This post got me to purchase an Axidraw back in 2017 and I had a ton of fun using it to plot neural data I collected during my PhD, as well as messing around with generative art. So much more worthwhile than I expected for an impulse purchase.
I'm just gunna throw this out there: The replacement for the axidraw 8.5x11 thing is $699 - a fully loaded cricut maker 3 is $429, and can, in theory, do actual plotting on sheets longer than 11" - as well as being a vinyl cutting machine. I am unsure what models of cricut can take the pen holder, but it is something to consider, especially since i am sure there are alternatives to the ecosystem that are more open or support different software.
Also the ender series of 3d printers can make use of a pen attachment as well, but those are 8x8 inches. There are larger 3d printers, and the software or whatever to plot with the ender 3 was open source enough. My ender3 was <$200
my main concern with the cricut and silhouette machines is i probably don't want to use the manufacturer's shitted up software, and the open source replacements are hacks that might be janky and could probably be squashed at any time (i'm not actually sure the status of replacement software for each of these machines, because i always get them confused and haven't paid much attention)
generally, though, i do enjoy taking advantage of scaled-up (cheap) commercial products. but i also value supporting an open, small business (EMSL, and now Bantam Tools) that is active in the communities using its products.
The open source tools for the Silhouette work pretty well in my experience, there's a really well documented python library. You're right about the supplied software though, it works but it's unpleasant to use.
somewhat fair. i'm not in the market for commercial plotters so i guess i can avoid that purchase decision. regardless, i'm happy to see them running meetups and stuff for plotter folks, and i'm interested in where they take the product/software over the next few years.
I was initially pretty unhappy with the price bump when the Axidraw was re-released by Bantam Tools (who purchased the Axidraw IP from Evil Mad Scientist). It went up $150! However, if you use Archive.org to look at the old prices on EMS's website, it's actually just the price of the Axidraw + the brushless servo upgrade kit (which now comes standard on it); I think they may have also added an auto-home improvement, and possibly other tweaks.
You're really paying for the dedicated use-case design (the pen carriage precision on the Axidraw is excellent) and the active software support both from the company and the community.
Sure - use whatever machine you prefer. I found the axidraw hardware and software to be good value back then, though it looks like the prices are higher now and IP was purchased by Bantam tools?
