Plotting with the Prusa MK3S+

Printing Cubic Cityscape #1 with a MUJI gel pen.

Hardware

• Prusa MK3S+
• Pen Plotter Attachment - this is a great design, easy to switch pens, calibration tool for consistent z-height, mount does not interfere with regular printing

Software

• Affinity Designer (can probably use Inkscape too)
• python 3
• pip install vpype
• pip install vpype-gcode

Calibrate

Calibrating

Workflow

1. Layout the SVG
   1. Open the SVG in Affinity Designer -> select all -> copy
   2. Affinity Designer -> New -> Print
   • width/height: yuor plottable area (e.g. 207 x 172 mm)
     • units: millimeters
     • dpi: 96 (vpype assumes 96 dpi)
   3. Paste the SVG
   4. If modifying the SVG or have multiple object, group the vector layers together (Layer toolbox -> select all -> right-click Group). vpype will optimize paths within a layer.
   5. Export -> SVG
   • Use DPI: 96 (under More)
     • Flatten Transforms checked (under More)
     • Export Text as Curves checked (under More)
     • Set Viewbox (under More)
2. ./plot.sh myfile.svg
3. Print
   1. Place paper on smooth sheet
   2. Secure with magnets, tape or binder clips
      • Place these on the front, right edge (on the Prusa logo) and on the back left edge
      • If you are using something short to secure, you can get away with anywhere along top & bottom edges
   3. Print myfile.gcode