From largest to smallest.

[Steve_Graber]

From largest to smallest. Last night I uploaded some photographs of my most awesomely ginormous, triple extruder Cerberus MEGA Deltabot with 400mm x 380 tall print area and rolling stand, so today I figured I would show off something on the smaller end of the spectrum.

This is the latest revision of my Cerberus Pup 170 Deltabot with GT2 belt drive, Grabercars Dual 623 Wide V rollers running on the excellent OpenBeam Extrusions by @Terence_Tam1 , 170mm round x 145mm tall print area, heated bed, magnetic ball joints with carbon fiber rods, 1/32 stepping drivers controlled using an Azteeg X1 and 170MC aluminum substrate heated bed made specifically for the Pup by @Roy_Cortes . It also features Marlin firmware and Z_probe with auto-bed leveling by @Johann_Rocholl Most recently interfacing with an 8.1" touchscreen tablet running Win8, it’s also capable of connecting to the Panucatt Viki LCD controller, although I’ve been having trouble getting the SD card reader working with the most recent versions of the firmware (if anyone cares to help me figure this out I always appreciate help!). This little printer has very high performance, runs very quietly and is small enough to fit just about anywhere. The magnetic ball joints have proven quite reliable, smooth, and so far show absolutely 0 backlash.

The Pup 170 in these photos is still not finished, and there will always be continuing development, but I’ve made a number of earlier Pup 170 versions running in the wild with spectra filament drive reels. You can search my grabercars youtube page for some videos. I recently decided to move to GT2 belts because as nice as the spectra drive works, in my (very Humble) opinion the spectra line is just too hard to string up for a production run printer. Is it ok for DIY? sure. But my goal is to make complete kits and turnkeys available from this design and GT2 is much easier in that regard. The filament drive Pup design is CCbySA3.0 and can be downloaded from my github repo at https://github.com/grabercars/pup. FYI this GT2 Pup design is not ready for design release just yet.

Not to steal the show from the coolness of Pup with its waterjet cut components and compact, stylish frame; but the Win8 tablet I’ve recently purchased (h/t @Chris_Keller ) runs Kisslicer, Repetier-Host, built-in webcam, OctoPi, and any other windows program you want to throw on it. Not super fast mind you, but compact size and touchscreen interface is the bonus. Plus when you’re not printing you can unplug it, take it to the couch, or to bed and watch Amazon, Hulu or Netflix, edit microsoft office files, surf the web, etc. on a pretty nice screen or via HDMI output to a big screen. I really like things that have more than one use. I bought this one for $300 after tax at my local Staples office supply store.

I’m not rushing forward to meet the lowest possible price point. I’d rather spend my time focusing on quality design and aesthetic. If you’re into that and you want a Pup of your own, the cost for a turnkey is $899 without the Win8 Tablet or Viki LCD controller. This is not a mass production printer and each one is assembled and tested before being either shipped ‘knock-down’ for much lower shipping costs to International customers and those that want some very light assembly, or, as a fully turnkey assembled for those that want to unbox and print. In either case, these GT2 Pup 170 deltabot printers are currently all fully assembled and tested personally by me before release into the wild.

[Steve_Kelly1 (Steve Kelly)]

What are “quality design” principles?

[Steve_Graber]

I said “Quality design and aesthetic”. == make something function well while at the same time have it be a pleasing to the eye and something you like to look at. I understand that some people do not care about the aesthetic, I mean, if it functions why bother making it look good right? And I’ll throw most cartesians into that bin. LOL. Seriously though, I know several people like this at my work who pay absolutely no regard to aesthetic (engineers anyone? ). But as a former architect (now do you get the engineer poke?) with an industrial design and an engineering background I personally want to be around objects that I enjoy looking at as much as I enjoy what they are used for and so I believe that the Pup looks great while at the same time achieving all of the functional goals that engineers call “quality design”.

[Steve_Kelly1 (Steve Kelly)]

Thanks for the reply! I totally agree. I’ve been really interested in this concept and how it can be quantified. In my mind it extends from the materials and methods (manufacturing, and design tools). In particular I am looking to create new design tools for open hardware, and I wonder how you can direct the CAD monkeys and enable the engineers and ID people simultaneously. Watching your development process it seems as if your designs ultimately become more aesthetically pleasing as you converge on better components, both manufactured and purchased. For example I remember the base on the filament-drive Pup to be mostly printed. Switching to waterjet cut plates and belt drive created something with a whole new aesthetic. You produce some really great stuff, thanks again for sharing!

[John_Driggers]

Steve, how are you loving the tablet? I’m still looking…

[Steve_Graber]

Thanks @Steve_Kelly1 . Very interesting. I’d like to know more about your efforts to quantify this obvious duality into software tools that can help improve aesthetic for Engineers and technical skills for designers. It sounds a lot like Dogs and Cats living together. Or Cowboys vs Aliens? In either case there are a myriad of stories from both sides about how the other side failed in some important issue. I feel very lucky that I can do a bit of both. That would make me a jack of all trades, but a master of none.