I came in last night for some advice with the general desire to design a Sharpie wielding printer. My goal is to automate the creation of sticky notes for both work and play.
The first thing I learned is that it’s called a plotter and there are actually two really cool options:
These both look like great alternatives at opposite ends of the price/quality spectrum. The Piccolo must be built, but the AxiDraw is so buttery smooth and mesmerizing…
They’re for contractors/companies, so you’ll need a pretty decent BOM, or be willing to browse. Last I’d heard they were going to stop selling to individuals, though.
I’d check Lee’s first, and if not, just buy everything off AliExpress and spring for e-packet shipping.
I’ve also disassembled many printers for parts, and most modern ones have done away with the precision mechanical bits entirely. It’s amazing what they’ve managed to do with plastic sliding on plastic.
The list you posted is mostly okay. You just need all of the critical parameters of all your parts. Just go into a Fastenal and check it out, anyway. It’s like a toy store.
All the screws, nuts, and washers came out to $5. I could see that adding up on a bigger project. By comparison, the Arduino and stepper motors were $93. Even the linear bearings at 2 bucks a pop is 3 times the cost.
As a first project, I’ve come to grips with the fact that I’m going to pay a premium for a few things. These tips are great for the future though.