CNC 3018 Pen Mount

Summary This flexible spring loaded pen holder is specifically designed for the CNC 3018 machine and can be entirely manufactured using a 3D printer. The design consists of four main parts, which can be easily assembled. Additionally, three screws are required to secure the lid, and a grub screw is used to fix the desired pen in place. Software (LaserGRBL) To provide the CNC machine with the correct G-code commands, I used LaserGRBL to vectorize or trace the centerline of my photo. It's crucial to set the S-max setting to 1000 and the S-min setting to 0. The size can be adjusted as desired. Once this is done, the created file can be exported as a G-code file. Software (OpenBuildsCONTROL) Now, upload the generated G-code into the free program OpenBuildsControl. Using the GCODE Editor function and the "Find/Replace" command, change all S1000 entries to Z-3 and all S0 entries to Z3. This will switch the command from laser to linear Z-axis movement, causing the pen to move up or down at the respective points. Afterwards, this file can also be exported again using the blue save icon and reopened with the LaserGRBL software using "Open File". Now you can connect the CNC router to your computer and start the program. Ensure that the tip of your pen is manually positioned about 0.5 mm above your paper before starting the program to achieve a clean result.