2 layers40 × 20 mm
2 layers84 × 47.5 mm
Drawbot
EwoudVV/drawbot2A 0.5x0.5 meter drawing machine I made for Hack Club Highway
- Size
- 84 × 47.5 mm
- Copper layers
- 2
- Thickness
- 1.6 mm
- Parts
- 13
- Nets
- 40
- Pads
- 89
- Tracks, vias
- 161, 1
- Routed
- Yes
- KiCad
- KiCad 7 (file 20221018)
- Created
- 18 May 2025
- Updated
- 12 Aug 2026
Overview
Drawbot is an open-source printed circuit board by EwoudVV, from the EwoudVV/drawbot repository on GitHub, published under the MIT licence. It is a 2-layer board of 84 × 47.5 mm with 13 parts on 40 nets, routed with 161 tracks and 1 via.
Its parts include 7 connectors and 3 capacitors. It belongs with the AVR (ATmega, ATtiny) boards of this library.
README
README.mdDrawbot
Design: https://www.tinkercad.com/things/kSLyTMIcY53-drawbot
- Made for Hack Club Highway
- This project is a 0.5 meter square drawing machine that I designed to be as fast and cheap as possible.
- I made this project because I wanted to learn more about designing and using mechanisms, like the CoreXY belt design I used and the scotch-yoke mechanism used to lift the pen. I also wanted something functional, that I would use.
Pictures
Bill Of Materials
| Part | Qty | Price | Desc | Notes | Link |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arduino | 1 | $29.30 | Uno R3 | not going to buy | http://store.arduino.cc/collections/boards-modules/products/arduino-uno-rev3 |
| Pen | 60 | $7.99 | Bic Round Stic | not going to buy | https://us.bic.com/en_us/bic-round-stic-xtra-life-ball-point-pen-black-60-pack.html |
| 500mm Aluminium Extrusion | 4 | $25.99 | 500m V-slot aluminum extrusions | They come with extra accessories like connectors | https://www.amazon.com/Seekliny-Aluminum-Extrusion-V-Slotted-Accessories/dp/B0DY7FKXZ9/ |
| Linear Motion Rod Shaft | 2 | $29.99 | Linear shaft for the toolhead to move on | Comes with bearings for the toolhead | https://www.amazon.com/uxcell-Bearing-Support-Automated-Machines/dp/B0CK4Z3M15 |
| Stepper Motor Nema 17 | 2 | $25.99 | Motors to drive the gantry | High torque and high speed | https://www.amazon.com/Stepper-Motor-Bipolar-64oz-Printer/dp/B00PNEQI7W |
| Timing Belt | 1 | $14.99 | 5m belt | Extra accessories included like driver and idler wheels and belt clamps and tensioners | https://www.amazon.com/KeeYees-Timing-Tensioner-Torsion-Printer/dp/B07JKT5BZQ |
| Stepper Motor Driver Module | 2 | $7.59 | Stepper motor drivers | https://www.amazon.com/Stepper-Printer-StepStick-Envistia-Mall/dp/B07QT7N3T2 | |
| Servo | 1 | $2.99 | Fast servo that has metal gears and is small | https://speedyfpv.com/products/mg90d-metal-digital-servo-new?variant=45194443030742 | |
| Limit switches | 2 | $5.56 | SS-5GL02 | For homing the toolhead | https://www.digikey.com/en/products/detail/omron-electronics-inc-emc-div/SS-5GL02/3102937 |
| Roller plate | 2 | $11.97 | Roller plates for attachment on the aluminum extrusions | Adjustable | https://www.amazon.com/QWORK-V-Wheel-Aluminum-Profile-Printer/dp/B0CHRYLV1V |
| Belt idler wheels | 5 | $7.99 | Idler wheels for when the belt turns | 4 extra are needed | https://www.amazon.com/Timing-Belt-Idler-Pulley-Printer/dp/B0BSPCHTD3 |
| SUBTOTAL: $133.06 | no extras | ||||
| TOTAL: $141.38 | no extras and tax | assumes MA sales tax | |||
| GRAND TOTAL: $170.35 | extras | ||||
| GRAND GRAND TOTAL: $181.00 | extras and tax | assumes MA sales tax |
Alternate BOM
Software and documentation
- The machine runs a custom Uno R4 WiFi + CNC Shield V3.00 firmware in
code/drawbot_r4/(compile, upload, and command docs in its README). - The machine is commissioned and drawing: scale verified, pen calibrated, and a 35-minute endurance run completed with zero errors. Because the bottom (Y-) limit switch is defective, the machine operates with manual homing (
M50 X0 Y0after parking at the corner);G28will not complete until that switch is replaced. - Full operational history and debug findings live in
docs/HANDOFF_V2.md(supersedesdocs/HANDOFF.md). Wiring and commissioning guides are incode/drawbot_r4/docs/. - Presentation workflow: park at the corner,
M50 X0 Y0, thenpython3 code/drawbot_r4/tools/stream_gcode.py --ble code/drawbot_r4/examples/stress_30min.gcode. Generate new hatch patterns withtools/gen_stress_pattern.py --paper WxH.
Parts
13| Qty | Value | Footprint | References |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | 100uF | Capacitor_THT:CP_Radial_D6.3mm_P2.50mm | C2, C3 |
| 1 | 1000uF | Capacitor_THT:CP_Radial_D10.0mm_P5.00mm | C1 |
| 1 | Arduino_Nano_v2.x | Module:Arduino_Nano | A4 |
| 1 | Buck Convertor | Connector_PinHeader_2.54mm:PinHeader_1x04_P2.54mm_Vertical | J5 |
| 1 | Limit Switch 1 | Connector_PinHeader_2.54mm:PinHeader_1x02_P2.54mm_Vertical | J1 |
| 1 | Limit Switch 2 | Connector_PinHeader_2.54mm:PinHeader_1x02_P2.54mm_Vertical | J2 |
| 1 | Screw Terminal | TerminalBlock:TerminalBlock_bornier-2_P5.08mm | J7 |
| 1 | Servo | Connector_PinHeader_2.54mm:PinHeader_1x03_P2.54mm_Vertical | J6 |
| 1 | Stepper 1 | Connector_PinHeader_2.54mm:PinHeader_1x04_P2.54mm_Vertical | J3 |
| 1 | Stepper 2 | Connector_PinHeader_2.54mm:PinHeader_1x04_P2.54mm_Vertical | J4 |
| 1 | Stepper Driver 1 | Module:Pololu_Breakout-16_15.2x20.3mm | A1 |
| 1 | Stepper Driver 2 | Module:Pololu_Breakout-16_15.2x20.3mm | A3 |
Questions
How big is the Drawbot PCB?
It measures 84 × 47.5 mm and has 2 copper layers, 1.6 mm thick.
What parts does the Drawbot use?
13 parts. The full list of its parts is on this page, with links to each part's symbol and footprint where PCBKit's library has them.
Where can I download the Drawbot KiCad files?
From the EwoudVV/drawbot repository on GitHub, at the commit this page was made from: the board is files/production/drawbot_pcb/drawbot.kicad_pcb and its schematic files/production/drawbot_pcb/drawbot.kicad_sch. PCBKit opens the board in the browser, with nothing to install.
Can I use the Drawbot design in my own project?
Its repository publishes it under the MIT licence: you may reuse it on that licence's terms (keep the author's notice, and for a copyleft licence share your changes alike).
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