Pen Plotters

[hop-frog]

I am looking for a way to print drawings from my computer onto thin sheets of wood (no thicker than 1/4" and most often 1/8" thick) and perhaps plastic sheets as well. I have to make lots of guidelines for cutting the pieces out with a jig saw and dremel tools. I will be cutting out hundreds of different shapes, each carefully calculated, so the cost and time involved in setting up such a device would be well worth it. This must be very accurate and precise.

I believe a pen plotter would accomplish this task, although I am not very familiar with their operation. Most web searches bring back plotters that print paper that is fed through a roller, but this certainly would not work on flat pieces of wood. A kind I have seen occasionally on Ebay have holders for markers that move around the page and they draw onto a flat surface. If the friction created by the wood is too much, I could put a piece of carbon under the pens.

Does anyone see any problems with my plan? Would they even be compatible with Linux or Windows?

Thanks.

[bs_texas]

I would think that many engineering companies use Unix and plotters, so there's probably software out there that would drive a plotter via linux.

And, there may be special drawing heads(pens) that draw onto coarse surfaces. I would check with the plotter company, once I found a plotter that seemed like it might work.

Good luck with that. Sounds like an interesting endeavor.

Just my two cents worth.

Check this out:
http://www.novamaxinternational.com/ZUND%20Company.mpg

[soulestream]

you might also look for equipment that will print of fabric/leather that may also work.



soule