Editing Improving precision
Warning: You are not logged in. Your IP address will be publicly visible if you make any edits. If you log in or create an account, your edits will be attributed to your username, along with other benefits.
The edit can be undone.
Please check the comparison below to verify that this is what you want to do, and then save the changes below to finish undoing the edit.
Latest revision | Your text | ||
Line 19: | Line 19: | ||
'''Machine setup:''' | '''Machine setup:''' | ||
− | * ''' | + | * '''Check contact.''' The "egg" needs to make good contact with the egg-motor. There should not be any slippage between the two, or the egg will gradually work its way out. Even if there is not slippage, there can be apparent "backlash" (direction-dependent lag) when the egg-motor turns back and forth. It may help to clean and dry the "egg" and/or the polyurethane egg cup. For super-precision work you may want to experiment with different egg cup designs, or even screw down or glue your object to the egg-motor shaft. (See also [[Hacks]].) |
− | * '''Check | + | * '''Check for drag on the plunger.''' If the plunger is not able to turn easily, then it will provide drag to the "egg." If the tension is too high, the O-ring is rubbing on the back bushing, or the thin nylon washer is not present, there can be increased drag. |
− | |||
− | |||
− | |||
− | * ''' | + | * '''Reduce lateral play in the plunger.''' See Appendix B of the assembly instructions for hints on how to do this. |
− | |||
− | |||
* '''Use a smaller/shorter pen.''' The pen arm grips your pen very close to the bottom of the pen. While this generally gives better precision, gripping the pen below the center of mass means that there will be more sway, particularly when the pen has been lifted or is being lowered. | * '''Use a smaller/shorter pen.''' The pen arm grips your pen very close to the bottom of the pen. While this generally gives better precision, gripping the pen below the center of mass means that there will be more sway, particularly when the pen has been lifted or is being lowered. | ||
* '''Check for drag on the pen.''' The pen should only lightly touch the surface that it's drawing on. If you use a stiff hinge, or otherwise arrange things such that there's heavy downward force, it can create excess drag at the egg-pen interface. | * '''Check for drag on the pen.''' The pen should only lightly touch the surface that it's drawing on. If you use a stiff hinge, or otherwise arrange things such that there's heavy downward force, it can create excess drag at the egg-pen interface. | ||
− | |||
− | |||
'''Surfaces and Pens:''' | '''Surfaces and Pens:''' | ||
− | * '''Plot on a smooth surface.''' | + | * '''Plot on a smooth surface.''' No matter what you do, Egg-Bot will never produce good results on a tennis ball. Golf balls are okay, though. |
* '''Clean your medium before plotting.''' If you remove surface dust and oils before drawing, you'll get a sharper plot. In particular, certain types of pens will show fingerprints-- areas where the pen does not make as strong as a mark, where the object has been handled. | * '''Clean your medium before plotting.''' If you remove surface dust and oils before drawing, you'll get a sharper plot. In particular, certain types of pens will show fingerprints-- areas where the pen does not make as strong as a mark, where the object has been handled. | ||
Line 47: | Line 40: | ||
* '''Use finer point pens.''' The "ultra fine" Sharpie is not nearly as fine as pens come. Check out [[pen choices]] for hints about other types of pens that you may want to consider. | * '''Use finer point pens.''' The "ultra fine" Sharpie is not nearly as fine as pens come. Check out [[pen choices]] for hints about other types of pens that you may want to consider. | ||
− | + | * '''Warm your eggs up.''' Moisture may condense on cold eggs while plotting. Not only will this ruin your plot it may also damage your pens. Be sure to allow cold eggs time to warm up a bit before drawing on them. Placing them in lukewarm water is not only a good way to take the chill off of them, it also prepares them for cleaning. | |
− | |||
− | * '''Warm your eggs up.''' Moisture may condense on cold eggs while plotting. Not only will this ruin your plot it may also damage your pens. Be sure to allow cold eggs time to warm up a bit before drawing on them. Placing them in lukewarm water is not only a good way to take the chill off of them, it also prepares them for cleaning. | ||