Hi! I’m planing on building a 3D printer, but I’m not sure where to start.
I’d like to know a bit more about the different extruders/hotends and the motor drivers.
I’m not sure if I should get an pre-made frame or make one myself, as I lack basic building tools.
I have been looking at this frame:
http://shop.seemecnc.com/Prusa-i3-LC-Parts-w-side-supports-i3LCP.htm
I’d like some advice.
I’m interested to hear the suggestions too.
So you’re telling me to buy a kit instead? That’s fine by me, but why do you recommend the Mendel90 over the other printers?
Answering your questions I want it just for hobby, but I’d like one with the ability to use thick or fine layers depending on if I need detail or speed.
Thanks for the response. I will follow your advice, as the kit fits in my budget.
You should rerally consider the Ultimaker too @Alan_L . I think it still holds the top spot for speed and accuracy and the slicing software that Ultimaker funds (Cura) is really coming along. If he has time maybe @ThantiK could relay his recent experience of building one? Particularly relevant as he has had a lot of experience working with other printers too.
From a Hot end perspective, if you want the latest greatest, all-metal hot ends are the ‘state of the art’ (at least in the open source domain). Previous generations tended to use PEEK insulators that constrained the upper temperature limits of the HE (as it would melt) and consequently the materials you could print with. There are a few options out there but the one that seems to be getting the best community feedback is the E3D hot end. Coincidentally, @Sanjay_Mortimer is 1 half of the team that has developed the E3D hot end (correct me if I’m wrong Sanjay).
For extruders, there are several categories. They can initially be divided between Bowden and direct drive. Bowdens have the extruder motor fixed to the frame of the printer and push the filament down a flexible PTFE tube to the hot end mounted on the carriage (the bit that moves). Direct drives generally involve the extruder and motor being mounted directly on the carriage. There are pros and cons to both.
Finally, to muddy the waters further, you might also look at the delta bots out there like the Rostock Max http://shop.seemecnc.com/Rostock-MAX-COMPLETE-3D-Printer-Kit-68398.htm
Agree with @Sanjay_Mortimer . I started with a RepRapPro Huxley kit and used it to print the parts for one of the first Mendel90s, before the kits were available. @nop_head sells his kits for little more than it cost more to buy all the parts for my DIY version. A kit is definitely a great way to get started, especially if you don’t have your own machine shop.
Thanks for the info @Tim_Rastall , the Ultimaker looks like a nice machine but I’m afraid that it doesn’t fit under my current budget, so the Mendel90 still looks like the way to go, for that and the ease to build and troubleshoot just as @Sanjay_Mortimer said.
It looks like I’ll need to dive a little more in the hot end subject, but for now I will have my hands full trying to setup my new printer.
@Sanjay_Mortimer It isn’t a bad thing to to suggest your own work if you believe it is superior to the other alternatives, but I understand how you feel, as I would probably act the same way.
Thanks for your help guys!
I have seen @nop_head kit built and used here in Sheffield, it does print well. And importantly supported well by the designer.