https://github.com/killedbyapixel/virtualplotter

A 3D pen plotter simulator in the browser.
https://github.com/killedbyapixel/virtualplotter

3d generative-art pen-plotter plotter plotter-art svg threejs

Last synced: 7 days ago
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A 3D pen plotter simulator in the browser.

• Host: GitHub
• URL: https://github.com/killedbyapixel/virtualplotter
• Owner: KilledByAPixel
• License: gpl-3.0
• Created: 2026-07-01T02:43:10.000Z (14 days ago)
• Default Branch: master
• Last Pushed: 2026-07-03T22:05:43.000Z (11 days ago)
• Last Synced: 2026-07-06T19:32:38.467Z (8 days ago)
• Topics: 3d, generative-art, pen-plotter, plotter, plotter-art, svg, threejs
• Language: JavaScript
• Homepage: https://killedbyapixel.github.io/VirtualPlotter/
• Size: 364 KB
• Stars: 6
• Watchers: 0
• Forks: 0
• Open Issues: 0
• Metadata Files:
  • Readme: README.md
  • Funding: .github/FUNDING.yml
  • License: LICENSE

Awesome Lists containing this project

README

          
# Virtual Plotter

A 3D pen-plotter simulator in the browser. Drop in an SVG and watch a little

AxiDraw-style machine draw it on virtual paper — arm sliding, pen lifting,

stepper motors whirring. It doesn't make anything real but it's nice to watch.

# [LIVE DEMO](https://killedbyapixel.github.io/VirtualPlotter/)

![Virtual Plotter](screenshot.png)

## How To Use

Drag any SVG file onto the page and it loads onto the plotter. Then:

- **▶ Plot / ❚❚ Pause** — run or pause the drawing

- **Reset** — rewind the plot and send the pen home. The ink stays on the

  sheet — plot over it as many times as you like, and loading another SVG

  keeps the sheet too, so you can layer different drawings. The paper's

  **Fresh** button (or picking a new sheet/type/size) is what clears it

- **Speed** — 1× (real time) up to 1000× for the impatient

- **Plot** — draw all layers, or just one

- **Pens** — every layer starts with its own fresh 0.5 fineliner in the SVG's

  color; each row edits its pen directly (color, pen type, tip size). Click a

  pen in the caddy to load that actual pen instead — color, tip, and ink

  level come with it, and layers sharing a caddy pen share its ink. Customize

  a borrowed caddy pen and the layer quietly gets its own copy (the caddy pen

  is untouched). Each pen type has its own line character

  (the marker blobs, the ballpoint dry-starts, the brush swells) and its ink

  runs down as you plot — levels persist between visits. **Fresh** replaces a

  dead pen, or untick **Ink simulation** for perfect ink with none of that.

  Pausing a plot unlocks the pens, so you can swap or recolor mid-drawing —

  the machine picks up the change when you resume. (The paper stays locked

  until the plot is done: no sliding a new sheet under half a drawing.)

- **Paper** — choose a paper type in the panel or click the stack beside the

  machine: bristol, watercolor (toothy), cheap copy (bleeds a little), or

  black card (that's what the gel and metallic pens are for). The color

  picker overrides the sheet color, and the size dropdown swaps in a

  different standard sheet (A5 up to Tabloid) — the machine resizes to fit.

- **Clock** — estimated plot time ticks next to the mute button: it runs at

  the simulation speed, so whatever the Speed setting, it approximates how

  long the plot would take on a real machine (pausing freezes it; finishing

  leaves the total showing).

- **Layer colors** — pick a pen color per layer before you start (Inkscape layers

  are detected automatically)

- **🔊** — mute the motor and servo sounds (they only play at 1× speed anyway)

- **F** — toggle a free-fly camera: the mouse locks for looking around and

  WASD + E/Q fly you through the scene; press F (or Esc) to return to orbit

- **H** — hide/show the whole interface (handy for a clean screenshot)

Recently plotted files are remembered so you can replay them. On a first

visit the Recent list starts with a built-in sample, so there's something to

plot before you have an SVG of your own.

## License

Copyright (C) 2026 Frank Force.

Released under the **GNU General Public License v3.0** — see [LICENSE](LICENSE).

You're free to use, study, share, and modify it, but any version you distribute

has to stay open source under the same license.