Desenvolvimento de protótipo de plotter com comando numérico computadorizado de baixo custo e pequeno porte

Abstract

Access to technology has become increasingly accessible due to the growth of the DIY movement (Do It Yourself), driven mainly by the dissemination of Arduino, with the development and sharing of open and free software. This creates many possibilities for projects with satisfactory results in several areas, such as low-cost CNC (Computerized Numerical Control) machines with the integration of open software and reused components. In the present work, a CNC plotter prototype was designed with DVD drivers controlled by an Arduino board, with an algorithm that sends commands to the actuators to execute the movements desired. The prototype was built reusing the mechanisms with motors and linear guides within the drivers to make the plotter move. These moves will be controlled by the Arduino, integrated in a program capable of reading a G code, interpreting it and transmitting it as a command to the drivers. the prototype built is small enough to be used on a common office desk along with a computer and power supply, with the cost of purchasing parts about 25% of a minimum wage if none can be reused from old computers or previously in possession. The prototype was evaluated for its capacity and performance in short and long term printing through statistical indices for a tolerance of ±0.5mm. In the short term, it met the established criteria for precision, but did not achieve the same performance for accuracy. In the long run, however, it showed variation making the process unpredictable, requiring adjustments after a day without use. Even with these results the impressions are all readable and able to deliver many details. The prototype can be expanded into a new CNC machine as it has all the programming base and mechanisms already defined. In this expansion, it is suggested the investigation of the causes of variation in the printing process of the prototype and use of more sophisticated resources supplied by the department to build a more robust machine.