@Griffin_Paquette I’m looking forward to seeing your progress! I have always been interested in making simple kit. It would be very inspiring to me as well.
@DongWon_Han_DWONH thanks!! Super pumped to be designing again and hopefully getting some other people to build the printers as the cost drops. I’ll document as much as Brook is cool with as I know he mentioned a new extruder and such that might need to stay on the down low but it’s his call on that. Otherwise everyone can see how it is to iterate and design.
I went through the kit today and am the posting newly updated product for sale soon. I am using surplus parts (non-production printer parts) for a cost savings. The extruder will be Alu v1 for a while as it is basic and very tested. It does not work with flexible filament. After about a hundred kits, I’ll bump to the plastic. The power supply is also non-Production but works great. And the acme rod is 10.5" but a retired part… It’s overkill for 6x6x6, but my cheapest option. The bars are actually production bars and overkill but they hit the sweet spot for price. This may result in a larger than 6x6x6 printer, but that’s good I think. Cost/value is the goal.
Now to come up with a solid, easy to build design. It may make sense to model some of the the laser cuts parts as identical pieces in both laser cut and printed pieces to accommodate those w/o a laser cutter. I would love to have this be an option for those with a 3D printer but no access to a laser cutter.
I haven’t decided on the bed, so we will need to consider this. One option is to use self-sourced glass with foul like griffin uses. The other would be to just have me cut a piece of aluminum.
Brook
I like the aluminum if you think you can work it into the price. I chose that system because a sheet of 8x10 in aluminum is quite a bit for us to buy locally. I can for sure model the pieces to be printable. They might have to be bolted together but I see where you are coming from.
I’m excited to see the plastic extruder as well!!
I’ll send one to you too
Thank you very much @Brook_Drumm
@Brook_Drumm am I allowed to post any photos of the new kit?
Of course! No constraints at all. I’ll have the kit for sale very soon… Regular will still be $250 (the required price to keep it around a long time and alwYs in stock), but I’ll leave it on sale for a while at $199.
This is for RepRap builders, hackerspaces, schools and educators that have a laser cutter.
If we keep the design really tightly packed and as small as possible- to keep the wood material cost as low as possible, I may be able to have the total kit in the $299 range. Other tips to keep part count low and straight forward: use as few sizes of screws as possible. Zip ties don’t scare me, but some don’t trust them btw.
One idea I had after building the Plus Overkill scrap-bot was to use the table as a non-moving print surface (could even be glass) and move the whole light-weight bot on the y axis. It would be like a tiny Big-E design. I at least wonder if it would reduce part count. It could roll on 608 bearings in a track on one side and roll freely on the other. Just a crazy thought. I have an idea for keeping the track with the belt attached as a detachable piece. That would make it really portable too.
Even if you want to design seperately and I’ll make my own crazy design just to be different, that’s cool. Others should submit designs too to see what kind of variety and different approaches with strengths and weaknesses we all come up with!
I should do a design contest with a free printrbot as the prize- give 30 days to submit a design… The bit with the most retweets could win.
Brook
I have a different design I’ve been working on that I want to try out first. The only worry about that is wouldn’t it weigh more than moving the bed alone by a fair amount?
Could you specify what type of wood you use? Is it 6mm or .25 in and any recommendation where I could get some? I was just going to mock up with .25 in mdf but I don’t know which size you use.
No problem! Let’s pursue your design first. If I get the urge, I’ll do my crazy design on extra time.
I think I design in 6mm but always do a tab/slot/hole test and then adjust all my drawings for a good fit before cutting. Different laser cutters have different offsets, so fiddling w drawings is a must for excellent fit. The difference in thickness is negligible (6mm vs 6.125mm). Using components for slots, tabs and holes is a huge time saver. Doing parametric design where all critical measurements are locked into position with the needed relationships to other features is taking it to next level. Which I’ve never done, btw, just to be honest. Brian has I am sure though.
1/4" wood is much easier to source. I started by getting my bitch plywood from Michaels (6mm) or ordering online.
I love using solid works and honestly design all my 2d in there as well to export it as a dxf or just straight to our laser cutter. It gives you the option to lock components into place to just change hole spacing as needed like you said so we could probably save as a dxf if you don’t have a key for solid works. I’m open to any programs if you have a preference as to which!
I’ll pick up some wood from Michaels… Never thought about them having some! Once the parts come I’ll inventory and will hopefully have a (rough) layout by this weekend.
-Griffin
@Brook_Drumm just got the kit. Looks really nice. If we could work out a size of aluminum for the bed is it a possibility that we could get them cut? It looks like the rods are long enough to hit around 175mm build area in the y. I personally would be one with a 150mm in the x and y but that’s up to you. Also, will you be switching to the plastic extruder for these? If so, I was thinking that it had no mounting holes on the bottom. I was thinking about mounting the extruder on a flat surface instead, but this may not work with the plastic.
You said you would have an adaption for the simple? Maybe we could implement a similar thing to this or would you like to mount it on a faceplate instead?
For the bed- send me a design you want cut and I’ll send you one to consider. It would add a little to the cost. I haven’t decided on that yet.
Yes, the plastic will be shipping w the kit- holes for mounting on verticals surface only. Like the play and plus. The simple will soon have a vertical mount 
Ok awesome!! I’m gonna mock up a cad design this weekend and share it and you can tell me what you think/we can edit!