2D printing on a 3D printer - Free and easy guide

Remco, one of my patrons, shared this great project: using your 3D printer to plot 2D pictures. I liked it enough to make a how to video. This guide will take you through my failures and successes so you can pick up all of the tips you need to 2D print smoothly.

The cornerstone of this technique is Inkscape and two extensions/plugins. Inkscape is a free vector based graphics program. Remco’s tremendous guide made it easy for me to get up and running and hopefully for you too.

I mainly used the Prusa i3 MK3, Ender 5 and Artillery3D X1 for this video. Pretty much any 3D printer should be compatible. Remember that G2/G3 arc support must be enabled in Marlin, and probably is unless you turned it off yourself.

This is a cool novelty and well worth a go as a weekend project. I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments below.

If you are having random crashes of the print head, there is a fair chance you've left something off to the side in Inkscape that has been converted to gcode and sitting outside of the print area.

Recommended header gcode:
G28
G90
G0 Z20
M117 Deploy Pen NOW! 10
G4 P1000
M117 Deploy Pen NOW! 9
G4 P1000
M117 Deploy Pen NOW! 8
G4 P1000
M117 Deploy Pen NOW! 7
G4 P1000
M117 Deploy Pen NOW! 6
G4 P1000
M117 Deploy Pen NOW! 5
G4 P1000
M117 Deploy Pen NOW! 4
G4 P1000
M117 Deploy Pen NOW! 3
G4 P1000
M117 Deploy Pen NOW! 2
G4 P1000
M117 Deploy Pen NOW! 1
G4 P1000
M117 Drawing..

Recommended footer gcode:
G0 Z20
G28 X0 Y0
M18

Take a look around and if you like what you see, please subscribe.

#3dprining #2dprinter #plotter

[VinceAnido]

IMPORTANT NOTE ON SCALE

If the size of your output matters, eg: you need the plot to be an exact size. You must use the measure tool to measure the distance in mm between the two arrows generated by the plugin and add that number to your offset on the second number. For my documents, the ratio of px -> mm was not 1:1, so the plugin's scale was completely off and it generated giant outputs compared to the scale in the document.

For mine:
Pen Offset: 28mm, 44mm
Measured distance in mm between arrowheads: 26.46mm
1st Arrow: 28.0, 44.0, 0.0
2nd Arrow: 54.46, 44.0, 0.0

[ThatJay]

i did this. what i did, is instead of using a rubber band based mount, i just had a gravity based pen holder. it works with permanent markers and felt tip pens and i get amazing results.

also, the software i used was prusa slicer, openscad (for importing and extruding the .svg), and inkscape.

[Ajvar]

For everyone who is having trouble with missing arcs (G2/G3 support disabled), and does not want to hassle with firmware updates. There is a simple workaround in Inkscape.
1.When you create your vector path, double click on it, to enter the node editor. CTRL+A to select all the nodes.
2.Click Insert new nodes button to add more nodes in the curves (every time you click this command, your curve has more points and it gets finer in curvature).


3.While the nodes still selected, click the Make selected segment line command, to turn the spaces between the nodes into lines.
As a result, there will be no G2/G3 commands in the code which the stock firmware does not recognize.

[brettcuff]

This is Still the best tutorial for using a 3D Printer as a Plotter.

[OnreinKalfje]

I've been trying this in the new version of inkscape (1.0) and the Beta expansion of the Jtech tool. The Gcode generating worked for objects, but text wasn't transformed properly. After quite a while we found out that you had to UNGROUP text and then it worked fine. You can regroup it again and it still works.

[kiwifrogg]

Replaced the ballpoint with a sharpy you could draw a pcb layout onto the board then etch it using sodium persulphate.

[blackwolfecc]

Was so looking forward to this after reading the write up on Patreon. So awesome!!!

[jacobprogramz]

Thank you so much for making this model! I modified my printer so much that it is barely recognizable, and I couldn't fit an attachment for a plotter.

[Jajaho]

One of the genuinely nicest people on the internet.

[covertpluto]

Everyone: we need to upgrade our printers.
TT: we need to downgrade our printers.

[scroogemcduckenjoyer]

A 3D printer is literally a base non-humanoid robot, kinda like those KUKA arms, it's amazing how much possibilies you can do with it given the correct tools on its "hand"

i think i've seen an ad for a multipurpose attachment somewhere, and one of them was a cookie glaze extuder, cool af

[gormauslander]

It doesn't scream "low on cyan" for a BW print, I'm sold

[TheKumra]

Generally folders would be at the top of the file list, yours are at the bottom because of how you have them sorted.

[gikar]

Very interesting. It is always good to learn about other tools that might come in handy one day.

[slitairek]

Simple mod : use a 4 colour pen and have colour/shading options :D

[onomatopoeidia]

excellent advice and clear explanation. How could anyone thumbs down you? So helpful and exactly what I was looking for. thanks

[spikekent]

Very cool Michael, it's on my 'when time allows' list.

[adjgamer]

I do not believe the laser gcode tool works for Inkscape 1.2. I couldn't get it to work without finding an older version of Inkscape.

[storageaddict]

Great video as usual Michael! Going to give this a try asap.

[angelpiti]

Thanks for the video. I usually use LaserWeb for my laser proyects, but i will try this changing the commands as you to try drawing with a pen or engraving with a dremel. !