PlotBot

Base48 PlotBot

Founder:

niklasroy.com/robotfactory

Coops:

lubko, vanicka

Status:

active

What is this

A whiteboard drawing bot project. We didn't design the thing, but we built a couple of robots. Along the way, we made modifications and learned a lot.

Among things we learned is that it's a perfect project to get start with robotics.

Here's where it comes from:

https://hackaday.com/2025/09/02/this-plotter-knows-no-boundaries/

https://www.niklasroy.com/robotfactory/

The above link actually contains everything needed to get the bot going. Below are adjustments for parts we had.

Our modifications

Our FreeCAD model is here: tiny_turtle_plotter_CAD.FCStd

Modified parts typically have "new" in their name. Sorry if it's messy. First time FreeCAD.

• 
  3D-printed parts for original build
• 
  Different endstop microswitch
• 
  Different size roller and endstop
• 
  Roller ball
• 
  Roller ball
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  Wheels and tyres
• 
  Wheels
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  Wheel carriage
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  Stepper motors
• 
  Hacked pen lifter

Endstops

The microswitches come in different shapes and forms. We added extra prongs to the bumper ring to engage with wider range of microswitches.

Roller ball

We used a larger furniture ball, which in turn means we had to make room in the parts in two lowest layer and make the wheels larger.

Wheels

The wheels were too small, possibly because our roller ball was bigger. They were also rubbing against layers 1 and 2, and appeared to be made for 5mm shaft in the stepper (our had 6mm). This has, of course, thrown off the geometry. a little.

We also had different size tyres.

Power banks

Ones we had didn't fit. We adjusted the layers 1 and made different versions of the upper ring to hold them in place.

Pen lifter

One robot is equipped with a more precise pen lifter that utilizes linear motion bearings (LM8) on 8mm rods.

Control Board

Traces can be drawn on copper laminate (cuprexit) with toner transfer technique and chemically etched. Negative printout for PCB etching: turtle-bot-v3-pcb-back-etch.pdf

We've drawn a PCB that can be sent to a manufacturing house, but is also optimized for chemical or CNC etching!

Schematic: turtle-bot-v3-schematic.pdf

Fabrication notes: turtle-bot-v3-pcb-fab-notes.pdf

Negative printout for PCB etching: turtle-bot-v3-pcb-back-etch.pdf

• 
  Cutting copper boards
• 
  Chilling in a pool after toner transfer
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  Toner transferred
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  Copper etching
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  Board fully etched
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  Posing for a picture
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  Perfboards are a no-hassle option
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  Back side of a perfboard

Software

Arduino code: https://github.com/vranicka/PlotBot

More pictures

• 
  Robot coming alive
• 
  Robot skeleton
• 
  In action