Month: January 2018

3D Printer that makes 3D printers

If you look at the history of RepRap, the initial goal of RepRap printers was to make more RepRap printers. Hence “Replicating Rapid Prototyper”. Inspired by technology that came about in the 80s (and after patents expired), the concept evolved commercially. Eventually, it veered away from the initial idea of being able to self-replicate. Today, there are so many variations on 3D printers. Everything from complete, barebones DIY kits to turnkey systems. Many offer their data for free as ‘open source’. You can download Lulzbot CAD files, for example.But, unless you own a machine shop capable of cutting metal, routing, forming, or machining, “RepRapping” existing printers today is difficult. Even the Prusa, which started out as a true RepRap machine, is difficult to recreate exactly unless you have a machine shop. Sure, you can buy the frame kits (and they are not expensive), but if you wanted to start from scratch you really can’t unless you’ve got the aforementioned fabricating capabilities.There are a handful of designs out there which do offer a large portion of 3D printed components. Many still require purchase of things like channel rail and hardware.There are some that I am aware of which have the entire structure designed from the start to be 3D printed.MapleMaker is a small format ‘box’ printer. It’s a pretty neat design, but looks like not much has been done with it over the past few years.There is also the Snappy printer which goes so far as to make all the linear motion components 3D printed. This has some understandable quality issues.There’s another that I don’t recall at the moment which is made of modular blocks that looks promising and is scaleable.I have designed a line of true open-source, 3D printable “industrial strength” (note quotes) 3D printers that have proven to be quite functional.By “Industrial Strength” I just mean I have been running a print farm using these designs for the past 3 years pretty much nonstop. I currently have a dozen printers. There are 4 different models at the moment and I am currently working on a 400 x 400 x 400 monster.You can find out more on my Website: http://ift.tt/2AC0Edr and you can download all the 3D models (STL/STEP) from my GitHub repo: http://ift.tt/2CC9RnH a look and let me know what you think. Note I am in the process of updating the printer information on that site, so if you have any questions don’t hesitate to ask. http://ift.tt/2ACKkcs

TIFU: First print on a mirror? Don’t panic like I did.

So I recently got a CR-10 and I picked up some mirror tiles to print onto. “I’ve printed on glass before, this is gonna be identical.” I thought to myself. I was right, but after walking away to get some water, I came back and my print was lifting off the bed! “How could this be?” I thought. I had applied the appropriate amount of hairspray, and I remember the first layer going down real well.I rushed to octoprint to cancel my print, and I went to pick it up from where I saw it peeling.And then my hand hit the mirror.What I thought was lifting, was actually just the reflection. I felt so dumb. Luckily it wasn’t that far into the print. Just a piece of advice not to jump to conclusions, especially when it’s a slightly new process.TL;DRMirrors reflect. http://ift.tt/2COU0X1