Topic: My Big Hack - all metal SD3.
After obtaining (and subsequently repairing shipping damage and mechanically upgrading) one of the few QUBD RXL printers, the SoliDoodle 3 sat unused for almost 2 years. So I adopted it and took it home. I have since spent way too much time and effort modeling and machining metal carriages and a metal geared head extruder. Pretty much straight up conversion. All the motors in the same place, ball bearings on anything that rotates or slides. No flex anywhere, at all. Geared extruder allows a smaller stepper. Gears are from a junk drawer AC gearmotor (9:1). Used the stock nozzle/heater block/thermister. Barrel is SS 1/4-20 all-thread with a PEEK liner above the heat break.
Everything machined on my hand-crank 30 year old JET 830 mill and JET 1024 lathe.
Also installed an MK2B bed running off a 24V 15A powersupply. More even bed temp distribution, but still takes 20min to come to temp. Work to do there.
Older mods are an M3 Z axis lead screw, bed front anti-shake brace, a pillow block on the Y-gantry connecting shaft, clear plastic enclosure, typical stuff.
Nice to have at home. It hangs on the wall next to the mill.
Not expecting anyone to wish to replicate this, but I am happy enough with the outcome to share pics.
It worked fine before. But I could ... so I did.