Nimrod & the XY Plotter

I set out to built a plotter that could draw vector images of the Gutenberg 42-Line Bible, in honor of Marshall McLuhan's 100th birthday. I include this project here to highlight another machine: a MakerBot Thing-O-Matic named Nimrod. It’s a 3D printer.

Nimrod allows me to print things I can't purchase anywhere, like a part that connects a given motor to two rods. This is useful in the world of electromechanics, where components are highly variable, and costly to replace. There is a steep learning curve to 3D printing and many frustrations, but it's exactly the technology I needed to take the next step in my work. It's also been a gold standard for linear motion with timing belts.

My favorite thing about this XY Plotter prototype is how the colors of plastic hold its history. I'd only change spools when they were expended, and only print new parts when they were redesigned. The next iteration will scrap everything to make way for gear trains.