The Smell of Molten Projects in the Morning

Ed Nisley's Blog: Shop notes, electronics, firmware, machinery, 3D printing, laser cuttery, and curiosities. Contents: 100% human thinking, 0% AI slop.

The New Hotness

  • CNC 3018XL: Pen Variations

    Cheap 1 mm pens produce scratchy lines:

    CNC 3018 - Cheap pen - plain paper
    CNC 3018 – Cheap pen – plain paper

    More expensive 0.5 mm Pilot Precise V5RT pens produce well-filled lines:

    CNC 3018 - Pilot V5RT - plain paper
    CNC 3018 – Pilot V5RT – plain paper

    Both of those are on plain paper. Better paper would surely improve the results, while moving the cheap pen further into sow’s ear territory.

    For reference, the cheap pens use a collet holder:

    CNC3018 - Collet pen holder - assembled
    CNC3018 – Collet pen holder – assembled

    The Pilot V5RT pens use a custom holder:

    Pilot V5RT holder - installed
    Pilot V5RT holder – installed

    A 3D printer really simplifies making things!