Update README.md

penplotting/README.md

@@ -1,15 +1,80 @@
-# Document experiments with pen plotting
+# Pen plotter uunatek idraw on Linux
 
-## resources
+We have a pen plotter UUNA TEK ([uunatek.com](https://uunatek.com/)), iDraw A3 pen plotter. We want to use it on Linux. Here are some notes.
 
-idraw on github: https://github.com/UUNATEK/iDraw-Pen-Plotter
+## General design
 
-idraw docs and software: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1NlCBw1kUjKMBFF7N0A6ynWSa8dYMOfuo
+The pen plotter is connected to the Linux machine via USB, with a serial protocol.
+It uses a language called [g-code](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/G-code).
 
-idraw review @ generativehut: https://www.generativehut.com/post/reviewing-the-idraw-pen-plotter, by [Pierre Paslier](https://www.linkedin.com/in/pierrepaslier/?originalSubdomain=uk)
+The pen plotter motherboard is called DrawCore, the firmware is based on [grbl](https://github.com/grbl/grbl).
 
-axidraw user manual: https://wiki.evilmadscientist.com/AxiDraw_User_Guide
+## Configuration
 
-inkscape and axidraw: https://wiki.evilmadscientist.com/Axidraw_Software_Installation
+Identify the USB device that is automatically created when you plug in the USB cable.
 
-processing and axidraw: https://www.generativehut.com/post/axidraw-processing
+```
+$ ls -l /dev/ttyACM0 # this what I have on my Debian/Ubuntu machine 
+$ ls -l /dev/ttyUSB0 
+```
+
+Make sure you are the appropriate Unix group (`dialout` for me).
+
+Install `tio`: `apt install tio`
+
+To get the version:
+
+```
+$ tio -e /dev/ttyACM0
+[tio 16:15:29] tio v1.32
+[tio 16:15:29] Press ctrl-t q to quit
+[tio 16:15:29] Connected
+
+Grbl 1.1h DrawCore V2.09 ['$' for help]
+```
+
+
+
+## Drawing
+
+### With raw GCODE and serial communication 
+
+From doc at <https://github.com/gamk67/idraw2linux/blob/925073a5b550bf1b0b20225f7e604967682c622d/README.md>
+
+Drawing a square with `tio`:
+
+```
+G00 X0 Y100
+G00 X100 Y100
+G00 X100 Y0
+G00 X0 Y0
+```
+
+
+
+##   Notes
+
+* One may do string art: <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ymWi15rvTvM>
+
+* iDraw is not compatible with axidraw software. It does not use the [EBB (EiBotBoard) Command Set](https://evil-mad.github.io/EggBot/ebb.html) (may be it does, because [this page](https://uunatek.com/product/idraw-handwriting-drawing-machine/) says "EBBV2.3 Compatible"). [axidraw user manual](https://wiki.evilmadscientist.com/AxiDraw_User_Guide) [inkscape and axidraw]( https://wiki.evilmadscientist.com/Axidraw_Software_Installation)
+
+## Links:
+
+* general idraw:
+  * uunatek doc, see <https://github.com/UUNATEK/iDraw-Pen-Plotter>
+  * idraw docs and software: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1NlCBw1kUjKMBFF7N0A6ynWSa8dYMOfuo
+  * [idraw review @ generativehut](https://www.generativehut.com/post/reviewing-the-idraw-pen-plotter), by [Pierre Paslier](https://www.linkedin.com/in/pierrepaslier/?originalSubdomain=uk)
+  * Review at generativehut <https://www.generativehut.com/post/reviewing-the-idraw-pen-plotter>
+* low level gcode
+  * [Gcmc](https://www.vagrearg.org/content/gcmc) is a front-end domain-specific language for generating G-code
+  * [gcode-cli](https://github.com/hzeller/gcode-cli) command line tool to send gcode to serial pen plotter
+  * [Juicy-GCode](https://github.com/domoszlai/juicy-gcode) is a command-line application that converts SVG files to GCode
+  * [v-plotter](https://github.com/domoszlai/v-plotter): A pen plotter simulator
+  * [inkscape-grbl](https://github.com/mahtDFR/inkscape-grbl) save Inkscape drawings as G-Code files 
+* drawing tools
+  * [vsketch](https://github.com/abey79/vsketch) is a Python generative art toolkit for plotters (API inspired from Processing)
+  * [vpype](https://pypi.org/project/vpype/) is the Swiss-Army-knife generative art command-line tool for plotter vector graphics and [vpype-gcode](https://github.com/tatarize/vpype-gcode/)
+* other
+  * [The fascination of pen plotting, handwriting and spirals](https://www.fxhash.xyz/article/the-fascination-of-pen-plotting-handwriting-and-spirals)
+  * Awesome plotter resources <https://github.com/beardicus/awesome-plotters>
+  * [DrawingBotV3](https://github.com/SonarSonic/DrawingBotV3) is a software for converting images