4xiDraw V1 / A4 Drawing Machine

Introducing the 4xiDraw V1

The 4xiDraw is a simple, modern, precise, and versatile pen plotter, capable of writing or drawing on almost any flat surface. It can write with your favorite fountain pens, permanent markers, and other writing implements to handle an endless variety of applications. Its unique design features a writing head that extends beyond the machine, making it possible to draw on objects bigger than the machine itself.

 

Applications:

The 4xiDraw is an extremely versatile machine, designed to serve a wide variety of everyday and specialized drawing and writing needs. You can use it for almost any task that might normally be carried out with a handheld pen. It allows you to use your computer to produce writing that appears to be handmade, complete with the unmistakable appearance of using a real pen (as opposed to an inkjet or laser printer) to address an envelope or sign one’s name. And it does so with precision approaching that of a skilled artist, and — just as importantly — using an arm that never gets tired.

4xiDraw is used by a genuinely diverse range of people, including (to name a few):

Handling pens and paper:

The XY travel (printable area) of the 4xiDraw is just over US letter (8 1/2 × 11″) and A4 (297 × 210 mm) paper sizes. It can work with any paper up to and including that size, including envelopes and note cards. The 4xiDraw comes with a mounting easel (board with clips) that can be used for holding paper, cards, and envelopes of various sizes. However, its unique design features a drawing head that extends beyond the body of the machine, making it possible to also draw on flat objects bigger than the machine itself. For example, you can set it right on top of a box to write an address or add decorations. You can even set it on top of a poster board, chalkboard, or whiteboard to draw graphics in place. The pen holder fits a wide variety of pens, including Sharpie fine and ultra-fine point markers, most rollerball and fountain pens, small-bodied whiteboard markers, and so forth. It can even hold a fountain pen at a proper angle of 45° to the paper. You can also use implements that aren’t pens, such as pencils, chalk, charcoal, brushes, and many others. However, you’ll get the best results with instruments such as fountain pens and rollerball pens, which do not require the user to apply pressure.

Getting Started

The 4xiDraw comes fully assembled, tested, and ready to use, right out of the box. A universal-input plug-in power supply is included with the 4xiDraw, as is a USB cable, and an optional paper-holding easel. Assuming that you’ve installed the software first, you can be up and plotting within minutes of opening the box. To operate 4xiDraw, you will need a reasonably modern computer with an available USB port (Mac, Windows or Linux), plus internet access to download necessary software. Pens and paper are not included. (You can use your own! 4xiDraw does not require proprietary pens or paper.) 4xiDraw is normally controlled through a set of extensions to Inkscape, the excellent, popular and free vector graphics program. Basic operation is much like that of a printer driver: you import or make a drawing in Inkscape, and use the extensions to plot your text or artwork. It’s all handled through a straightforward graphical user interface, and works cleanly on Mac, Windows and Linux. Additional software interfaces available to 4xiDraw owners include 4xiDraw Merge (beta), for auto-populating documents with data sourced from a CSV spreadsheet file.

More about 4xiDraw

4xiDraw V1 is the first-generation version of the 4xiDraw, redesigned from the ground up for high performance. It features smooth rolling wheels on custom aluminum extrusions, specially designed for high stiffness and light weight. Its sturdy, rigid construction gives it finer quality output and in most applications allows it to operate with significantly higher precision and speed than competing and previous generation machines. Inspired by and source code from AxiDraw AxiDraw is a project by Evil Mad Scientist Laboratories.

4xiDraw V1 is a clone of the famous Axidraw. It’s a plotter to draw. Used an “Arduino Nano” control card and a “CNC Shield” card. Using the “Inkscape” vector graphics program along with a special “plug in”, you can create several G-Code files, starting with a drawing. Universal G-code Sender (Java) will do the rest. __________________________________________________________

For more details, you can find all the information on Misan’s Instructables page: http://www.instructables.com/id/4xiDraw/__________________________________________________________

4xiDraw machines are designed and manufactured by Zalophus’s DesignHouse, with both foreign and domestic components. 4xiDraw comes with lifetime technical support. We stand by our machines, and we’re here to help whenever you need it.

What comes with the machine:

Additional specifications: