For those looking to elevate their handwriting process, the Bantam Tools NextDraw™ 1117 pen plotter offers a medium-sized 11×17"/A3 plot area. This plotter combines the power, speed, and advanced features of the NextDraw Series with a larger plot area than its smaller counterpart.

Complementing this is the Tabloid/A3 size Magnetic Easel, which enables you, in a handwriting context, to plot an 8.5x11 letter and its envelope simultaneously.

The Bantam Tools NextDraw™ Merge Software inserts names, addresses, and more into your document and plots them with a pen for a realistic handwritten look. Use it to create notes, invitations, correspondence, labels, letters, and envelopes.

Designed for creative professionals, educators, and businesses looking to bring the power of automation to handwritten media at larger sizes, the NextDraw™ 1117 Handwriting Bundle provides everything needed to start producing beautiful, pen-plotted handwriting on Tabloid/A3-sized documents and beyond.

At its core is the Bantam Tools NextDraw™ 1117 pen plotter, a high-performance machine with an 11" × 17" (A3) plot area. This model is favored by artists and professionals who want the perfect balance of workspace and portability. With precision machining, a rigid aluminum X-axis beam, and lightweight moving components, the 1117 delivers accuracy and speed on par with larger machines—ideal for envelopes, cards, flyers, or full-page layouts.

The machine supports an extensive range of pens and writing instruments, including fine markers, fountain pens, whiteboard markers, and even tools requiring downward pressure like ballpoint pens or chalk. Its extended drawing head allows you to draw directly onto larger, flat surfaces such as packaging, signage, or mounted boards, giving you flexibility beyond just paper.

For flawless workpiece positioning, the bundle includes the Tabloid/A3 size Magnetic Easel, made from powder-coated magnetic steel for strong grip and paper alignment. It comes equipped with reversible rulers and six cylindrical magnets. This setup allows quick, tool-free paper swaps and ensures stability without damaging your pen or shifting your work mid-plot.

Bringing it all together is a license for the Bantam Tools NextDraw™ Merge Software, which makes it easy to personalize documents by merging names, addresses, or other content into templates—then plotting them in your chosen handwriting style. Whether you’re generating batches of custom cards or elevating your customer outreach with pen-written letters, the software saves time and effort while delivering a warm, human touch.

From large-format note writing to creative marketing pieces, the NextDraw™ 1117 Handwriting Automation Bundle is your turnkey solution for scalable, authentic, and beautifully automated handwriting.

Getting Started Guide
Software Download 

• Usable pen travel (inches): 16.93 × 11.69 inches.
• Usable pen travel (millimeters): 430 × 297 mm.
• Vertical pen travel: 0.7 inch (17 mm).
• Vertical pen travel: 0.3 inch (7.5 mm) typical when using spring.
• Maximum XY travel speed: 15 inches (38 cm) per second.
• Native XY resolution: 2032 steps per inch (80 steps per mm).
• Reproducibility (XY): Typically better than 0.004 inches (0.1 mm) at low speeds.

• Holds pens and other instruments up to 5/8" (16 mm) diameter.
• Overall dimensions: Approximately 26 × 19 × 5 inches (66 × 48 × 13 cm).
• Maximum height with cable guides: Approximately 11 inches (29 cm).
• Footprint: Approximately 26 × 5 inches (66 x 13) cm.
• Physical weight: 8.8 Lb (4 kg).
• Dimensional shipping weight: 35 lb (16 kg).

Compatible with Mac, Windows, and Linux.
Driven directly from within Inkscape,
using the Bantam Tools NextDraw™ software.
Programming is not required
but additional programming interfaces are available.