Overview
Dead inkjet printers are packed with precision components: stepper motors, linear rails, timing belts, optical encoders, and sheet metal frames. Harvest them to build an XY plotter that draws on paper, whiteboards, or walls. Bigger travel range than the DVD drive Disc Drawer, and the components are free from any e-waste pile.
This build is the stepping stone to full CNC. Same principles, same firmware (GRBL), same G-code workflow — just larger scale. Graduate from this to a laser cutter, 3D printer, or router with the same knowledge base.
What You Bring
The kit includes the controller and pen carriage. You supply:
- Dead inkjet printer — any brand (HP, Canon, Epson — the bigger the printer, the bigger your plot area)
- Second dead printer (optional) — for the Y-axis if your first printer only yields one good axis
- Screwdriver set — for disassembly
- Pen or marker — Sharpie, gel pen, or any writing instrument that fits the holder
- Arduino Mega — for running GRBL/RAMPS firmware
What's Included in the BYOB Kit
- RAMPS 1.4 shield (GRBL pre-flashed)
- Two A4988 stepper motor drivers
- Pen lift servo (MG90S) with Z-axis mount
- Timing belt and idler pulley set (for Y-axis conversion)
- Pen carriage with spring-loaded holder (3D-printed)
- Complete source code, wiring diagrams, and setup documentation
What You Bring
The Full Send Kit includes all electronics and hardware. You supply:
- Dead inkjet printer — any brand (HP, Canon, Epson — the bigger the printer, the bigger your plot area)
- Second dead printer (optional) — for the Y-axis if your first printer only yields one good axis
- Screwdriver set — for disassembly
- Pen or marker — Sharpie, gel pen, or any writing instrument that fits the holder
What's Included in the Full Send Kit
- Arduino Mega — GRBL/RAMPS firmware pre-flashed
- RAMPS 1.4 shield (GRBL pre-flashed)
- Two A4988 stepper motor drivers
- Pen lift servo (MG90S) with Z-axis mount
- Timing belt and idler pulley set (for Y-axis conversion)
- Pen carriage with spring-loaded holder (3D-printed)
- Complete source code, wiring diagrams, and setup documentation
What You Bring
Plug in USB, send an SVG, and watch it plot on A4 paper. Full CNC plotter from a dead printer.
- Computer with USB port — for sending G-code
- Pen or marker — Sharpie included, bring extras for color work
What's Included — Ready to Use
- Fully assembled A4 plotter from salvaged inkjet printer
- Arduino Mega — GRBL/RAMPS firmware pre-flashed
- RAMPS 1.4 shield (GRBL pre-flashed)
- Two A4988 stepper motor drivers
- Pen lift servo (MG90S) with Z-axis mount
- Timing belt and idler pulley set (for Y-axis conversion)
- Pen carriage with spring-loaded holder (3D-printed)
- Complete source code, wiring diagrams, and setup documentation
Every Zero Shot unit is hand-assembled, firmware-loaded, sensor-calibrated, and QA tested before shipping. Premium boxed packaging included.
The Build
Harvest the linear motion components from a dead printer, reassemble them into an XY gantry, add a pen carriage, and control with GRBL. Same workflow as the Disc Drawer but with 10x the plot area.
Harvest Printer Components
Disassemble the printer and extract: the carriage rail and belt assembly (X-axis), the paper feed stepper motor and rollers (Y-axis candidate), any additional stepper motors, and the linear rod/rail. Keep the timing belts and pulleys — you'll reuse them.
The carriage rail from an inkjet printer gives you 200-400mm of X-axis travel. The paper feed mechanism provides the Y-axis. If the paper feed uses a DC motor instead of a stepper, harvest a stepper from a second printer.
Build the Frame
Mount the X-axis rail on a flat base (plywood or MDF). Build the Y-axis perpendicular to X using the paper feed mechanism or a second printer's carriage rail. The pen carriage mounts on the X-axis slider. If building from two separate printer mechanisms, the timing belt and idler set from the kit bridges the gap.
Wire the Electronics
Connect both stepper motors to the A4988 drivers on the RAMPS shield. Wire the pen lift servo to the Z-axis output. Mount the Arduino Mega and RAMPS board on the base frame, away from moving parts.
// GRBL configuration for printer stepper specs $100 = 80.0 ; X steps/mm (adjust to your motor/belt) $101 = 80.0 ; Y steps/mm $110 = 3000.0 ; X max rate mm/min $111 = 3000.0 ; Y max rate mm/min // ... full config in project files
Calibrate and Test
Run the calibration routine: command known distances, measure actual movement, adjust steps-per-mm. Draw a test grid to verify squareness — if your X and Y axes aren't perfectly perpendicular, circles will come out as ellipses. Adjust the frame until the grid is square.
Plot Artwork
Convert SVG files to G-code using Inkscape's GCodeTools extension. Send to the plotter via Universal G-Code Sender. Start with simple line art and text. Graduate to complex illustrations, generative art patterns, or handwriting fonts. The project files include several ready-to-plot designs.
Project Files — Included with BYOB Kit
Complete source code, wiring diagrams, and documentation. Enter your kit code to unlock.
Don't have a code? Get the kit — code included in every box.