StrongPrint - The DIY Metal 3D Printer by kolergy

Last crawled date: 3 years ago

Design & Built with the support of the Artilect Fablab in Toulouse France
Affordable DIY metal 3d Printer based on TIG process
For more details in English: http://reprap.org/wiki/StrongPrint
Pour plus de details en Francais: http://reprap.org/wiki/StrongPrint/fr
Article on 3Dprint.com: http://3dprint.com/4787/3d-metal-printer-600-euros/
For the french speakers there is an article on 3D Natives:http://www.3dnatives.com/strong-print-3d-metal/
Videos:
Lift arc ignition test: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HJQUvF1kOV0
3 Layers line test: http://youtu.be/ro6W5TgIXXA
It consists of the Enlarged Rostock modified with a magnetic effector & coupes to a cheap 160Amps inverter MMA power source.
Spool Holder available from Iron_Momo: http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:335662/#files
Wire feed was one of the most difficult item to get right (and at the time being is not fully stabilized). What seems to work the best is to rapidly extrude & retract the metal wire to make sure it only melt where you want it to melt
Wire is 0.6mm steel. for MIG.
This machine is still very experimental & will evolve.
Setup & test phase activities:
Done: Arc ignition, process to reliably ignite the arc with the lift arc technique
Done: Arc Power & speed control to identify adequate settings to perform surface fusion of the baseplate
Done: initial metal deposition identify wire nozzle angle & position
Done: initial metal deposition identify speed wire feed quantity.
Done: Initial metal deposition identify preferencial directions
Done: initial few Layers stack-up test
On Going: identify adequate speed & power profile for layers stack-up
On Going: manage layer height
On Going: large number of layers stack-up test
Printer design & make:
Working: Printer movement mechanism, cinematics from Enlarged Rostock with added magnetic bearings. (a slightly larger magnet size could be beneficial)
Working: Fixed torch & nozzle holder
Working: Wire feed motor (Extruder)
Working: Wire nozzle holder & positioning device
Working: Tig torch modification
Working: Power source coupled with TIG torch
Working: Shielding of all wirerings to prevent electromagnetic interferences
Working: Wire roll holder including brake & wire damping mechanism
Working: Shilding of the control board
Working: Implemented Ignition GCode command & automatic lift arc ignition
Working: New 160A power source 80A was clearly to weak
Working: Arduino controlled Solenoid valve for argon
To Do: Arduino controlled power source
To Do: HF ignition system
Made in Fablab Artilect: https://artilect.fr/
Design Details to be provided on http://reprap.org/wiki/StrongPrint
(Page still in construction)