Of course, servos aren’t usually what you use in a plotter. But the slides convert the rotation of the servo into linear motion. One servo for X and one for Y is all you need.

How Does a Plotter Printer Work?. Computer plotters are a type of output device commonly used for computer-aided design applications, to output large vector designs such as architectural blueprints.

Other design choices have worked for the plotter, but don’t look like they will work well for the eventual CNC design. As an example, the plotter uses 2020 extrusions and lead screws.

Plotter software includes Adobe Illustrator, Corel, Flexi and CAD, while software for format printers includes Photoshop and any other image-editing program. Advertisement.

Being only ten at the time I was unable to build the thing and, now that I’m 40, I still can’t fathom how to build this DIY CNC plotter out of a DVD player and some Arduino gear.