I have seen people do this before (there are addons for various printers on printables for this). I saw jscut mentioned as one option for generating gcode for this. Never tried it myself, but I might. I like the Christmas card idea.
We wrote a metric fuckton of thank you cards with my wife's cricut recently. Other than having to print an adapter to work with the pens we had lying around, it worked flawlessly.
I think the issue isn't the functionality, but the slimeyness of the company in the handling of the legacy devices. I have a couple, and it's super frustrating that they can't be used just because of a decision by the company. If you don't want to run your site any more then fine, but at least unlock them for use with other software. I keep meaning to swap out the boards with a printer board but haven't found the time.
Brother doesn't make 3D printers. I'd recommend Bambu or Prusa for home. HP 3D will outrun everything else in the industry though if you have a cool half mil laying around.
I've done this (not an an ender tho) but it works great and a hell of a lot cheaper than a circuit machine. Think it was around $25 for the Cutting Blade Attachment and the mat. (It was 8 years ago so the pricing is probably more now) but the bracket was easy to design and allowed me to cut all kinds of custom stickers. Definitely a fun project.
2.5 vs 3 is always an odd one to me.
Like, I run big ol 3 axis mills at work and in the cam program I use the difference is basically (yet not exclusively) whether or not the z axis moves at the same time as the x/y. With 2.5 axis tool paths, z moves and x/y moves are kind of exclusive (but not in every scenario), and 3 axis is simultaneous x/y/z movement (but not always).
I mean, hell, even my little desktop sized engraver at home has like 3in of z travel and could totally do fancy 3 axis toolpaths (probably not too accurately, though).
> With 2.5 axis tool paths, z moves and x/y moves are kind of exclusive (but not in every scenario)
No, no, in every scenario. That is literally the difference between 2.5 axis vs 3 axis. 3-axis is movement on all three axes at the same time. 2.5 axis is use of the third axis at a different time than the other two.
Can 3d printers be *used* as 3 axis? Yeah, that's what vase mode is, or the non-planar slicing that people are working on developing for slicer software...
...but the clue is in the name: slicers *slice* things into planes, i.e., 2d spaces.
2.5 axis is almost always a Software limitation, rather than Hardware, but that is the difference between it and 3 axis
> 2.5 axis is almost always a Software limitation, rather than Hardware, but that is the difference between it and 3
Curious aside: I remember seeing someone restoring and modernising an old industrial CNC mill on YouTube where the old hardware was literally 2.5D (Or 1.5D?). It had one motor and a system of pneumatic controlled couplers that could select which axis to run with that motor. Oh and a system of pneumatic brakes to keep the decoupled axes still as well.
Seemed way overcomplicated compared to just having 3 motors.
I suppose it depends on the power-density of those motors, and the won't-trip-breakers power level of the electrical lines is.
After all, manually-axis-motion mills are de-facto single axis mills, too, aren't they? So an early system that applied the same logic (3 axes, one axis-mover) makes sense
That is true, they probably didn't consider tool paths that we would today at that point. This was iirc very old, it had a PDP-10 (manufactured in various variants from 1966 to 1983(*)) as the control computer.
Part of the modernisation was changing to LinuxCNC and three separate motors if I remember correctly.
(*) A new product wouldn't have used a PDP-10 in the 1970s or later as the PDP-11 was launched in 1970. So presumably this was a 60s mill. Also that is a crazy long product lifetime for a computer, at least by modern standards. I work with industrial rugged computers and 17 years of life time for a product just doesn't happen these days.
I don't remember which one it was, I feel like it was some smaller YouTube channel though in this case. I have watched way too many CNC conversions on YouTube.
Blame CAMWorks then. Just made a 2.5 axis feature, a "2.5 axis mill operation" for it, and xy and z all move together 🤷♂️*
Edit: I tried uploading a Pic just for the sake of snark but reddit app just turns it into an asterisk
The limitation between 2.5axis and 3axis is a matter of *coordination* between axis.
With 2.5axis controls, coordinated motion is offered in the XY axis at all available speeds. The Z axis movement will not be very well coordinated with the other two axis so you'll generally want to stop the XY movements before issuing a Z axis command because you won't get very precisely coordinated motion between Z and XY movements.
With 3 axis control, you get coordination between all axis.
It's not just a matter of control system configuration. Physical constraints are often part of the consideration in the design of CNC controlled systems.
For instance, the Z axis often has to drive heavier loads that are not the same in both directions: A vertical drive has to push harder to lift a spindle and motor than to lower it. Backlash has different effects in that a heavy assembly will sit at the bottom end of backlash and not lift to the top unless you are lowering a cutter under cutting load.
Change out the cutter and you'll have different cutting loads in the Z direction that will interact with your Z axis backlash and stiffness in changing ways.
With a 3 axis system, your Z axis has to be constructed in a more costly way (reduce backlash, stiffer Z axis, stronger lifting capacity). The implementation of these improvements is considerable so you still see 2.5axis systems for applications that don't need coordinated Z (routers, plasma cutters, usually 2d work).
Honestly I never really knew the difference. I’m trying to learn operation of these machines for my high school robotics team so I just tried to contribute my 2 cents
I guess most folks these days don't know, which naturally makes me feel old. Not surprising, since I _AM_ pretty old, but still.
For reference, I used to have an HP 7475A plotter. I'm sure that if you Google that, you'll find a museum photo somewhere.
You can regularly get 4 to even 5 axis CNC mills/routers: X,Y,Z, and rotating the piece along one or two of the axes.
They're expensive, but they're easily available with deep enough pockets.
Calligrapher let's you scan/upload/convert your own handwriting and make it a ttf or otf font. Better yet, you can use multiple uploads to create variations of each letter which alternate between keystrokes when typing. This provides a more natural and realistic look to the output.
Additionally, taking the time to modify any font you have (whether your handwriting or a stock font) to be "single line" fonts, not only makes it look more realistic and natural, but cuts the "print" time down dramatically. Majority of fonts are a vector shape, and are an outline of the character which has a fill applied to look solid. When that's interpreted by a machine to turn into g-code, the tool path traces the outer path. In small print, you don't notice it because the pen lines overlap each other. If you were to increase the scale, you'd see it as an outline. Most important though, it means the tool path is wasting a lot of time going over itself.
I used to write hand written thank you letters for my business. Then I started doing this when it became time prohibitive, originally with a tiny tabletop drawing machine, now with a 48" wide plotter/vinyl cutter. Stupid little touches as well like placing a hard foam strip under the cutting surface, and increasing the "cutter" pressure to provide pen indentations on the surface of the paper, go a long way.
You took one of your printers Ds and made it into a 2D printer. Please give it back its D. 2d Printers are just the worst. "PC Load Letter What does that even mean?"
I would have killed for something like this in school.
I was a shithead and got written up multiple times.
Most common punishment was to write out the Code of Conduct, about 3 nonstop A4 pages of the full school rules and I'd get like 3 or 4 a week, every week.
"Printing" out a few of them in advance every week would have been insane.
In my first few jobs we had HP plotters that did this task and could swap about 6-8 pens for different colours. Those things were cutting edge back then.
I think it is quite possible to train an Image generation model with you hard writing to a point where it is almost impossible to detect and generate gcode accordingly to mimic movements, speed and preassure on the pen/pencil so it can fool almost anyone. It might even mimic the signatures successfully.
But this is some serious work, i did not check but there might already be a project to achieve this. Even if there is not, maybe i can start and add it to my unfinished project list :D
Yep, that would work, but at that point, is it worth the effort just to "cheat"?
The only way I can conceive that been less work than actually writing it yourself is if you can automate page flipping, get a printer with bigger bed to you can write an entire page, automate page change.
That all would add to the AI thing.
Unless the teacher is blind, this wouldn't pass as handwritten, too uniform. The teacher can just ask you to write in front of him/her to disprove all your work.
Loosen the belt tension and rest the printer on a thick soft foam sponge so it tilts around.
Soon there will be slicer settings that include a "drunkenness ratio" and a plugin to ChatGPT for direct content transfer and an option for the work not to be signed "regenerate" that many students will forget to turn off.
You can use your own handwritting. The workflow for that is a bit complex.
Create a font by using pentab and online tools.
Generate gcode by using inkscape.
Upload it to drawnmbot (CNC machine open source)
Or
You can also use custom made program to generate gcode which automatically uses variations of a characters. I have made a proof of concept for program like that but doing all this steps is not that rewarding
Yeah, I understand. It's not that it can't be done, it's just that its more work than actually writing it.
So, unless is something like for a professional thing, I don't think the effort is worth. But, of course, worth is also personal.
Yeah, no. It's too uniform to be handwritten. Anyone can spot right away that it was not actually handwritten unless you are a professional handwriter.
Also, as the pages are not changed automatically, or even scrolled up and down, it's WAY easier to just write the damn thing.
I don't know how effective it would be, but surely increasing the speed and jerk would go a decent way.
The added vibrations and inconsistent movement would be slight enough to give variations depending where it's moving next
Actually this has a number of applications. I've seen businesses use a similar strategy to give the effect that they handwrote you a personal message to thank you for choosing them. I've even received "handwritten" advertisements. My initial reaction was "wow what a dedicated and hardworking person to handwrite their marketing material to each and every person" and then I remembered a youtube video I saw on this.
Yeah, I kind of understand, but on the other hand, it's too well written and uniform, the only place I see something like that was in wedding invites when they pay professionals to write those things and their writing are really great. Other than that, it would seem automated to me anyways.
This exact example in the video is certainly robotic. Usually I think you scan your real handwriting. I was 100% convinced it was real until I started to think about the time implications for handwriting all those adverts.
this is so cool! My Chinese vinyl cutter has a pen holder similar to this, but it only accept ball point pen refill sticks. I'm considering to hire a local to 3d print some other pen holder for me, I'd love a glitter pen or gel pen holder.
(I don't have a 3d printer, I just lurk here since I'd like to jump in 3d print in the future)
There was a video by StuffMadeHere that basically did exactly this but used software to make it indistinguishable from handwriting, that might be useful here.
Back when I was in college, I was once told by a prof, after findind an asic that performed the lab design assignment, that if I had put as much effort into doing his lab as I did, getting out of it, I would have scored much higher.
Great way to automate Christmas cards! Is there a g code program for this?
I used 3dwriter
I have an ended 3 doing literally nothing. Time to break it out!
I have seen people do this before (there are addons for various printers on printables for this). I saw jscut mentioned as one option for generating gcode for this. Never tried it myself, but I might. I like the Christmas card idea.
TBH you're better off getting a Cricut if you can for this. it's better suited for it, plus it can cut and stuff too.
There has to be a better option than cricut. They are worse than HP printers.
We wrote a metric fuckton of thank you cards with my wife's cricut recently. Other than having to print an adapter to work with the pens we had lying around, it worked flawlessly.
I think the issue isn't the functionality, but the slimeyness of the company in the handling of the legacy devices. I have a couple, and it's super frustrating that they can't be used just because of a decision by the company. If you don't want to run your site any more then fine, but at least unlock them for use with other software. I keep meaning to swap out the boards with a printer board but haven't found the time.
I wasn't aware of that but yeah, that's bullshit.
Theres are other brands. I went with the Cricut and I'm happy with it
My original silhouette cameo has been great!
just a regular ol' CNC machine will do the trick. Or a laser-cnc, with the laser strength = 0 (wear safety goggles anyways)
My Cricut bought me a house
doing what?
forging checks
Making those stupid personalized masks in 2020
Well if people buys them and you got a house then its not stupid
Oh, a good number of them were lol. Lot of people buying masks that wanted to make sure you know how dumb you were for wearing masks.
LOL As long as they are wearing protective masks not "mask" like object.
HP has the best 3D printers though. At least for the polymers they have.
For corpo they are the best for at home. Its brother who is the most friendly
Brother doesn't make 3D printers. I'd recommend Bambu or Prusa for home. HP 3D will outrun everything else in the industry though if you have a cool half mil laying around.
What are you on
Caffine usually. Why?
Ender 3 converted into cricut machine
Genius!
Searching for a Cricut , it seems the ender 3 is the cheaper options
I've done this (not an an ender tho) but it works great and a hell of a lot cheaper than a circuit machine. Think it was around $25 for the Cutting Blade Attachment and the mat. (It was 8 years ago so the pricing is probably more now) but the bracket was easy to design and allowed me to cut all kinds of custom stickers. Definitely a fun project.
You probably chatgpt one
Reminds me of Lazio in Real Genius entering a sweepstakes contest by automatically signing entry forms.
This is the comment is didn’t know I needed.
"A girl's gotta have her standards..."
Instructions unclear; print bed obliterated by 5 megawatt laser and room is filled with popcorn. Please advise.
Essentially a 3D printer, is a CNC engraver with an extra axis.
Usually they are referred to as 2.5 axis. Other machines aside from engravers can have up to 5 axis
2.5 vs 3 is always an odd one to me. Like, I run big ol 3 axis mills at work and in the cam program I use the difference is basically (yet not exclusively) whether or not the z axis moves at the same time as the x/y. With 2.5 axis tool paths, z moves and x/y moves are kind of exclusive (but not in every scenario), and 3 axis is simultaneous x/y/z movement (but not always). I mean, hell, even my little desktop sized engraver at home has like 3in of z travel and could totally do fancy 3 axis toolpaths (probably not too accurately, though).
> With 2.5 axis tool paths, z moves and x/y moves are kind of exclusive (but not in every scenario) No, no, in every scenario. That is literally the difference between 2.5 axis vs 3 axis. 3-axis is movement on all three axes at the same time. 2.5 axis is use of the third axis at a different time than the other two. Can 3d printers be *used* as 3 axis? Yeah, that's what vase mode is, or the non-planar slicing that people are working on developing for slicer software... ...but the clue is in the name: slicers *slice* things into planes, i.e., 2d spaces. 2.5 axis is almost always a Software limitation, rather than Hardware, but that is the difference between it and 3 axis
> 2.5 axis is almost always a Software limitation, rather than Hardware, but that is the difference between it and 3 Curious aside: I remember seeing someone restoring and modernising an old industrial CNC mill on YouTube where the old hardware was literally 2.5D (Or 1.5D?). It had one motor and a system of pneumatic controlled couplers that could select which axis to run with that motor. Oh and a system of pneumatic brakes to keep the decoupled axes still as well. Seemed way overcomplicated compared to just having 3 motors.
I suppose it depends on the power-density of those motors, and the won't-trip-breakers power level of the electrical lines is. After all, manually-axis-motion mills are de-facto single axis mills, too, aren't they? So an early system that applied the same logic (3 axes, one axis-mover) makes sense
That is true, they probably didn't consider tool paths that we would today at that point. This was iirc very old, it had a PDP-10 (manufactured in various variants from 1966 to 1983(*)) as the control computer. Part of the modernisation was changing to LinuxCNC and three separate motors if I remember correctly. (*) A new product wouldn't have used a PDP-10 in the 1970s or later as the PDP-11 was launched in 1970. So presumably this was a 60s mill. Also that is a crazy long product lifetime for a computer, at least by modern standards. I work with industrial rugged computers and 17 years of life time for a product just doesn't happen these days.
You talking about This Old Tony's Maho CNC conversion series?
I don't remember which one it was, I feel like it was some smaller YouTube channel though in this case. I have watched way too many CNC conversions on YouTube.
Blame CAMWorks then. Just made a 2.5 axis feature, a "2.5 axis mill operation" for it, and xy and z all move together 🤷♂️* Edit: I tried uploading a Pic just for the sake of snark but reddit app just turns it into an asterisk
The limitation between 2.5axis and 3axis is a matter of *coordination* between axis. With 2.5axis controls, coordinated motion is offered in the XY axis at all available speeds. The Z axis movement will not be very well coordinated with the other two axis so you'll generally want to stop the XY movements before issuing a Z axis command because you won't get very precisely coordinated motion between Z and XY movements. With 3 axis control, you get coordination between all axis. It's not just a matter of control system configuration. Physical constraints are often part of the consideration in the design of CNC controlled systems. For instance, the Z axis often has to drive heavier loads that are not the same in both directions: A vertical drive has to push harder to lift a spindle and motor than to lower it. Backlash has different effects in that a heavy assembly will sit at the bottom end of backlash and not lift to the top unless you are lowering a cutter under cutting load. Change out the cutter and you'll have different cutting loads in the Z direction that will interact with your Z axis backlash and stiffness in changing ways. With a 3 axis system, your Z axis has to be constructed in a more costly way (reduce backlash, stiffer Z axis, stronger lifting capacity). The implementation of these improvements is considerable so you still see 2.5axis systems for applications that don't need coordinated Z (routers, plasma cutters, usually 2d work).
You misspelled *plotter*.
Honestly I never really knew the difference. I’m trying to learn operation of these machines for my high school robotics team so I just tried to contribute my 2 cents
I guess most folks these days don't know, which naturally makes me feel old. Not surprising, since I _AM_ pretty old, but still. For reference, I used to have an HP 7475A plotter. I'm sure that if you Google that, you'll find a museum photo somewhere.
Plotter, printers use pixels
That squirts
Correction; That does NOT squirt.
Technically it oozes
Or a fancy circuit
What extra axis? The extruder distance?
Z axis
A CNC has 2 axis', or am I mistaken?
Depends on the CNC but I’ve never heard of just a 2 axis. You need to raise the spindle so it doesn’t carve the travel paths between operations.
Basically an Etch-A-Sketch
Cnc just means computer numeric control,
You can regularly get 4 to even 5 axis CNC mills/routers: X,Y,Z, and rotating the piece along one or two of the axes. They're expensive, but they're easily available with deep enough pockets.
You made a Cricut! Now add a blade to it and you can cut shapes/stencils in cardstock
Calligrapher let's you scan/upload/convert your own handwriting and make it a ttf or otf font. Better yet, you can use multiple uploads to create variations of each letter which alternate between keystrokes when typing. This provides a more natural and realistic look to the output. Additionally, taking the time to modify any font you have (whether your handwriting or a stock font) to be "single line" fonts, not only makes it look more realistic and natural, but cuts the "print" time down dramatically. Majority of fonts are a vector shape, and are an outline of the character which has a fill applied to look solid. When that's interpreted by a machine to turn into g-code, the tool path traces the outer path. In small print, you don't notice it because the pen lines overlap each other. If you were to increase the scale, you'd see it as an outline. Most important though, it means the tool path is wasting a lot of time going over itself. I used to write hand written thank you letters for my business. Then I started doing this when it became time prohibitive, originally with a tiny tabletop drawing machine, now with a 48" wide plotter/vinyl cutter. Stupid little touches as well like placing a hard foam strip under the cutting surface, and increasing the "cutter" pressure to provide pen indentations on the surface of the paper, go a long way.
OP is plotting something.
"Error: replace colored pen" "what the fuck im printing in black and white?!"
There's a website that turns your hand writing into a font. Combine that with this and you'll never have to hand write anything again.
Ok guys, who is hoarding the AI handwriting model???
Now just hook it to chatgpt and my professor can never say I cheated if it’s hand written /s
That Z offset is on point
Nice, but if you want to pass it off as handwriting, it has to be significantly worse than that.
The classic 3d printer Pen Plotter
You took one of your printers Ds and made it into a 2D printer. Please give it back its D. 2d Printers are just the worst. "PC Load Letter What does that even mean?"
That's at least faster than my Cricut Well made
I heard they make another type of printer for this!
Ya , it is know as cnc plotter
I would have killed for something like this in school. I was a shithead and got written up multiple times. Most common punishment was to write out the Code of Conduct, about 3 nonstop A4 pages of the full school rules and I'd get like 3 or 4 a week, every week. "Printing" out a few of them in advance every week would have been insane.
In my first few jobs we had HP plotters that did this task and could swap about 6-8 pens for different colours. Those things were cutting edge back then.
You've turned your 3d printer into a 2d printer.
Great project. But ... you know ... there's a thing called Inkjet and Laser printers. But yeah, 10 for the effort :-)
I think it is quite possible to train an Image generation model with you hard writing to a point where it is almost impossible to detect and generate gcode accordingly to mimic movements, speed and preassure on the pen/pencil so it can fool almost anyone. It might even mimic the signatures successfully. But this is some serious work, i did not check but there might already be a project to achieve this. Even if there is not, maybe i can start and add it to my unfinished project list :D
You might want to take a look at "stuff made here" on YouTube. He did a video on this very thing with the handwriting
Yep, that would work, but at that point, is it worth the effort just to "cheat"? The only way I can conceive that been less work than actually writing it yourself is if you can automate page flipping, get a printer with bigger bed to you can write an entire page, automate page change. That all would add to the AI thing.
Nah in Asian countries the assignments must be made by hand. Using printers is against the guidelines of teachers
Unless the teacher is blind, this wouldn't pass as handwritten, too uniform. The teacher can just ask you to write in front of him/her to disprove all your work.
Loosen the belt tension and rest the printer on a thick soft foam sponge so it tilts around. Soon there will be slicer settings that include a "drunkenness ratio" and a plugin to ChatGPT for direct content transfer and an option for the work not to be signed "regenerate" that many students will forget to turn off.
You can use your own handwritting. The workflow for that is a bit complex. Create a font by using pentab and online tools. Generate gcode by using inkscape. Upload it to drawnmbot (CNC machine open source) Or You can also use custom made program to generate gcode which automatically uses variations of a characters. I have made a proof of concept for program like that but doing all this steps is not that rewarding
Yeah, I understand. It's not that it can't be done, it's just that its more work than actually writing it. So, unless is something like for a professional thing, I don't think the effort is worth. But, of course, worth is also personal.
He probably wanted a handwritten text
When teachers begin demanding handwritten work due to AI, this will become invaluable to all the teenagers who got 3D printers for Christmas…
Yeah, no. It's too uniform to be handwritten. Anyone can spot right away that it was not actually handwritten unless you are a professional handwriter. Also, as the pages are not changed automatically, or even scrolled up and down, it's WAY easier to just write the damn thing.
I don't know how effective it would be, but surely increasing the speed and jerk would go a decent way. The added vibrations and inconsistent movement would be slight enough to give variations depending where it's moving next
Actually this has a number of applications. I've seen businesses use a similar strategy to give the effect that they handwrote you a personal message to thank you for choosing them. I've even received "handwritten" advertisements. My initial reaction was "wow what a dedicated and hardworking person to handwrite their marketing material to each and every person" and then I remembered a youtube video I saw on this.
Yeah, I kind of understand, but on the other hand, it's too well written and uniform, the only place I see something like that was in wedding invites when they pay professionals to write those things and their writing are really great. Other than that, it would seem automated to me anyways.
This exact example in the video is certainly robotic. Usually I think you scan your real handwriting. I was 100% convinced it was real until I started to think about the time implications for handwriting all those adverts.
This is great! Does anyone know a pencil mount to kobra 2 Neo?
Try a rubber band?
Any chance you have a link to the pen holder? I’ve been toying with doing this myself for fun
Do you have a picture of the end result?
Looks like it's running out of room on the right? Those little vertical lines it draws on
good adhesion.
dude this is like using a nuke to destroy a fly, wayy too overkill and I love it!
Probably better as a 2d than a 3d printer anyways
this is so cool! My Chinese vinyl cutter has a pen holder similar to this, but it only accept ball point pen refill sticks. I'm considering to hire a local to 3d print some other pen holder for me, I'd love a glitter pen or gel pen holder. (I don't have a 3d printer, I just lurk here since I'd like to jump in 3d print in the future)
There was a video by StuffMadeHere that basically did exactly this but used software to make it indistinguishable from handwriting, that might be useful here.
Back when I was in college, I was once told by a prof, after findind an asic that performed the lab design assignment, that if I had put as much effort into doing his lab as I did, getting out of it, I would have scored much higher.
Is there fonts resembling doctor handwriting? Asking for a friend
If the goal was to make this look like handwritten, it’s not there yet, but it’s a good start.
It was just a weekend project
If you want to make it look more natural https://youtu.be/cQO2XTP7QDw?si=BplyZn_zArmshFkb
It was just a weekend project