My first own-designed printer
My first own-designed printer
I've always contemplated designing my own printer but I didn't know how to until I learned CAD, was quite the journey and I learned a lot (still a lot to learn) but I had a lot of fun designing it!
Ahhh that takes me back to 2012, back when I was too poor to afford a $1000 Prusa Mendel 3D printer kit. So instead I tried to build my own printer from scratch using plans for an alternative RepRap printer ("Ecksbot") and used a work's Makerbot Replicator to 3D print parts for the printer.
Phew was that a mistake - I printed everything in ABS and the parts were extremely weak due to my poor skills at 3D printing at the time (RepetierG didn't have the best slicing software lol). It was such a mess - the printer couldn't really print correctly, the carriage for the extruder was loose. And it took me forever to figure out how to calibrate esteps because I was completely new to all of it and documentation was extremely limited back then.
After that failure I tried to build another kit printer (SeeMeCNC Rostock Max Delta 3D printer) only to give up calibrating the printer (dang injection-molded push rods had seams that needed to be precisely sanded down for smooth movements and a bunch of other headaches).
Ultimately I decided that unlike you, I loathe tinkering with 3D printers. I just want to design models and print them without any concern "will they print correctly". So I splurged on a factory assembled Prusa MK3s and haven't looked back.
Reminds me a little of the Rook design. CoreXY right? Tell us more about it!
Yes, watching Rolohaun's stream inspired me to go for it! as far as the design go, I tried my best to make all sides flush for ease of enclosing, voron style belt paths and avoiding making too many parts for easier assembly, I'll release the files on printables soon once everything is well tested
You went for the full linear rails, impressive!
That looks super rigid and precise!
That is far from begginer cad skills imo, impressive! Only thing that hurt my eyes (a bit 🤏) are cantilever bearing mounts in corners. It would be better if they had support from top as well. Btw that bed plate looks fat and cool
Thank you! And yeah I do agree that cantilever bearings are a bit of an engineering sin. I thought about doing something about it but wanted to get the design going. Bed plate is a LDO Voron V0 kit which I really like for having its thermistor in the center!
Well if you can tighten belts properly you are golden. Cantilever is not wrong, just requires bigger cross sections due to much higher load. Enjoy your printer mate
I see the V0 inspiration. It doesn’t take away any of the glory of designing your own printer. Can I ask what we’re your goals when you started the design?
Definitely lots of inspiration from the V0 (frame, belt paths) I actually thought of getting a V0 kit but the assembly felt a bit much, Voron are incredibly well designed don't get me wrong but I'm a sucker for simplicity so that was my main goal for it
I feel y’a. I have what started as a Hypercube Evolution, now it has a rail on X axis and a custom carriage plus other things. Wires all around. It’s been 5 years like that. I was about to get a Voron but I’m still waiting, not sure for what but I’m waiting…
Maybe I'm seeing it wrong on the picture, but the motor pulleys seem to barely touch the belt. I'd be weary of anything less than having the belt go 180° around the driven pulley.
Camera angle issue, the belts do wrap around the motor pulleys :)
Managed to see it on some pictures in the userbuilds channel :D
That is SO pretty
Pretty sweet, you get ahold of a CNC for custom parts? Always wondered if it would he possible, or even practical to direct drive the head along a path rather than use a belt to avoid possible stretching over time.