Dual-Struder Fabricator by smartroad

Last crawled date: 3 years ago

My first attempt of creating a 3D printer. It is for my A-Level Product Design and loosely based on the MendalMax - but all my own design. The only two parts that are a near exact copy of other parts are the direct drive extruder by raldrich and droftart's parametic pulleys. I have simply converted the extruder to use a NEMA 14 stepper rather than the geared motor.
The idea was to make a simple to build printer using as few nuts and bolts as possible and maximum printed parts. Also I wanted to have a double extrusion system as well. Build volume is 200x200x170mm on one extruder or about 200x150x170 with both extruders
I have no guarantees that this will even work - but I plan to eventually build it. I would welcome any constructive comments to improve it. Also any suggestions for a better name would be great ;)
Once I start to order parts I will update a BoM on here. I have tried to keep it so that all the parts are the same throughout the printer (same linear bearings, bearings, 8mm rod to all axis' etc) to reduce the number of different parts to order.
Attached is the SketchUp file of the complete fabricator - again I will update with STL's of parts as I start to build.
Update 25/07/2013
Final parts ordered for the heated bed and hotend. Will be waiting about 4 weeks for the hotend to turn up (going for an E3D one). Hopefully will have it all operating soon.
Update 10/07/2013
Project files are now available on GitHub: https://github.com/smartroad/DSF. I'll be maintaining on there while building then update again here any final changes.
Update 23/06/2013
While I wait for payday so I can buy the steppers and electronics I have started to create the build manual. It isn't complete but should give a feel for the style I want to go for. Any suggestions gratefully received!
Update 16/06/2013
Finally finished the design and have printed, and built, all of the printer. Currently updating this page with all the new STLs and SketchUP file. Now I have to wait until I can afford to buy the steppers, electronics, power supply and hotends! STLs have now been uploaded.
Update 12/06/2013
Continued building the machine now have the Y and Z axis installed. Did make a small error of forgetting to put the bearings on the rod before I installed them! I am hoping by the end of the week that I shall have all the parts printed and ready to go. I will then be waiting on steppers, electronics and the hotend.
Update 31/05/2013
Changed from using the MXL pulley gear from RepRapPro to droftart's parametric T5 one.
Update 29/05/2013
Started build. Pictures uploaded of frame progress.
Update 21/05/2013
Started ordering so here is the link to the BoM
Update 18/05/2013
Added the STLs. The carriage is still not complete as I have yet to decide on a hotend etc. Also haven't added the extruder yet - although the current design can be pulled from the SketchUp file.