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AxiDraw
Writing and Drawing Machines
Covering AxiDraw models including:
Version 5.7.1
Last updated: July 31, 2023
High Performance
User Guide
V3
®
AxiDraw V3 (Models 2507, 2510)
AxiDraw V3/A3 (Model 2520, 2527)
AxiDraw V3/B6 (Model 2560)
AxiDraw SE/A4 (Model 2534, 2538)
AxiDraw SE/A3 (Model 2530, 2537)
AxiDraw V3 XLX (Model 2550)
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Table of Contents
Related Manuals for Evil Mad Scientist AxiDraw V3
Summary of Contents for Evil Mad Scientist AxiDraw V3
- Page 1 ® High Performance Writing and Drawing Machines User Guide Covering AxiDraw models including: AxiDraw V3 (Models 2507, 2510) AxiDraw V3/A3 (Model 2520, 2527) AxiDraw V3/B6 (Model 2560) AxiDraw SE/A4 (Model 2534, 2538) AxiDraw SE/A3 (Model 2530, 2537) AxiDraw V3 XLX (Model 2550) Version 5.7.1...
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Page 2: Preliminaries
Preliminaries 0.1 Quick Start? If you’re new to AxiDraw, and want to get up and running as quickly as possible, here are the most important parts to know about: 1. Follow section “2.3 Unboxing AxiDraw”, starting on page 14. This section covers a couple of initial hardware setup steps that you don’t want to miss. -
Page 3: Welcome To Axidraw
0.2 Welcome to AxiDraw! This is the user guide for the AxiDraw V3 family of high-performance personal writing and drawing machines. This guide is here to help you get started. There is a lot here — covering how you set up and use the machine, tips for operation, details about the software, and pointers to additional resources. -
Page 4: Table Of Contents
Table of Contents Preliminaries ................2 0.1 Quick Start? ..............2 0.2 Welcome to AxiDraw! .............3 0.3 This guide is updated from time to time......3 0.4 Copyright notice .............3 Table of Contents ..............4 1. Introducing the AxiDraw ............9 1.1 Credits and History ............9 2. - Page 5 6.1 Printing on large workpieces .........27 6.2 Workholding with the Clip Easel........27 6.3 Document orientation ............28 6.4 Using multiple Clip Easels ..........29 6.5 Moving beyond the Clip Easel ........29 6.6 Magnetic easel accessories ..........29 7. In detail: Power and USB ............30 8.
- Page 6 9.6 The Notifications tab and Preview mode .....50 9.6.1 The Report time elapsed option ........50 9.6.2 Preview mode and preview mode rendering ....50 9.6.3 Working with rendered previews ........52 9.7 Webhook alerts ..............53 9.7.1 Setting up webhooks with IFTTT ........54 9.8 Advanced options ............55 9.9 Hidden-line removal ............57 9.10 Plot order and optimization ..........58...
- Page 7 10.2 Disable XY Motors ............71 10.3 Hatch Fill .................71 10.4 Hershey Text ..............71 10.5 Plot Optimization (Legacy) ...........71 10.6 Process Illustrator SVG ..........73 10.7 Plot Digest (Plob) Export ..........75 11. Designing for AxiDraw ............76 11.1 General considerations ...........76 11.1.1 Objects that are not paths ..........76 11.1.2 Importing graphics ............
- Page 8 12.8 The pen-lift servo motor ..........91 12.9 Loss of position ...............91 12.10 Wheel adjustments ............91 12.11 Service, repair, and parts support ........91 13. AxiDraw Tips and Tricks ............92 Online Resources ............... 94...
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Page 9: Introducing The Axidraw
Delrin plastic. It had two independent timing belts, one driven by a stepper motor on the base, and the other by a stepper motor on the moving carriage. For software, it used a modified version of the WaterColorBot driver developed at Evil Mad Scientist. - Page 10 (machined or stamped and folded), and the new pen holder could be mounted vertically or at 45° to the paper. AxiDraw V3 The third generation, the AxiDraw V3 family, is a full redesign of the machine for higher performance. AxiDraw V3 While previous models had steel shafts and linear ball bearing slides, this new version features custom aluminum extrusions with rolling wheels.
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Page 11: Checking Out Your Axidraw
2.1 Parts and accessories Here are the parts that come with AxiDraw: 1. The AxiDraw itself 2. Clip Easel and binder clips (4 on AxiDraw V3, 8 on larger models) 3. Plug-in power supply 4. USB cable 5. Hex drivers and wrenches Sizes include 2 mm, 2.5 mm, and 3 mm hex drivers, and low-profile 8 mm... -
Page 12: Axidraw Anatomy
Let us look at the different parts of the AxiDraw. We will refer to these parts by name throughout this guide. These features are common to each model of Axi- Draw, though appearances may vary. For example, the AxiDraw V3/A3 and SE/ A3 have extended “outrigger” feet, and the AxiDraw SE/A3 and SE/A4 bases are colored black and covers the two motors. - Page 13 Detail: Left side of base Power Jack Home Position Label Cover Rubber Cable for Feet pen-lift motor USB Port Stepper motor “EBB” Control board Pause Button Detail: Pen holder Y Carriage Vertical slide Pen Clip Screws Pen-lift servo motor Thumbscrew Vertical shafts Pen Clip Note: AxiDraw ships with its pen clip disconnected;...
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Page 14: Unboxing Axidraw
2.3 Unboxing AxiDraw The cable for the pen-lift motor and the pen clip are disconnected for shipping. Your first two steps, out of the box, are to re-attach these parts. Locate the disconnected cable end on the left hand side of the base. The cable has three wires: Black, red, and white. - Page 15 The pen clip is also removed for shipping. Vertical slide Pen clip 2 mm ball-end hex wrench Thumbscrew M3 Screws Thread the black plastic thumbscrew into the pen clip. Attach the pen clip to the vertical slide with the two small black M3 screws, using the 2 mm hex wrench, which has a ball end for easier access.
- Page 16 Aside: If you have an older AxiDraw... AxiDraw V2 and first-generation AxiDraw V3 units have four threaded holes on the vertical slide and two holes in the pen clip (rather than two threaded holes and four holes on the pen clip). If you have one of these machines, it looks a little different, but you still use the two screws to attach the pen clip in the vertical or diagonal position.
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Page 17: Safe Handling Of The Axidraw
2.4 Safe handling of the AxiDraw 1). Lifting: Lift AxiDraw by the central strut of the base, or by the stepper motors if necessary. Do not lift by the cables, cable guides, carriages, or pen holder. The AxiDraw SE/A3 has a handle milled into the back of the central strut, to provide an additional lifting point in the middle of the machine. -
Page 18: Software For Axidraw
3. Software for AxiDraw 3.1 Installing software You will need to install software on your computer to operate the AxiDraw. Current instructions and download links are available at: http://axidraw.com/sw From there, follow the directions specific for your operating system: • For Mac and Windows, there are easy installers that you can download. •... -
Page 19: Aside: Alternative Software, Cli, And Apis
3.3 Aside: Alternative software, CLI, and APIs The AxiDraw software is available in two alternate versions that may be helpful for developers or for anyone who would to control the machine programatically rather than through Inkscape. There is a stand-alone command-line interface (CLI) tool, as well as a full-featured python library. -
Page 20: Quick Start: Making Your First Plot
4. Quick start: Making your first plot In this section, we will briefly walk through the steps to make your first plot. After this section, we will discuss each part of this process in additional depth. As you get started, please make sure that you have gone through §2.3 Unboxing AxiDraw, on page 14 (so that you have connected the cable and installed the pen clip) and §3.1 Installing software, on page 18. -
Page 21: Connect Power And Usb
Once you have identified the Home Corner, slide the carriage there by hand. You can move the carriage by the solid block of metal behind the vertical slide of the pen hold- er. (Do not push the vertical slide itself or the pen clip directly.) If the carriage does not move easily, you may need to turn off the motors. -
Page 22: Check Pen-Up And Pen-Down Positions
4.4 Check pen-up and pen-down positions Within Inkscape, open AxiDraw Control from the top menu. You can find it at Extensions > AxiDraw Control. Then, select the Setup tab: Select the Cycle pen down then up option, and click the Apply button. If everything is hooked up correctly, the pen lift motor should lower to its pen- down position, wait just a moment, and then lift to the pen-up position. -
Page 23: Insert Your Pen
4.5 Insert your pen Starting with the AxiDraw in the pen-up position, insert your pen into the pen clip, just above the paper, and tighten it in place with the thumbscrew. The vertical position of your pen should be approximately 1/8 to 1/4 inch (3 - 6 mm) above the surface of the paper. -
Page 24: Open A Document And Print It
4.7 Open a document and print it Download the set of AxiDraw example files from http://axidraw.com/ex The download is a small zip archive of example files. Open (unzip) the archive. Then, within Inkscape, open up the file called AxiDraw_First.svg. Once open, the document should look approximately like this: If you cannot see the full page outline when you first open the file, select from the menu View >... -
Page 25: Recap: Setting Up A Print
One final tip as you get started: By default, the travel limits set in the software are those for the AxiDraw V3. If you are using an AxiDraw of different size, such as the AxiDraw V3/A3 or AxiDraw SE/A3, be sure to select your AxiDraw model in the Options >... -
Page 26: In Detail: The Home Corner
5. In detail: The Home Corner Before you start plotting, the carriage must be moved to the Home Corner. This is as far left and as far back as it will go: where the pen holder is closest to the left side of the base, that is when the pen holder is closest to the engraved label “Home”, and the USB port. -
Page 27: In Detail: Workholding
AxiDraw. The AxiDraw V3 Clip Easel is 9 × 12 inches (about 23 x 30 cm) in size, with rub- ber feet and small binder clips. (Larger easels are included with the larger-sized AxiDraw models.) You can mount different sizes of paper to it, including US letter... -
Page 28: Document Orientation
§6.2, Workholding with the Clip Easel, continued The examples shown above are: A) A certificate to be filled out (Letter size, landscape orientation) B) Mailing address (#10 envelope, landscape orientation) C) A formal invitation (6 ⅜ × 8 ⅞ inch, portrait orientation) D) A page of mixed text and drawing (Letter size, portrait orientation) In every case, line up the corner of the paper with the upper left corner of the Clip Easel, such that the corner of the paper is closest to the Home Corner. -
Page 29: Using Multiple Clip Easels
AxiDraw, or if you are plotting two side-by-side letter (A4) size pages with the AxiDraw V3/A3 or AxiDraw V3 XLX. Using two small easels side by side, you can designate one “A” and one “B”, and alternate plotting on the “A” or “B”... -
Page 30: In Detail: Power And Usb
7. In detail: Power and USB Power Adapter Cable USB Cable The power and USB cables connect to the AxiDraw as shown above. Connect the USB cable to any available USB port on your computer. All AxiDraw models currently ship with a USB A to Micro-B cable. You can switch this out for other types of high-quality USB micro cables (e.g., USB C to Micro-B) as needed. -
Page 31: In Detail: Setting Up Pen And Paper
8. In detail: Setting up pen and paper In this section we will discuss different types of pens, configuring the pen angle, the pen-up and pen-down positions, setting the pen height, and how to set the paper position relative to the pen. 8.1 Pen choices The pen holder included with the AxiDraw fits pens up to ⅝... -
Page 32: Inserting A Pen
§8.2, Setting the pen angle, continued The 45° angle position is ideal for use with fountain pens, but will work well with most rollerball and fine point markers. The vertical position is more suited to markers with fatter tips or writing instruments that require more downward pres- sure. -
Page 33: Pen Up And Pen Down Positions
8.4 Pen up and pen down positions In this step we will check the pen-up and pen-down positions. Within Inkscape, open up AxiDraw Control: Extensions > AxiDraw Control. Then, select the Setup tab: Select the Cycle pen down then up option, and click the Apply button. If everything is hooked up correctly, the pen lift motor should lower to its pen- down position, wait just a moment, and then lift to the pen-up position. - Page 34 §8.4, Pen up and pen down positions, continued If there is no movement, double check that you have power and USB connected as given in the previous section. If it still does not move, also check that you have correctly hooked up the pen-lift motor cable. (See section “2.3 Unboxing AxiDraw”...
- Page 35 Once you are familiar with the process of inserting the pen and setting the height, this whole process is described by two quick steps: 1) Cycle the pen holder to the pen-up position. 2) Insert your pen, just above the paper. The pen-up and pen-down heights in the Setup tab may each be adjusted be- tween 0 and 100% to suit your needs.
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Page 36: Positioning Paper
8.5 Positioning paper With your pen at the Home Corner, and the pen at an appropriate height, it is time to position the paper with respect to the AxiDraw. The printable area starts at the Home Corner, and extends down and to the right from that point. Plotting on large surfaces (where the AxiDraw sits directly on the surface): Position the AxiDraw such that the pen tip is at the upper left corner of the area that you intend to plot upon. - Page 37 Plotting on everything else (letters, envelopes, invitations, and smaller items): Position the paper with its upper-left corner directly underneath the tip of the pen. Square the paper up so that its top edge is parallel to the base of the Axi- Draw.
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Page 38: Working With Axidraw Control
9. Working with AxiDraw Control In this section we will introduce the features and options in AxiDraw Control, the primary interface to the AxiDraw. It can be found within your Inkscape menu at Extensions > AxiDraw Control AxiDraw Control has a tabbed interface, where the different tabs contain differ- ent settings or control different functions. -
Page 39: Number Of Copies
If Copies to Plot is set to a value greater than 1, then the AxiDraw will plot the document that number of times, with an optional delay between copies. Copies to Plot is a particularly helpful feature when using AxiDraw as a signature machine, or for similar quick repeating tasks: you can have the machine sign each document with just a time delay between documents. -
Page 40: Pausing, Resuming, And Canceling Plots
9.2 Pausing, resuming, and canceling plots To stop a plot in progress, press the pause button: the raised silver-colored button located on the left hand side of the AxiDraw. (See the pictures on page 13.) The AxiDraw will stop plotting and raise the pen after finishing the current line segment. -
Page 41: Canceling A Plot
9.2.3 Canceling a plot It is not necessary to take any action to cancel a plot that has already been paused. However, you do still need to return the carriage to Home before begin- ning a new plot. You can return the carriage home using Return to Home Corner on the Resume tab (as described in the previous section), with the Walk Home manual command (page 67), or by hand. -
Page 42: Plotting With Multiple Layers And Colors
9.3 Plotting with multiple layers and colors By default, the AxiDraw will print all visible paths in your document. A document can, at your option, be organized into multiple layers. When you use the Plot tab to print a document with multiple layers, each visible layer will print, and the or- der of printing is from lowest layer first to highest layer last. -
Page 43: The Layers And Objects Panel
9.3.2 The Layers and Objects panel You can open the Layers and Objects panel by selecting from the menu: Layer > Layers and Objects... Create new layer View only layers* Move or delete layer (*In Inkscape 1.3, a new menu with Locked layer a “gear”... -
Page 44: The Layers Tab In Axidraw Control
9.3.3 The Layers tab in AxiDraw Control In addition to hiding and showing layers, you can select which layers to plot with the Layers tab of AxiDraw Control: The Layers tab has a single numeric input field, “Plot only layers beginning with:”. When you click Apply with this tab active, the AxiDraw will only plot layers with names that begin with the number entered in that field. -
Page 45: An Example With Multiple Colors
9.3.4 An example with multiple colors The set of layers shown in the Layers and Ob- jects panel here page corresponds to the exam- ple below: A birthday party invitation with six colors and six layers. We have used the layer numbering scheme from the previous section. -
Page 46: Multiple Copies From The Layers Tab
9.3.5 Multiple copies from the layers tab The Copies to Plot and Page Delay parameters in the Plot tab do apply when you plot from the Layers tab. That means that you can plot the same layer or set of layers multiple times, in the same fashion as plotting multiple copies from the Plot tab. -
Page 47: The Speed Tab
9.4 The Speed tab The Speed tab of AxiDraw Control lets you set the basic movement speeds for the AxiDraw. These include the speed limits and acceleration rates used for the horizontal (XY) carriage motion, as well as an option to disable acceleration. The Speed tab is one of several “sub tabs”... -
Page 48: Suggested Starting Speeds
§9.4, The speed tab, continued The Use constant speed when pen is down option, when checked, disables ac- celeration and moves the pen at a constant speed when it is down. That speed is controlled by the Writing/Drawing speed parameter above it. Constant speed mode will give neater performance for certain types of paths, but uses a lower overall speed scale. -
Page 49: The Pen Timing Tab
9.5 The Pen timing tab The Pen timing tab under Options has parameters that control the vertical mo- tion speed between the heights set in the Setup tab (page 33). As with the Speed tab, this is an options tab for which Apply has no effect. The pen raising and lowering speeds can each be selected from a drop-down menu, with options Maximum, Standard, Slow, Very slow, and Dead slow. -
Page 50: The Notifications Tab And Preview Mode
9.6 The Notifications tab and Preview mode The Notifications tab under Options has controls for rendering previews, report- ing real or estimated plot time, and sending online notifications. Like the Speed and Pen timing tabs, this is an options tab where the Apply button has no effect. 9.6.1 The Report time elapsed option When the Report time elapsed option is checked, a dialog box will report the elapsed time and pen-travel distance after each plot, or plot preview, finishes. - Page 51 To run a plot preview, enable the option and then press Apply on the Plot, Lay- ers, or Resume tab to initiate a plot as you normally would. Certain modes and commands that are primarily designed to communicate with the AxiDraw over USB —...
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Page 52: Working With Rendered Previews
9.6.3 Working with rendered previews You can use the Layers and Objects panel (from the Layer menu) to hide, show, or remove the preview layers. Each time that you render a new preview it will overwrite the old one. The pen-down drawing and pen-up drawing portions are rendered as separate sublayers within the Preview layer, so that you can hide one, the other, or both. -
Page 53: Webhook Alerts
9.7 Webhook alerts The Notifications tab under Options supports webhook alerts, a somewhat ad- vanced feature that can be used to provide mobile alerts (amongst other things) when a plot finishes. Once set up and enabled, the AxiDraw software can post to a specified URL when a plot completes. -
Page 54: Setting Up Webhooks With Ifttt
§9.7, Webhook alerts, continued To set up webhook alerts, enter the URL for the webhook in the Webhook URL field and then check the Post to webhook when a plot finishes check box. Webhook alerts are only generated when a plot ends, by completion or being paused, when all four of the following conditions are met: 1. -
Page 55: Advanced Options
9.8 Advanced options The Advanced tab under Options has additional options that control the behavior of plots. As with other tabs under Options, pressing the Apply button with the this tab selected has no effect. (This tab on its own does not initiate a plot, per- form plot optimizations, or any other action.) Auto-rotate page when printing (Default: on) Documents taller than wide (those in portrait orientation) are normally rotated... - Page 56 §9.8, Advanced options, continued As a demonstration of randomizing starts, examine the two figures below, each consisting of ten concentric circles and plotted with a red pen on the AxiDraw. Randomize starts: Off Randomize starts: On The circles on the left were plotted with the randomize starts option turned off, as is default.
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Page 57: Hidden-Line Removal
9.9 Hidden-line removal The Hidden-line removal option in the Advanced tab changes how documents are processed, such that objects hidden behind other objects will not print. By default, with this option disabled, the AxiDraw draws all paths in the SVG doc- ument. -
Page 58: Plot Order And Optimization
9.10 Plot order and optimization The Plot optimization option in the Advanced tab can re-order elements in your document to reduce pen-up travel, and thereby reduce total plotting time. 9.10.1 How plot order is determined Elements within a document are normally plotted in the same order in which they appear in the file. -
Page 59: Default: Least; Only Connect Adjoining Paths
The optimization routine is layer-aware: It will only re-order objects within layers. That makes it safe to use on multicolor plots where colors are separated by lay- ers. (See §9.3 Plotting with multiple layers and colors, on page 42.) Changes to the order of elements during Plot optimization feature are ephem- eral. -
Page 60: Example: Previews And Optimization
9.10.7 Example: Previews and optimization When managing complex plots, it may be helpful to use Preview mode (see §9.6.2 Preview mode and preview mode rendering, on page 50) with rendering of pen-up travel enabled and the Report time elapsed option, in order to preview what the plot order looks like and estimate the plotting time. - Page 61 The time report from this plot reads as follows: Estimated print time: 43:49 (Minutes, seconds) Length of path to draw: 16.258 m Pen-up travel distance: 253.032 m Total movement distance: 269.290 m This estimate took 1.841 Seconds As you can see by the numbers and the pen-up travel (shown in red), this plot is dominated by pen-up travel.
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Page 62: Example: Path Reversal
9.10.8 Example: Path reversal The path reversal option in Plot optimization can significantly improve perfor- mance in some circumstances. This example drawing has 22 slightly varying curves, each drawn in the same direction, from top to bottom: If we plot this with Preview mode and plot optimization set to Basic; Also reorder paths for speed, it neatly organizes the curves, and plots each of them in the original direction, top to bottom: As you can see from the amount of (red) pen-up travel, a significant amount of... -
Page 63: The Config Tab
9.11 The Config tab The Config tab under Options allows you to specify which model of AxiDraw hardware you are using, specify which particular AxiDraw to plot to (if you are managing multiple machines), and check for software updates. 9.11.1 Selecting your AxiDraw model Use the AxiDraw model drop-down menu to se- lect which AxiDraw model you are using to con- figure the travel limits for the AxiDraw hardware. -
Page 64: Pen-Lift Servo Option
9.11.2 Pen-lift servo option Use the Pen-lift servo drop down menu on the Config tab to select your pen-lift servo motor configuration, if other than standard for your AxiDraw model. If your AxiDraw has a Brushless pen-lift servo motor upgrade, select it from this menu to enable that option. -
Page 65: Check For Updates
If Use AxiDraw named below is selected, AxiDraw Control will only look for and drive a specific AxiDraw unit, as entered in the AxiDraw name or port entry box. Use this method when you have multiple AxiDraw machines and want to plot to a specific machine. -
Page 66: Manual Controls
9.12 Manual Controls The Manual tab of AxiDraw Control allows you to manually execute several basic and advanced commands and queries. Select the operation to perform from Command drop-down menu, and then click the Apply button. For certain com- mands, like the “walk” commands, you can also enter a distance. The individual manual command functions are detailed in the following sections. -
Page 67: Walk Home
The Home Corner is the X=0, Y=0 position, and positive moves in both X and Y are both in the directions away from the home corner. (0,0) Important note: no limit checking is performed on manual walk commands; Take care not to run the AxiDraw into its physical limits. If you are unsure, disable the motors and move the carriage Home by hand. -
Page 68: Enter Ebb Bootloader Mode
9.12.5 Enter EBB Bootloader Mode Command the EBB to enter “bootloader” mode. This utility mode is sometimes used in reprogramming the firmware. If you should accidentally enter this mode, disconnect the AxiDraw from both power and USB to reboot the AxiDraw. 9.12.6 Strip plotter data from file The AxiDraw software stores certain configuration data within your document. -
Page 69: Axidraw Utilities
10. AxiDraw Utilities In addition to AxiDraw Control, there are several additional utilities included with the AxiDraw software. Most can be found in the menu under Extensions > Axi- Draw Utilities. 10.1 AxiDraw Naming The AxiDraw Naming utility allows you to assign a USB nickname to a specific AxiDraw. -
Page 70: Read Axidraw Name
10.1.1 Read AxiDraw Name If you click Apply with the “Read AxiDraw Name” tab selected, it will search for all attached AxiDraw units and list them. AxiDraw machines will be listed by their USB nickname or by their USB port enumeration, if no nickname has been as- signed. -
Page 71: Disable Xy Motors
10.2 Disable XY Motors This is a single-purpose “shortcut” command that turns off power to the pair of motors that controls the XY position of the AxiDraw carriage. This motor power is off by default at power up. It is often useful to turn off power to the XY motors so that the carriage can be manually moved to the home corner, prior to plotting. - Page 72 There are three options available for how groups should be handled: • Reorder within groups • Preserve groups • Break apart groups The first option, Reorder within groups will re-order objects and groups within each layer of your document. Grouped objects will remain grouped. But, objects (and other groups) within any given group will be re-ordered.
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Page 73: Process Illustrator Svg
10.6 Process Illustrator SVG Adobe Illustrator users may notice two issues when working with SVG files im- ported from Illustrator into Inkscape. First, Inkscape does not automatically rec- ognize layers in Illustrator SVG files, and instead usually treats them as regular groups. - Page 74 In Illustrator, export your file with: File > Export > Export As... Then, select SVG format, and check the “Use Artboards” option when saving: The SVG Options window is displayed as part of the saving process. In it, select Presentation Attributes for styling, and Layer Names for Object IDs. Make sure that the Minify and Responsive options are not selected.
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Page 75: Plot Digest (Plob) Export
10.7 Plot Digest (Plob) Export The AxiDraw software includes an advanced feature to export a “Plot Digest” or Plob file. A Plob is a pared-down SVG file that the AxiDraw software “digests” the file into, after processing, including any randomization and optimization steps. A Plob file is this intermediate state of the document, saved just before plotting. -
Page 76: Designing For Axidraw
11. Designing for AxiDraw 11.1 General considerations The AxiDraw is a pen plotter, which is fundamentally a single function device. Its sole function is to guide a pen (or other implement in the pen holder) along the set of vector lines, curves, and paths that you ask it to follow. All other things that the machine is ultimately capable of –... -
Page 77: Templates
11.2 Templates When designing in Inkscape, it is recommended to create new documents by using a template, for example an A4 or US Letter sized document. You can cre- ate a basic document from a template by selecting File > New from Template, selecting Blank Page from the left-hand list and then select your page size and orientation. -
Page 78: Visualizing Paths In Your Document
11.3 Visualizing paths in your document When working with documents containing mixed object types or styles, it can be helpful to visualize all of the paths without their fills. This is especially helpful when Hidden-line removal is disabled. To see all of the paths in your document, select all in your drawing (From the menu: Edit >... -
Page 79: Fonts, Characters, And Languages
11.4 Fonts, characters, and languages The AxiDraw is designed to trace the vector paths that you provide to it. The document that you prepare may include any number and variety of different text and graphical elements, so long as they are converted to paths before you plot them. -
Page 80: About Outline Fonts
11.5 About outline fonts All standard computer fonts — those found in formats including TrueType, Post- Script, and OpenType — are outline fonts. In outline fonts, each character in the font file describes a vector outline shape, which will be filled in by tiny pixels when displayed on your screen or rendered by an inkjet or laser printer. -
Page 81: Handwriting-Like Output With Outline Fonts
11.5.1 Handwriting-like output with outline fonts When trying to achieve output close to that of natural handwriting, an “outlined” effect is generally not desirable. To mitigate it, pick handwriting-like fonts that have a thin and consistent stroke width. If a font is available in multiple weights, you’ll want to pick the lightest (thinnest) one available. -
Page 82: Stroke Fonts
11.6 Stroke fonts In addition to regular computer fonts (outline fonts), pen plotters like the Axi- Draw can in some cases make use of a second class of specialized fonts, called stroke fonts, or engraving fonts. In stroke fonts, each visible character is defined by strokes of non-zero width, as opposed to the area within an outline. -
Page 83: Hershey Text
11.7 Hershey Text Inkscape includes a special application that we developed called Hershey Text, which is capable of typesetting text in a small number of included stroke-based fonts. When you use Hershey Text, it takes editable text (that is, text that you type) and replaces it with rendered stroke-font text: a set of vector paths that the pen can follow. -
Page 84: Hershey Advanced And Axidraw Merge
In addition to rendering text, you can use the Utilities tab of Hershey Text to gen- erate a table of the single-stroke font faces that are available to use. A full user guide for Hershey Text is available at: https://wiki.evilmadscientist.com/hershey 11.8 Hershey Advanced and AxiDraw Merge Two commercial software tools are available at no added cost to AxiDraw own- ers. -
Page 85: Capturing Signatures And Handwriting
11.9 Capturing signatures and handwriting The best way to transform some handwritten text – whether a signature or a full page of text — into something that the AxiDraw can plot is to use direct hand - writing capture, or what you might refer to as “real-time” capture. In direct capture, you use your computer to record each stroke as it is written, and then save the resulting set of paths as a vector artwork file. -
Page 86: Filling Shapes And Text
11.11 Filling shapes and text The AxiDraw follows the actual vector paths in your documents, and thus nor- mally ignores any “fill” inside shapes, since fills do not consist of vector paths. A special utility is included with the AxiDraw software that can fill shapes with vector paths –... - Page 87 The “Connect nearby ends” option, enabled by default, connects the ends of the hatch lines to make long wiggling paths that plot very efficiently. An additional option is provided for insetting the fill from the edges. This helps to avoid “color- ing outside the lines”...
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Page 88: Vectorizing Images
11.12 Vectorizing images The process of turning images (JPG, PNG, photoshop files, etc) into vector art- work is generally outside the scope of the AxiDraw software. That said, how to do so is a frequently asked question so we are including some notes on the subject. The process of converting a photograph into a piece of pen-ready vector line art can most accurately be described by the word “sketching.”... - Page 89 The portrait above on the left is a stipple drawing, made with thousands of tiny circles of different sizes, as generated by StippleGen: http://wiki.evilmadscientist.com/stipplegen The portrait above on the right consists of a single wandering line. Plots like this can potentially print quickly because there is no pen up/pen down movement. This one was generated with an experimental program called ScribbleDraw, avail- able upon request: https://shop.evilmadscientist.com/contact...
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Page 90: Maintenance And Troubleshooting
12. Maintenance and troubleshooting AxiDraw V3 family plotters should not require any regular maintenance under normal conditions. 12.1 Troubleshooting plot area If you should find that the AxiDraw does not appear to have access to the full plotting area of the machine, double check that you have selected the correct model of AxiDraw in §9.11 The Config tab, on page 63. -
Page 91: Wiring
12.7 Wiring If your motor wires should become disconnected at some point, the correct wire order is as follows: Left motor: “Motor 2” locations, yellow, red, green, gray (from top to bottom). Right motor: Motor 1 (same order). Servo cable: B1 (lowest three pins on left hand side), with black wire towards the edge of the board. -
Page 92: Axidraw Tips And Tricks
13. AxiDraw Tips and Tricks It is often possible to get better print quality on top of a small stack of paper (say, 5-10 sheets) which gives a little cushion to your writing. 2. High quality paper – especially paper designed for use with pens – tends to give dramatically better results with pens than does cheap copy/laser paper. - Page 93 12. Inkscape has a keyboard shortcut, Alt-Q (Option-Q on Macs), which will ex- ecute the last Inkscape extension once again. This is frequently useful when repeating a command, such as making one additional copy of a plot, without having to open the AxiDraw Control panel again. 13.
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Page 94: Online Resources
Online Resources Extended online documentation & resources for AxiDraw: axidraw.com/docs Blog: www.evilmadscientist.com Store: shop.evilmadscientist.com Docs: wiki.evilmadscientist.com Chat: axidraw.com/chat Humans: shop.evilmadscientist.com/contact...
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