Thread: 3D Printer.

Hey Brad,

The rep-rap style machines are great for what they are. They are slow when running (Apparently about 4+hrs for a decent shotglass i was told) but its the type of machine you would not be too worried about leaving unattended. They are cheap to run and great for an intro into 3d printing. Best of all, they will asses the undercuts of the parts meaning alot more detail.

Personally, i looked into making one for myself and came to the solution that i would look into a layer printer. This is like the professional machines, it sweeps a very thin layer of powder across the surface, and a head like an inkjet printer sweeps the surface laying a glue like substance to the spots needed. The the table drops the depth of a layer and a new layer added and this is repeated hundreds of times to get the final work. It can then be coated, moulded and re-produced. The candy fab machine by the evil mad scientist labs is similar although only prinintg with butane and sugar. I like the egenral frame work.

Here is a guy that converted a printer, it looks like it is working well. The frame leaves a bit to the imagination though and would look great made into a proper design. [ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=snOErpOP5Xk"]Here[/ame] is another great deisgn, this one uses UV light to cure the structure.

There is a few others on the net, however these types of printer don't have readily enough information and harder to find when compared to the re-rap style machine and can only assume the costs may be slightly more.

Just food for thought.
Daniel

Hey Daniel, Thanks for the info. I thought I'd get this book for some reading. Cheaper on Amazon then Boarders.

[ame=http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1430234431]Amazon.com: Printing in Plastic: Build Your Own 3D Printer (Technology in Action) (9781430234432): Patrick Hood-Daniel, James Floyd Kelly: Books[/ame]

Brad.

One of the guys at work is building one. I will post some pictures as the build progresses.
I have been thinking about adding a extruder head to my desktop CNC. I will wait and see how the above unit turns out first.

Excellent. Looking forward to it.

Brad.

Brad,

Let us know what the book is like. That name seemed familiar, then realised he is the guy that made the buildyourowncnc site. He collects some great info to follow up his ideas.

Daniel

The Rap-man was at Sydney Working with Woodshow RapMan Australia | Affordable 3D Printing
$2500
Amazing stuff coil of plastic $150 per kilo

From what i saw only imagination and size of machine hold you back. Use of caustic soda to remove waste not to happy about. Strength of whats produced depends on design.

Im still reading about people doing this... these guys looks to be doing some good work on conversions.

3D Printing Mach3 Emc on a CNC Router - ROCKCLIFF CNC Machine Builders Forum

Brad.