Rostock 3d Printer Upgrade. 12mm rods & 0 backlash…: http://youtu.be/RM1ytIyH6BQ Check out my latest invention, I’d love to get some feedback on it. It totally eliminates the play in end effectors of Rostock, Kossel or any delta printer…
This is a great idea, thanks for sharing.
Oh I should put a disclosure that I will be releasing all plans as Open Source. But I intend to sell upgrade kits and full kits to anyone interested. I have changed my entire career to be focused on making and selling open source 3d printers 
That is a very simple design. Since we are only 4 hours apart (Dunedin) and I have a full machine nearly ready to sell we should probably combine our efforts. 0220883936
Brilliant.
Great idea! But the Creative Commons - Non Commercial is not an Open Source license.
@bob_cousins if the source code is open then it is open source, it is not free to use.
Ok, sure I’ll review how the open source licenses work, I want to give the designs away so anyone can make them, but I would not (just yet) be happy for others to start selling my idea, I want to refine it and get it working real well, once I have done that and set up my business then I will let others sell it … What licencing would you recommend? I was just expecting to remove the ‘non commercial’ part later, is that viable? but cheers for the comments
And I don’t just mean make, I mean, modify, adapt, convert whatever. This system can be made for any delta style printer, I will pretty soon design a version for the extrusion style machines, but others will need to print and test it for me…
@Camerin_hahn No, all the Open Source licenses and all the bodies that approve Open Source licenses are quite clear and universally agree on this point. An Open Source license cannot contain a “non commercial” clause. LadyAda has some good advice http://www.ladyada.net/library/openhardware/license.html
@Tim_Jacobsen I understand the dilemma, but there is no easy answer… Open Source means allowing commercial competition, which can be a tough challenge, but is the only way to get all the benefits of Open Source. An NC clause actually only provides limited protection anyway, because copyright only applies to the design files, it doesn’t protect the idea. Only a patent can do that.
The decision is yours, but if you want to build a product with community support I would advise an Open license such as OSHW or CERN-OHL. If you want to dip a toe in the water then a non-Open CC-BY-NC is possible. Just remember none of these licenses will provide practical protection against unscrupulous copiers, only a team of lawyers can do that.
@bob_cousins Thanks for your clarity! I really do aim to promote Open Source printers in every way as these machines are a benefit to humanity and because of the Open Source spirit shared around the globe great things are coming from it. So I will take the risk of others selling my work as I think I can do a pretty good job regardless, what then about naming or some sort of acknowledgement of where it came from? I’m not trying to claim ownership, just more like the ‘inventor of’ I don’t know if I can even claim that, surely this sort of thing has been tried before but just not with 3D printers… At the end of the day I have started a 3D Printing company aiming to design and build on a mass scale Open Source 3D Printers, I have loads of experience as an engineer, programmer and web developer so this fits like a glove, so it would be nice that my business (providing it is a useful one) is easily found as a result of something I’ve done and not lost in the pink noise of the Internet… What do you think? Is there any risk that some money obsessed fool would try and take an idea like this away and patent then enforce that I can’t make & sell the parts? ie a closed source 3D Printer manufacture
Great work! But please tell us how you managed to drill holes in ballbearings.
check out my video, I posted a long comment describing this, I also have a bunch of footage to explain which I will post one day once I’ve edited it together. However, I don’t have the hardest ball bearings to start with, thats the key, find crappy but accurate ones 
I used ones found in magnetic kids toys
One of the first things I did when getting into the whole 3D Printing thing was to build a gigantic delta (named Bosstock) from scratch.
I wish I had seen this back then!! Would have massively influenced the design.
What string are you using?
Possible improvement would be a threaded-eye and locking nut at each carriage to tension the strings…?
@Joshua_Rowley yea I am using something called ‘dial cord’ which is used for old radio tuning dials which move across the radio telling you the frequency. It has a breaking capacity of only 12KG but it is very taught. A better option if using string would be that strong kite string which doesn’t stretch. But unless there is some real smooth joiners at each end I don’t know how long until it breaks…
Having a screw type tightening mechanism is a great idea though I will get an update in the next few days with the new tension I’m working on with a ball bearing on the other side with string though it, may add the screw idea to that to. I love how quickly this system is to modify as its mainly just in the printed parts once you have the ball rods made.
Cheers!
Great idea!! Although I noticed in your video that a lot of the play in the movement of your regular rostock was due to a screw that was visibly not anchored properly in the arm (e.g. at 3:50 in your video)
Hey. This is great idea. +1 May I ask you where is some link to your plans and so, Im really interested in building bigger delta and your idea of ball bearings is just awesome:)
@Filip_Kotoucek Thanks! I have some plans made in Design Spark Mechanical and also the STL printed parts which would limit modifications but suit 12mm rods and 15mm ball bearings. Will post a link soon, is overdue
Thx. Nice work