TECHNOLOGICAL UNIVERSITY (THANLYIN)

DEPARTMENT OF ELECTRONIC ENGINEERING

Development and Optimization of an Arduino-Controlled

Egg Plotter for Custom Artwork Production

BY
Mg Phyo Ko Ko

VI EC-64

Final Year Proposal

1 APRIL, 2025

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 Table of Contents

Sr. No Titles Page

1. Abstract 2
2. Introduction 3
3. Aim and Objectives 4
4. Literature Review 4
5. Problem Statement 5
6. Methodology 6
7. Expected Outcomes 8
8. Conclusion 9
9. Expected Costs 9
10. References 10

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1. Abstract
The main idea behind this project is to construct a cheap, smaller size, easily
operable, easy interface and flexible 3-axis Computer Numerical Control (CNC) plotter
machine. The lower cost is achieved by using three stepper motors as the main structure for
the hardware. The two stepper motors already used to control the egg movements onto X
and Y axis and one servo motor on the Z axis. An Arduino Uno microcontroller is used to
controls the proper synchronization of these three motors during printing/drawing process.
The Arduino Uno is programmed with G-Code parser from PC that is connected to the
Arduino via a USB cable to control the motors movement and synchronization. The plotter
machine is implemented and tested by printed different images and image on egg (120 mm
× 25 mm) using a pen, the small size of the egg because of the small plotter size. The
design of the circuit is simple, inexpensive and can be accomplished using commercially
available components.

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2. Introduction
CNC Machining is a process uses computers to control machine tools such as
plotters, lathes, mills, machines, etc for the manufacturing process. Nowadays, CNC
machine expands its application to other tasks like in cutting, welding and assembling
robots which are used in cars manufacturing factories. Due to the great developments in the
personal computers (PC), it becomes easy to add new features to the modern CNC
machines such as new sensors and actuators and it becomes easy to change and develop the
control algorithms these facilities are not previously observed in the design phase of the
older CNC machines.
The CNC stands for Computer Numerical Control inspiring from this CNC
technology and revolutionary change in the world of digital electronics and
microcontroller. Because of the high relative cost and versatility of the conventional CNC
machine it remains as a staple of industry and this makes difficult for the companies to
manufacture large quantities of these CNC machines especially when a high-quality goods
one is required.
The MIT Servomechanisms laboratory invent the first numerical control
programming language in the late 1950s, they used G-code in the implementation. G-code
(a.k.a. RS-274) is the most widely used language in the numerical control programming to
control CNC machine tools. G programming language is a language that’s make the
programmer control the speed and directions of the cutting tool in the CNC machine and
makes the motors follow the path that is predefined in the program. The same concept
included for the other machines that’s used drawing, burnishing, forming and 3D printing
tools.
An Egg plotter is an art robot that can draw on spherical shaped objects such as
eggs. To also use this machine to draw on ping pong balls and golf balls. The project was
done as a good introduction to CNC machines because all firmware and hardware concepts
involve them in a fun way. It was also decided to build the main from acrylic sheets to get
hands dirty with the physical build. With the advancement of modern times, people are
more interested in beauty.
Eggs are a popular daily food. Therefore, some people are doing this project
intending to make eggs beautiful and sell them. A CNC plotter machine is used to create 2-
D, and 3-D images on a plain surface using a 2-D printing mechanism and microcontroller.
To draw a desired image or piece of text, the Arduino CNC plotter moves its components
when the instructions it receives.

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3. Aim and Objectives of the System
The main aim of the system is to construct the egg plotter using Arduino.
The objectives of the system are
 To provide automatically plot on egg instead of traditional manual
operations
 To produce .SVG file and G-Code file by using open source softwares such
as Inkscape and GRBL software.
 To design a CNC-based machine capable of drawing on curved, spherical,
or egg-shaped objects with high accuracy and customization options
 To develop a stable and adjustable mechanical structure to hold and rotate
egg-shaped or spherical objects securely.
 To create a low-cost, efficient solution for small businesses, educational
institutions, and hobbyists.
 To know the Arduino C program, and
 To know the operation of stepper and servo motors.

4. Literature Review
Automated decoration systems play a crucial role in industries such as textile
printing, ceramics, and food decoration, where precision and efficiency are essential. These
systems often utilize CNC machines to achieve high levels of accuracy, enabling intricate
and consistent designs. In recent years, Arduino-based motion control has gained
popularity in robotics and automation, allowing for precise movement in various
applications. By integrating stepper and servo motors, these systems can effectively control
both rotational and linear motion, making them suitable for detailed design work.
This project focuses on developing an Arduino-based automated egg decoration
system that employs a pen-plotting mechanism to create intricate designs on eggs. The
system will use stepper motors to rotate the egg precisely while servo motors control the
pen’s movement, ensuring smooth and accurate patterns. By automating the decoration
process, the system minimizes manual effort, enhances design precision, and enables the
creation of complex patterns that would be difficult to achieve by hand.

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 With its ability to improve efficiency and artistic possibilities, this system has
potential applications in both personal and commercial settings. It could be used for
decorative egg art, seasonal crafts, or customized branding on eggs for businesses.
Additionally, by leveraging open-source hardware and software, the project remains cost-
effective and accessible to hobbyists, artists, and small-scale producers looking for
innovative ways to enhance their designs.
The hardware requirements of the system are as follow;
 Arduino Uno Microcontroller
 CNC shield
 Nema 17 Stepper Motor
 SG90 Servo Motor
 AC-DC Adapter
 A4988 Stepper Driver
 Pen Holder
 Aluminium frame
The software requirements of the system are as follow;
 Arduino IDE (To write C program for Grbl)
 Inkscape (To produce G-code file from image)
 Grbl (To control the motor for plotting image on egg according to the
G-code file)

5. Problem Statement
Traditional egg decoration faces several challenges, including:
 Manual Effort & Inconsistency – Hand-decorating eggs requires significant skill
and time, often leading to inconsistencies and errors in design.
 Limited Design Complexity – Intricate and detailed patterns are difficult to
achieve manually, restricting artistic possibilities.
 Inefficiency for Large-Scale Production – Manual decoration is slow and
impractical for mass production or commercial applications.
 High Cost of Existing Solutions – Automated CNC-based decoration systems are
often expensive and complex, making them inaccessible to small businesses, artists,
and hobbyists.
To address these challenges, this project focuses on the development and optimization
of an Arduino-controlled egg plotter that automates the decoration process with precision
and efficiency.

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  Integration of Motion Control – Stepper motors will provide rotational control,
while servo motors will ensure precise pen movement.
 Optimization for Accuracy & Speed – Improving motor control algorithms and
hardware selection will minimize errors and enhance performance.
 Cost-Effective & User-Friendly Design – The system will be affordable and easy
to operate, making it accessible to a wide range of users.
The project aims to provide an innovative and practical solution for custom egg
artwork production, catering to artists, small-scale businesses, and craft enthusiasts.

6. Methodology

The methodology focuses on the design, development, and optimization of the

Arduino-controlled egg plotter for custom artwork production. The system consists of a
mechanical structure, Arduino-based controller, and an interactive user interface to upload
design files.

Figure 1. Block diagram of the system

The block diagram of the designed plotter machine is shown in Figure 1. There are
three axes namely X, Y and Z which we have to control. X and Y axes controls the motion
of worktable while Z axis controls the motion of pen upward or downward. The PC
program converts the JPEG image into G-code and sending it sequentially to the
microcontroller. The Arduino start to controls the three motors according to the received
G-code locations with a proper synchronization of these three axes motors during printing.
The movement control for these three motors is done through microcontroller, the
Arduino microcontroller is used in this work to control motors rotation. The Arduino
microcontroller is an open-source microcontroller, easy to use, has a good number of
input/output ports with suitable memory size and can easily interact with computer
physical computing platform for creating interactive objects that stand alone or collaborate
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with software on the computer. It has gained considerable attraction in the professional
market. The microcontroller used in the hardware implementation is Arduino Uno
microcontroller. The microcontroller connected with a PC through USB serial port in order
to receive the G-code from the PC. The Ardunio here acts as the brain that controls the
speed and directions of the stepper and servo motors.

Table1. Steps and Components for Arduino-Based Egg Decoration System

Tools/Components
No. Step Process Description
used

Power on the Arduino system and

Arduino Uno Board,
System initialize all components such as
1 Power Supply, Servo
Initialization motors and sensors perform a
motor, Stepper Motors
hardware check

Arduino Code, USB

cable, Computer
The system receives design data from
(If used),
2 Design Input a USB-connected computer or
keypad/Potentiometer
manual input( Buttons/keypad)
( if manual input is
enabled)

Place the egg securely on the rotating

Egg
platform.The system detects its Rotating
3 placement and
position and calibrates for accurate Platform,Servo Motor
calibration
decoration.

The system starts decoration by Motors, Painting tools

Decoration
4 rotating the egg and moving the (Pen,Airbrush,Arduino
Process
painting tool according to the design. Uno Microcontroller)

Completion The decoration process stops. The Motor control,

5. on and clean decorated egg is removed and the cleaning tools,system
up system is cleaned for the next use. shutdown routine.

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7. Expected Outcomes
1. Functional Egg Plotter Prototype
 A working Arduino-controlled egg plotter capable of drawing intricate designs on
eggshells with precision.
2. Enhanced Design and Mechanical Stability
 Optimized mechanical structure for stable and smooth movement of the plotting
arm and rotational axis.
 Reduced vibration and backlash for better accuracy.
3. Improved Accuracy and Precision
 Calibration techniques to ensure consistent plotting results.
 Stepper motor tuning for smoother operation and reduced errors.
4. Efficient Control Algorithm
 Optimized firmware for better motion control and speed.
 Implementation of an efficient G-code interpreter for design input.
5. User-Friendly Interface
 Software or mobile app integration for easy design uploading.
 Simple setup and configuration for users with minimal technical knowledge.
6. Expanded Compatibility
 Ability to plot various custom artwork, including text, patterns, and intricate
designs.
 Support for different pen types and egg sizes.
7. Performance Evaluation and Testing
 Comparative analysis of different firmware settings and mechanical
improvements.
 Documentation of accuracy, speed, and repeatability metrics.
8. Potential Applications and Future Improvements
 Identification of future enhancements like multi-color plotting or AI-
assisted design generation.
 Possible commercial or educational applications.

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8. Conclusion
In this project, the three-axis mini-CNC plotter is constructed. The existing CNC
plotter machines are of high cost, difficult to maintain and requires highly skilled
operators. This plotter overcomes these problems. It is of low cost and easy to control and
there is no need of highly skilled operators. It describes the structure of the machine
suitable for domestic modelling. Investigation static rigidity, positioning accuracy and
repeatability, further, the control of the machine is presented. The device needs to be very
stable during printing process because any simple vibration can cause errors in printing.
The synchronization between the motors is very important for correct operation and any
simple delay during printing process must be noticed and solved in the beginning.

9. Expected Costs
Table 2. Expected costs of the system

Items Costs

Arduino Uno Microcontroller 26000

Nema 17 stepper motor m x 2 71000
CNC shield 12000
A4988 stepper motor driver x 2 12000
SG90 servo motor 6500
12v Dc Adapter 8500
A Few wires 60000
3D printing parts 100000
Aluminium parts 70000
Pen x 3 13000
USB Cable 6000

Total costs 385000

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10. References

[1] Nikus in CircuitsArduino.18,391, “DIY Arduino Based Eggbot”

[2] Evil Mad Scientist “The Eggbot Pro” the classic CNC art robot, evolved.
[3] Antonio Mancuso, “The EggPainter” October 30,2017.
[4] Aman Ismail Nsayef, and Anas Lateef Mahmood, “Microcontroller – Based Plotter
Machine”, Al-Nahrain Journal for Engineering Sciences (NJES), Vol.21 No.3, 0218
pp.350 – 355.
[5] Rafael Fuentes, Carmen María Fuentes, and Carmen Pérez from 'Creative
Electronics', a Beng Electronics Engineering module at the University of Málaga,
School of Telecommunications.
[6] https://github.com/ProbotXYZ/EggBot
[7] https://medium.com/@mancusoa74/the-eggpainter-ddaf88d01ec
[8] https://duino4projects.com/arduino-based-egg-plotter/
[9] https://www.instructables.com/Arduino-Based-Egg Plotter/

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