Odd question.
Sculpfun S30.
If I in some way mounted a pen (say I made a gnarly 3D rig) to my laser so that the pen drew an image on the cutting surface – I could turn my laser into a “plotter”…
I’m not missing anything here am I, as it seems “simple” - that way I could use it for plotting not cutting?
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Sure you can. Many people already did that. There are different ways to achieve this. Just go ahead 
The idea is very simple. I the sculpfun doesn’t have electronic control to retract the Z axes when it moves.
Although very similar, you’ve added a Z operation, you don’t have, before and after you mark something.
Can he/you tell his Sculpfun machine to change the Z axes? If not, you’re pretty much sol.
As you say, I’ve seen it, but don’t know any specifics as I’ve had no interest.
No Z control - but was going to use a servo for that linked to Pi-Pico.
Just checking that dragging round the extra weight wont hurt.
Off to try.
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Don’t know what this is. How can it know when to move the Z axes?
Yes, no problem. If it’s not that much weight. But speeds with a pen attached are slower than lasering anyhow.
The easiest control is to read the PWM signal and move the servo up if the signal is 0 and down on any power value above 0. That could be easily done with any microcontroller.
Raspberry Pi Pico board. But this is overkill for the project if you are using a stepper or servo motor.
You can use the PicAxe 08m2 chip ($3, programmed in BASIC) and drive a solenoid (use a 5v or 12v relay) to lift and lower the pen. Set your %power to 100% and Laser On=Pen Down, Laser Off=Pen Up.
K.I.S.S. If I needed a $450 pen plotter (Sculpfun S10 Pro), this is how I would do it with a handful of colored gel pens.
Pi-pico is £3.90 - so about $4.50 in the UK - programmed also in BASIC (MMBasic) (plus I have a load). So about the same 
Have a 3.3V solenoid - so thanks for the pointer (easier than a servo - never considered that).
KISS - 100% especially as this is just for potching about.
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Is that the same as the RasPi PICO or PICO2 boards? My Pico W boards cost about $9 each Amazon.
Does it come with BASIC (native), or is that a separate application? I have 2 new PICO W boards I would love to use BASIC on.
UPDATE: Never mind about the BASIC (pun intended) question. I have some notes on MMBasic.
Yea - RasPi Pico or Pico 2.
MMBasic is awesome.
Loads the Pico with a full version of a “new” basic - you can code straight onto the Pico, access the GPIO etc etc.
Here: Geoff’s Projects
And the wonderful support forum here: TheBackShed.com - Forum
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Goeff’s page I have, BackShed forum is new. Thanks!