GST unverified | no seller yet |
| M3 x 10 mm socket head screw, stainlessscrew-m3x10-socket | 30 | pcs | not priced yet | not priced yet | GST unverified | no seller yet |
| 12 V 5 A DC power adapter (certified, barrel jack)psu-12v-5a-adapter | 1 | pcs | not priced yet | not priced yet | GST unverified | no seller yet |
| 100uF / 25V Electrolytic Capacitor (Pack of 5)cap-100uf-25v-x5Bulk caps at the driversPack: pack of 5 | 1 | set | ₹23 | ₹23 | GST unverified, typically 18% | Robocrazeread 24 Oct 2026 |
| MDF or plywood sheet, 3 mm (laser-cut parts)mdf-3mm-sheetBase | 1 | sheet | not priced yet | not priced yet | GST unverified | no seller yet |
| Part | Qty | Unit | Price, GST-incl. as listed | Line cost | GST | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Premium 1.75MM HS PLA 1 KG 3d Printer Filament - Cement grey Colourfilament-pla-1kgCarriages and brackets; Fab Lab stock | 1 | pcs | ₹741 | ₹741 | GST unverified, typically 18% | Robocrazeread 24 Oct 2026 |
| Type C USB Cable (1 metre)cable-usb-c-1mSkip if you already have a data-capable USB-C cable | 1 | pcs | ₹65 | ₹65 | GST unverified, typically 18% | Robocrazeread 24 Oct 2026 |
| Optional extras total, GST-inclusive as listed by the seller | ₹806 | |||||
The Part column links to the shared catalogue. Units are pcs, m, g, sheet or set, and a "set" is the seller's pack, as noted per part.
Tools you will need
- 3D printer
- Laser cutter
- Soldering iron
- Multimeter
- Hex keys
Build notes
Step-by-step build notes have not been written yet for this draft. The summary, the topics above and the parts list are what exists so far.
How to buy
There is no online checkout. To buy or import these parts, email info@curiosta.com and say what you need. The button opens your own email app with a draft; nothing is sent until you send it.
Prices on this site are third-party seller listings, not a Curiosta quote. Ask by email for availability, price and GST.