A Creative Marvel: iDraw Pen Plotter 2.0 Review 

Over the past couple of months, I've had the pleasure of immersing myself in the captivating world of the iDraw Pen Plotter 2.0 - an A3 Size Handwriting Machine/XY Plotter/Laser Engraver that has truly exceeded my expectations. As an avid enthusiast of generative and algorithmic art, I had dedicated a significant amount of time to researching pen plotters before finally taking the plunge with the iDraw, and I'm eager to share my extensive thoughts on this remarkable device.

My journey into the realm of pen plotters began with a deep curiosity for this unique medium. I had contemplated building my own plotter from scratch, envisioning the endless possibilities it could offer in the realm of artistic expression. However, the prospect of a DIY project, with all its complexities and uncertainties, soon began to feel daunting. I yearned for a more efficient solution that would allow me to dive straight into my creative pursuits without the hassle of assembly and troubleshooting.

In my quest for the perfect pen plotter, the Axidraw had been a recurring name, accompanied by a chorus of positive reviews and recommendations from fellow artists. It seemed like an ideal choice for its precise plotting capabilities and versatility. However, as I delved deeper into my research, a lucky discovery led me down an unexpected path: the iDraw. This intriguing alternative boasted not only comparable performance but also an appealing advantage—it promised to be faster and more budget-friendly than its renowned counterpart.

Before making the decision to invest in the iDraw, I had voraciously consumed countless articles, forum discussions, and user testimonials about pen plotters. Each piece of information added to my growing fascination with this unique art form and its potential to bring my artistic visions to life in stunning detail. It became clear to me that the iDraw was not just an impulse purchase; it was a deliberate choice informed by extensive research and a genuine passion for generative and algorithmic art.

Now, after several months of using the iDraw Pen Plotter 2.0, I can confidently say that it has been an incredibly rewarding experience. In the following sections, I will provide an in-depth review of the iDraw, covering its performance, ease of use, design, and the creative possibilities it has unlocked for me. This pen plotter has proven to be a worthy companion on my artistic journey, and I can't wait to share the intricate details of my exploration with this remarkable device.

Effortless Setup

Setting up the pen plotter was a breeze, thanks to the comprehensive setup video provided by iDraw on YouTube. I chose to use various types of pens with it which are easy to clamp, although it's worth noting that you can also purchase a laser engraving head separately. However, I prefer to reserve laser work for the lab.

Swift International Delivery

I was pleasantly surprised when the iDraw Pen Plotter arrived in just a week, shipped internationally for free from China to the UK. I opted for the A3 size, which fits perfectly on my desk. The box isn't too big and weighs just under 4kg, it is packed safely so that no parts move around as seen in the following image. It is worth noting that the axidraw seems to be a bit heftier.

Flexible Connectivity

 Connecting the pen plotter to your computer is a straightforward process, offering both USB and Bluetooth options. Personally, I found the provided cable to be quicker and more reliable. The penplotter comes with a power supply cable and a USB cable.

Software Compatibility and Setup

The device operates seamlessly with Inkscape 1.2.1, which is the software used for handling SVG files or LaserGRB. This took less than 5 minutes to get running and the steps are as follow:

1- Install Inkscape 1.2.1

2- Once inkscape is installed you'll have to install  the iDraw 2.0 Extension zip file

3- Unzip the file and copy it on to a folder.

4- Copy the contents of the folder.

5- Open Inkscape, here you'll want to click Edit>Preferences>System.

6- At this point you'll want to open the User extensions and paste the contents of the previous folder here.

7- Save your changes and restart Inkscape. The iDraw extension will now be visible as seen below:

Customization and Speed

 The software offers extensive customization options. In most cases, a maximum pen speed of 12,000mm/min proved precise enough. A pen height down value of 7mm and a pen up value of 0.3mm ensured proper contact with the paper, provided the pen's tip was positioned just above the two stacked magnets provided. When setting up one must ensure that the dimensions on inkscape match the dimensions on paper, furthermore the plotter needs to be calibrated before each use by manually placing the tip of a clamped pen, on the corner of the paper. This will be the starting point of the plotter and must not be moved until the plot is complete. One must also take into account systematic errors such as parallax error. Parallax error  is the displacement caused in the apparent position of the pen due to the observers position, in other words you must check along both axis to make sure that the starting point really is at the corner of the sheet of paper or material being used.

Surprising Performance:

I must admit, I was initially sceptical about the company, considering its website presentation and low social media following. However, my iDraw Pen Plotter proved to be worth every penny. I conducted numerous tests to assess its precision, and it lived up to iDraw's claims with a mechanical precision of 0.01 mm for both the X and Y axes. The company claims to be at least twice as fast as it competitor Axidraw, which I wasn't able to test as I don't own this but there are useful resources out there comparing both. The iDraw features a stepper motor with a capacity of over 100,000 words and is at least 10 times more durable than Axidraw's. I like the fact the plotter only has an ON/OFF button and a pause button (which may be programmed to do different actions). I found the 12000 mm/min drawing speed suitable enough even for high precision drawings.

Pens, Precision and Multi-Coloured plots

Clamping pens onto the plotter is straightforward.  You can adjust the pen's angle between 70-90 degrees to the paper surface, which is handy for various pen types, including fountain pens. The penplotter has a very well designed Z motor that will push the pen up and down and the clamp has 2 springs that ensure the pen will always exert the same pressure on the piece of paper.

When working with different pen colours, I recommend using a Vernier calliper to measure pen thicknesses or sticking to pens of the same thickness to maintain consistency. This is a minor error such that using different thickness pens the user might have to offset the starting position manually or within Inkscape so that different colours align correctly.

User-Friendly Software:

The plotter features a pause button and the software has a resume function, allowing you to continue interrupted drawings or return the pen to its initial position. However, it's important to note that the software and plotter do not automatically determine X-Y coordinates. You're responsible for ensuring that the pen starts at the corner of the paper, which doesn't necessarily have to be at the edge of the magnetic plate.

Cross-Platform Compatibility: 

The iDraw Pen Plotter is compatible with Windows, Mac, and Linux. The only limitation I encountered was the speed of my aging computer when processing vector files or vectorising images to plot.

Things to consider

There's only a couple of drawbacks regarding the penplotter which I must address to make a truthful review. 1- The thing that would bother me the most when I started using the plotter was the fact tha the software is unaware of the starting coordinates of the pen.

2- I also found that the pause button isn't always as responsive as I'd like to. 

3- When working with different overlapping colours you must make sure to never ever move the position of the plotter or the paper, I did this a couple of times out of beginner excitement and was unable to recalibrate and align the following drawings.

4-Less is more; when working with high line densities on drawingbot one should take into account the oversaturation of the paper as depending on the type of ink, after 3-4 layers I tend to find that my not so thick paper would get quite saturated.

5- Finally, my only design complaint is the awkwardly placed hanging cable that connects the motherboard with the Z and Y motors. I find that naturally the cable moves touching the basement plate and the sheet of paper which might be a small convenience issue for those working with smudgy inks.

Limitless Creativity: 

This pen plotter opens up endless creative possibilities. To get started, I recommend using the DrawingBotV3 software to vectorize images. While it offers both free and premium versions, I found the premium version to be well worth the investment. It allowed me to import images, select colors, and fine-tune settings like line density, line length, luminosity, clarity, resolution, and edge.