Livecode fountain pens

[Michael Lew]

I've used Livecode since it was Revolution for teaching and learning and apps that simplified my administrative tasks at university, and built a library for statistical calculations and explorations. Since my retirement I have been using it to write the gcode that controls 3D printers. The main products of that are bespoke fountain pens.

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I suspect that the advantages of writing gcode using my custom Livecode library instead of going down the normal route of a 3D CAD model processed through 'slicer' software might be easier for readers to grasp in this forum than they would be elsewhere. In essence, the direct control the 3D printer's movements and extrusions opens up the design space and allows integration of structural and aesthetic requirements.

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Michael Lew (coder and pen maker)

[jiml]

Very cool!

[AndyP]

Write with LiveCode

[richmond62]

It would be super if you could actually explain a bit more, even, if it be possible, a few code snippets.

[Michael Lew]

It would be super if you could actually explain a bit more, even, if it be possible, a few code snippets.

I tried to include a link to my website where I have several blog posts that explain how and why I make the pens, but my link is, apparently, illegal on this forum. platypuspens com

A little background on the process of 3D printing is helpful before I explain my alternative approach. Usually a 'model' is constructed in a CAD program like Fusion 360 or TinkerCAD (I prefer the code-based modelling of OpenSCAD) and then that model is put into a second program called a 'slicer' that will reduce the 3 dimensions into a stack of 2 dimensional slices ('layers') of extruder paths or images, depending on the type of printer in question. (Yes, some CAD programs will do the slicing without needing any other slicer software, but most hobbyist 3D printer people use slicers.)

My printers are of the "FDM' type that take in a spaghetti-like strand of plastic and run it through an extrusion system that melts the plastic and outputs it as a thin strand that is deposited as the layers that make up the object. The rolls of plastic are available in many different plastic types and a wide variety of colours. My pens have the outsides made of PLA plastic, but the insides are made of other types of plastic that have functional properties matched to their mechanical requirements.

The FDM 3D printers that I use operate on gcode, a very restricted code language that has commands to move in 3 dimensions and to control things like temperatures and fans. The particular flavour of gcode vary with the operating system of the printer control hardware, with my Voron printer using RepRap style and my Prusa MK4 printer using Merlin. The RepRap firmware allow some conditional code and loops, but I have utilised those only very minimally. (The white space delimiting of the range of loops is uncomfortable to me, as I have come to believe that 'end repeat' and 'end if' are lines well worth the writing!)

Usually it is the slicer software that writes the gcode file that is then given to the printer, but conveniently, a gcode file is plain text, and you know how good Livecode is at dealing with plain text!

Here are a few little functions from my gcode library:
Grr! I can't paste the code here as the forum software thinks that it contains links or images:

You can’t post image, email or url links that are external to this domain. Please remove 0.

[stam]

I think you need to have posted a minimum number of posts (7? 10?) before being allowed to include URLs etc.

[Klaus]

I think you need to have posted a minimum number of posts (7? 10?) before being allowed to include URLs etc.

Yes, you need seven posting to be able to post links etc...

[bobcole]

Michael:
What a clever idea; making writing implements with LiveCode!
Are you selling them? If yes, may I ask how much?
Bob

[Michael Lew]

Yes indeed, I sell them. At first it was not much more than an attempt to demonstrate to my wife that I had not been wasting my time. Then I got so much positive feedback from customers that I became more serious and expanded my offerings a bit.

My original pen (still my favourite because I designed it for my own hand) is Model 1, and it is $150 Australian. Model 10 is a larger version ($170), and my newest model has a unique filling system and is $250. Those prices might sound high for a pen, but they are pretty modest for good quality bespoke fountain pens. Many of my customers order more than once, so I think that they are happy with the product.