AxiDraw V3 Personal Writing & Drawing Robot
Description
- Simple, modern, precise, and versatile pen plotter
- Can write with your favorite fountain pens, permanent markers, and other writing implements
- Features a new, highly repairable, field-serviceable design for a long life
- Allows you to use your computer to produce writing that appears to be handmade
New version: Bantam Tools NextDraw 1117 Art Plotter
The AxiDraw V3 Personal Writing & Drawing Robot is a simple, modern, precise, and versatile pen plotter, capable of writing or drawing on almost any flat surface. It can write with your favorite fountain pens, permanent markers, and other writing implements to handle an endless variety of applications. Its unique design features a writing head that extends beyond the machine, making it possible to draw on objects bigger than the machine itself.
It is an all-new version of the AxiDraw, redesigned from the ground up for high performance. It features smooth rolling wheels on custom aluminum extrusions, specially designed for high stiffness and light weight. Its sturdy, rigid construction gives it finer quality output and in most applications allows it to operate at up to twice the speed of the previous AxiDraw.
It features a new, highly repairable, field-serviceable design for a long life. While no parts on AxiDraw require regular replacement, this new machine is built with a "screws not glue" design approach throughout, where essentially every part can be replaced by the end user if it should ever become necessary. The AxiDraw is an extremely versatile machine, designed to serve a wide variety of everyday and specialized drawing and writing needs. You can use it for almost any task that might normally be carried out with a handheld pen.
The XY travel (printable area) of the AxiDraw is just over US letter (8 1/2 × 11") and A4 (297 × 210 mm) paper sizes. It can work with any paper up to and including that size, including envelopes and note cards. The AxiDraw comes with a mounting easel (board with clips) that can be used for holding paper, cards, and envelopes of various sizes.
- 1 x AxiDraw V3 Personal Writing & Drawing Robot
- Includes a universal input regulated 9 V power supply
Performance:
- Usable pen travel (inches): 11.81 × 8.58 inches (Just over US letter size)
- Usable pen travel (millimeters): 300 × 218 mm (Just over A4 size)
- Vertical pen travel: 0.7 inch (17 mm)
- Maximum XY travel speed, rapid: 11 inches (28 cm) per second.
- Native XY resolution: 2032 steps per inch (80 steps per mm)
- Reproducibility (XY): Typically better than 0.005 inches (0.1 mm) at low speeds.
Physical:
- Major structural components are machined and/or folded aluminum.
- Holds pens and other drawing instruments up to 5/8" (16 mm) diameter.
- Overall dimensions: Approximately 21.5 × 16 × 4 inches (55 × 40.5 × 10 cm).
- Maximum height with cable guides: Approximately 8.5 inches (22 cm).
- Footprint: Approximately 17 × 3.5 inches (43 x 9 cm).
- Physical weight: 4.75 Lb (2.2 kg).
- Shipping (Dimensional) weight: 22 Lb (10 kg).
Software:
- Drive directly from within Inkscape, using the AxiDraw extension.
- Alternative drive software: RoboPaint
- Compatible with Mac, Windows, and Linux
- All software free to download and open source
- Internet access is required to download software.
Programming interfaces:
- Note: programming is not required to use the AxiDraw.
- RESTful API available for full machine control, stand-alone or accessible by running RoboPaint in the background.
- Simplified "GET-only" API available as well, for use in programming environments (such as Scratch, Snap) that permit only retrieval of URLs.
- Direct EiBotBoard (EBB) command protocol available for use in any programming environment that supports communication with USB-based serial ports.
- Code that generates SVG files can also be used to (indirectly) control the machine.
Bought this for prototyping and it is seem to be very good machine. Used it with different pens etc. and didn't see any problems so far.
I bought this to try my hand at making signatures for one business and writing thank you's for another. The tricky stuff is really in the vector design and SVG work, which luckily we work with already, but it's always good to read the docs first to understand what it can and can't do and to learn more about fonts and writing and capture. I'm glad the docs are well written and they are truly a good research resource in themselves. The device itself is pretty simple to use and fun to watch go. It utilizes Inkscape to run, which if you are familiar with will make you groan, but it does the job and there are further SDKs and such I've yet to dig into. Prepare to spend another $100+ on various pens and papers and make sure you have space to put the thing down for it's full range of motion! Definitely worth picking up if you are interested in it! Yes it's a tad pricey, but it's already saved us so much time! If you want to do drawing stuff too it's pretty precise and impressive!
Je l'ai acheté pour essayer de faire des signatures pour une entreprise et d'écrire des remerciements pour une autre. Le truc délicat réside vraiment dans la conception vectorielle et le travail SVG, avec lesquels, heureusement, nous travaillons déjà, mais il est toujours bon de lire la documentation d'abord pour comprendre ce qu'il peut et ne peut pas faire et pour en savoir plus sur les polices, l'écriture et la capture. Je suis heureux que les documents soient bien écrits et qu'ils constituent vraiment une bonne ressource de recherche en eux-mêmes. L'appareil lui-même est assez simple à utiliser et amusant à regarder. Il utilise Inkscape pour s'exécuter, ce qui, si vous le connaissez, vous fera gémir, mais il fait le travail et il existe d'autres SDK et tels que je n'ai pas encore creusé. Préparez-vous à dépenser 100 $ de plus pour divers stylos et papiers et assurez-vous d'avoir de l'espace pour poser la chose pour une amplitude de mouvement complète! Vaut vraiment le détour si cela vous intéresse! Oui c'est un peu cher, mais cela nous a déjà fait gagner beaucoup de temps! Si vous voulez aussi faire du dessin, c'est assez précis et impressionnant!
AxiDraw is an amazingly simple and useful product. It does exactly what I was hoping it would do. Mind you, there is a learning curve, but evilmadscientist was very helpful along the way to get me up and running and achieving the results I was looking for. I'm looking forward to doing more and learning more about this great robot I now own!
AxiDraw est un produit incroyablement simple et utile. Il fait exactement ce que j'espérais. Remarquez, il y a une courbe d'apprentissage, mais evilmadscientist a été très utile en cours de route pour me mettre en route et atteindre les résultats que je cherchais. J'ai hâte d'en faire plus et d'en apprendre plus sur ce grand robot que je possède maintenant!
Refund Policy
If you are not satisfied with a product purchased from the Site, you may request a return within 30 days from the delivery date, unless the product is listed under the Return Exceptions below or is subject to specific return conditions noted on the product page.
This return policy also applies, as a minimum standard, to products sold and fulfilled by third-party vendors through the Marketplace.
Please review the Return Conditions, Return Exceptions and the process on How to Request a Return Authorization (RA) before initiating a return request.
Returns under this policy concern non-defective products. In the case of a confirmed manufacturing defect, remedies are handled under the Warranty terms, at the Vendor's discretion. See the Warranty section.
Return Conditions
To qualify for a refund under the 30-day return policy, all of the following conditions must be met:
- A valid Return Authorization (RA) number must be obtained prior to returning the product. Returns without an RA number will be refused.
- The RA number is valid for 30 days. The returned item must be received within that period.
- The RA number must be included with the return.
- Products must be returned in unused, unmodified condition (e.g., no scratches, alterations, missing parts, or signs of installation/use) and in their original packaging, suitable for resale.
- Shipping fees are non-refundable. Return shipping costs are the responsibility of the customer, except in cases of a product confirmed defective through RobotShop's troubleshooting process or of a verified shipping error by RobotShop.
- Refunds are processed within 7 days after receipt and inspection of the returned item.
- A $100 cleaning fee may apply to domestic robots returned in used or unclean condition.
- A 20% restocking fee may apply to large-quantity returns of items ordered specifically for the customer from the manufacturer or not part of RobotShop's standard inventory.
Return Exceptions
The following products are not eligible for return or refund under this policy:
- Used, damaged, or modified products — Items that show signs of use, wear, or alteration, making them unsuitable for resale.
- Consumables — Use and wear-and-tear components, altered or depleted through use (e.g., batteries, belts, brushes, gears, filament, tires, disposable bags, lubricants, greases, waxes, etc.). Not eligible for return once opened or used.
- Perishables — Goods liable to deteriorate or expire rapidly. Not eligible for return.
- Sealed goods (health or hygiene) — Items sealed for health-protection or hygiene reasons (e.g., masks, gloves, odor-absorbing products). Not eligible for return once unsealed.
- Build-it-yourself products and items requiring customer assembly — Including robots & kits, robot parts, and other products requiring assembly or soldering. Not eligible for return once assembled, soldered, or installed.
- Digital Goods, Software, and Apps — Final sale only, due to licensing restrictions.
- Clearance Items — Products identified as clearance or final sale, including end-of-life or discontinued items.
- Custom-made, personalized, or special-order items — Products manufactured, configured, adapted, or built to the customer's own specifications and requirements.
- On-Demand Items — Standard catalogue products not stocked by RobotShop and ordered specifically to fulfill a customer request.
- Professional & Specialized Equipment — See the Professional & Specialized Equipment Warranty page and Professional & Institutional Buyers (B2B) section in the Terms & Conditions.
How to Request a Return Authorization (RA)
While the same return policy applies, these orders require a separate contact process for returns.
- RobotShop Fulfilled Orders → submit a support ticket from your account under My Support Tickets.
- Marketplace Vendor Orders → submit a ticket from your account under My Marketplace Tickets to contact the vendor directly.
Note: Marketplace vendor products are normally labelled with SKUs starting with RM, and identified on the product page with the mention "Sold and fulfilled by [Vendor Name]".


