21
votes
Accepted
What are the pros and cons of collecting parts yourself, versus getting a DIY kit and then modifying it?
From a general point of view, there are a few things to consider.
If you buy a kit:
Pros:
You get some insurance that you have all the parts that you need to get a functional printer - all the ...
- 3,987
16
votes
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Are there practical reasons to NOT use a stepper motor with lead screw for the X and or Y axes?
I am going to answer this as someone who actually did rework their Prusa i3 fleabay clone to use leadscrews for all axes. Before digging into the matter, the backlash issue can be solved easily with ...
- 901
12
votes
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Would 3D printing multiple copies at once saves time?
Actually no. It will take slightly more for each addition. You also then have the point of failure, where one gets knocked off and ruins all the prints.
The fastest way to print multiple objects is ...
- 3,043
10
votes
What are the pros and cons of collecting parts yourself, versus getting a DIY kit and then modifying it?
I built my first printer from scratch, though it's fairly similar to an oversize MendelMax 2. It was a good learning experience, but very frustrating at times. Overall, I think I'm glad I did it that ...
- 3,201
10
votes
Why aren't fixed build platform 3D printers popular?
Why is this so rare?
Such kind of printers usually harder to assembles, calibrate, and maintain because 3 axes machine is a bit more complex than 2 axes. For instance, it's can be tricky to move an ...
- 310
9
votes
Printing with colorfabb XT fails after several successful layers
This looks a lot like under extrusion caused by heat creep.
Heat creep is when the nozzle temperature 'creeps' up through the filament and makes it melt (a bit) and form a blob (or just widen enough ...
- 904
9
votes
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Convert 3D printer to laser engraver
Yes, one can convert a 3D printer into a Laser Engraver, and it isn't even all that problematic.
You'd need to acquire a laser diode. These are usually not available with a lot of power - certainly ...
- 21.2k
8
votes
Would 3D printing multiple copies at once saves time?
Printing multiple parts can save you time.
The issues pointed out by the other posters are all bang on, but one factor that has been neglected is the time it takes you to clear the build plate and ...
- 1,865
8
votes
Heat bed troubles
What you purchased is probably a bed that can be configured for either 110V or for 220V, depending on how you hook up the wires: the bed contains two heating elements, hooking these up in parallel ...
- 14.8k
8
votes
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After some time stepper motor is hot
The second motor is hot. And the third is very hot. I can not even touch it.
This is to some degree, completely normal and expected. From the datasheet for a typical NEMA 17 stepper, the rated ...
- 14.8k
7
votes
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Commercially available 3D printer fume and UFP extractor
Following on from Harvey Lim's answer, to give a concrete example of a DIY filter, which uses active carbon, see ABS 3d Printer Nanoparticle and Chemical Exhaust Air Filter:
###Description
Enclose ...
- 6,192
7
votes
How can I program a 3D printer to move using Arduino?
Yes.
Look up Arduino Ramps 1.4
http://reprap.org/wiki/RAMPS_1.4
Following the programing is all done for you in the firmware. That said you can edit it. Just open the firmware files -- it is ...
- 3,043
7
votes
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3d printer not printing circles correctly
Possible causes for the printer not printing correct dimensions:
Incorrect number of steps/mm in firmware settings
Belts are not tight enough
Pulley slips on the shaft
Looking at the picture, I ...
- 878
7
votes
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Why do 3D printers have only one limit switch?
In principle you only need the minimum axis position (or the maximum), the offset to the bed and the size of the bed in the direction of the axes. Fortunately, you can specify this in the firmware:
E....
- 34.5k
7
votes
Why aren't fixed build platform 3D printers popular?
As a frame challenge, they kind of are. It's just that the optimal, and in some sense only reasonable, design for a fixed build platform that doesn't move on any axis is the delta robot geometry. This ...
6
votes
HDPE as the body of a 3-D Printer?
The main consideration when building the body/frame of a 3D printer is the stiffness. The stiffer the material, the less the frame will deform under load, and the more accurate and repeatable your ...
6
votes
What are the pros and cons of collecting parts yourself, versus getting a DIY kit and then modifying it?
A few months ago I bought a cheap (220 USD) Prusa i3 kit from China and put it together. Putting it together was fun and still a bit of a challenge. It was also nice to have pre-configured firmware ...
- 111
6
votes
Accepted
ABS or PLA for structural printed parts?
To answer the main question "Is ABS better for structural parts of a 3D printer as opposed to PLA".
The answer, unfortunately is it depends.
ABS has lower yield and ultimate strengths compared to ...
- 1,865
6
votes
Accepted
Building a 3-D printer
Building a 3-D printer is actually very easy, assuming that you are electronically and mechanically competent, and there are a whole bunch of websites devoted to doing just that. The principal of ...
- 6,192
6
votes
Accepted
Hot end jamming very quickly
You are suffering from what is called "heat creep". Molten filament is creeping up the heat break and into the bowden tube, where it is causing a jam. You need to install a proper radiator block that ...
- 3,090
6
votes
Accepted
Cooling fan noise when head is moving in the X axis
As discussed in the comments...
The problem with the fan seems to be its flimsy attachment to the printer head. The fact the fan chassis is not firmly kept in place allows for it to act as a ...
- 4,687
6
votes
Ball screw: Maintaining Z axis position when motor is OFF
My question is a ball screw of pitch 4mm or 5mm, will it be able to Maintain it's position when motor is deenergized under a load of 15 kg shared by two systems.
The detent torque of a typical NEMA ...
- 14.8k
6
votes
Are there practical reasons to NOT use a stepper motor with lead screw for the X and or Y axes?
In addition to cost, backlash, which can be experienced in the Z-axis where threaded rods and leadscrews are mostly commonly used, would/could become an issue. The elasticity of GT2 belts generally ...
- 6,192
6
votes
Accepted
How to 3D print a shopping cart
If you need a real shopping cart, please think about actual requirements.
Carts are sturdy devices, build on very consistent frame, because they are meant to carry heavy loads. The built must be ...
- 966
6
votes
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Why not use high rpm stepper motors with high microstepping with gear reduction in 3D printer?
To answer each point:
Microstepping improves resolution as much as 32 fold (I think) but reduces torque the higher you micro-step.
Torque is not reduced by micro-stepping. Torque reduction only ...
- 2,360
5
votes
Would 3D printing multiple copies at once saves time?
Yes, and no. It depends.
For FDM printing, the printing time mostly scales linearly with the number of objects. However, some printers have a "minimum layer time" whereby smaller layers are printed ...
- 14.8k
5
votes
Would using a leadscrew with 1 or 2 mm lead, en lieu of 8 mm, result in a better printer?
From Accuracy vs Precision and Threaded Rod vs Leadscrews in 3D Printers. I have highlighted the relevant parts:
In general, FFF/FDM printers use relatively infrequent, small, precise
movements on ...
- 6,192
5
votes
Accepted
Can cheap hotend parts sourced from China actually produce good prints?
Hard to say for sure - my whole printer is cheap parts bought as a kit in China by a Chinese student who abandoned it in the US (I resurrected it after it was abandoned.) It includes all the parts you ...
- 723
5
votes
Accepted
MOSFET problems!
No, this module is completely useless for your intended purpose.
The load side is marked with "5A 5-220VDC". This means it can only switch up to 5A, maximum. The heated bed draws more than twice this ...
- 14.8k
5
votes
Accepted
Lead screws - M8 instead of M5?
as long as you match the parts that is ok.
The m8 rod will give you more stiffness and will be harder to bend.
As the result, you will have to calibrate the steps/mm settings in the firmware.
- 1,922
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