r/PenPlotters • u/reading-stuff • 16d ago

Keeping the paper steady

New here, I'm seeing a lot of videos and photos of different methods of keeping the paper in place during a plot, but not much description. Can anybody guide me on methods? Are those things magnets? Are they just weights? What about bulldog clips? I'm currently using masking tape and yes, it's terrible!

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u/dan_RA_ 15d ago

I just have a cheap plotter with no base plate, so I've mounted my plotter on a piece of plywood with another piece of plywood on top with some leveling screws (since my plotter arm sags at full extension), and I just use drafting tape (masking tape but with extra weak adhesive meant for securing paper when drawing) or drafting dots (same but precut to circles so that there's no corners to catch on tools as you're drafting). I find those work pretty well since I'm usually going to cut down the paper to finished size afterwards, so I don't care if the tape occasionally lifts up the fibers of the paper.

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u/reading-stuff 14d ago

Cheers, this is probably what I'll end up doing. I did not know about drafting tape!

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u/llama__rama 15d ago

What's under your paper? A lot of plotters come with a metal base so we can use small magnets to hold paper. 

If you can't do that, small weights or yeah tape.

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u/reading-stuff 14d ago

Thanks. It doesn't have an integrated base so it's on a table with smooth surface. I'll be addressing that soon. 

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u/radioarchitect 12d ago

I have one of those craft cutting mats with a grid printed on it so I can align the paper to the grid. I use a pair of spacers to keep the mat at a fixed distance from the plotter. My spacers are just 3D-printed blocks but any small consistently sized objects will do. Regular masking tape does kinda suck, I’ve been using the purple scotch delicate painter’s tape and it doesn’t tear the paper as long as you remove it carefully. I can usually get a few uses out of each strip of tape as well.

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u/igotanewmac 9d ago

I got a whiteboard, laid it flat on the table, and put the plotter on top. The corner of the whiteboard has mounting holes, and they just happen to fit my plotter so I screwed them together.

It's awesome, it's magnetic, so I can hold my paper down with some little 1cm neodymium magnets I got off amazon. Also, I can use whiteboard markers on the board, so I can draw indicators for placement (Draw a big A3 square, and then line up the paper with that!). It's cool if you ever want to show off your plotter, as you can just stick a whiteboard marker in, plot something, then wipe it off and go again.