1 Topic by pretenda

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Topic: Portable printer

Hi everyone!

So I've had my solidoodle now for quite some time, and it's starting to feel pretty old. I'm looking at rebuilding lots of it (new bearings, belts, etc) but I don't want to tear it apart again without having another printer to print replacement parts.

But before I go on that adventure, I want to build a small portable printer that I can take with me to work. I've tried to travel with my solidoodle, but it is just awkward and I feel it is so fragile it'll break any moment. I have a case with dimensions of (in mm) 378w x 306d x 209h and would love to build a printer to fit in this. It doesn't have to have a huge build area, just enough to get by. 100x100x100 would be ideal, but if I lose some z height that's ok too.

So my question to you all is, have you seen a reliable, portable and simple design that I can hop off?

I've been looking at popfab, but there isn't a great deal of info about it, nor is it going to have a very big print area.

I am thinking the bukito looks like a great design to get inspiration from, but it is closed source (even though they said they'd release the designs over a year ago now) it probably wouldn't be hard to replicate though.

Any others that I haven't seen?

2 Reply by n2ri (edited by n2ri 2014-12-01 04:59:24)

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Re: Portable printer

yeah they got one of those on the international space station ;^P

seriously, I been thinking of the same thing like an old SD1 or something even smaller/newer mods. be cool for my next venture, becoming mayor of local 3Dhubs and using one at meetings/clinics for public etc bi-monthly. something that could print small quick PLA items with minimal fumes and visible from all sides for demos. maybe have a few of them humming along.

thats how we got Model railroading so popular. N scale modular layouts called NTRAK with clubs setting up layouts at malls and shows getting 1st hand public exposure and participation. once kids got involved, parents had to learn about what next years Christmas gifts would be.

3D printing is now at this point in growing, development. bring it into the public's domain so they can see, touch and feel what they are missing and their kids future.

small things and specialty tools/toys/hobbies. need this. because John Q Public wont take the time to search out where to get this new tech stuff. plus not many retail outlets sell it with any selection or demos like a new Car or big ticket items.

Solidoodle 2 with Deluxe kit cover & glass bed with heater. and 2nd board SD2 used not 3rd and alum platform not installed yet still wood. also need cooling fan installed to board. use Repetier Host couple vers. Slic3r also have all free ware STL programs

3 Reply by n2ri (edited by n2ri 2014-12-01 05:04:57)

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Re: Portable printer

maybe Solidoodle should have done this instead of the Press and it would have been more likely of an instant success instead of the Foo-par it has become.

it may be called a kids toy but hey I got tons of such "toys" that I have been making and selling hobby details with for years b4 3D printing became affordable for home use

Solidoodle 2 with Deluxe kit cover & glass bed with heater. and 2nd board SD2 used not 3rd and alum platform not installed yet still wood. also need cooling fan installed to board. use Repetier Host couple vers. Slic3r also have all free ware STL programs

4 Reply by grob

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Re: Portable printer

Is a Foo-par a combination of a faux pas and FUBAR? I think I'm going to steal that! big_smile

SD3. Mk2b + glass, heated enclosure, GT2 belts, direct drive y shaft, linear bearings, bowden-feed E3D v5 w/ 0.9° stepper
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5 Reply by n2ri

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Re: Portable printer

grob wrote:

Is a Foo-par a combination of a faux pas and FUBAR? I think I'm going to steal that! big_smile

what else would you call Solidoodles flub? LOL

Solidoodle 2 with Deluxe kit cover & glass bed with heater. and 2nd board SD2 used not 3rd and alum platform not installed yet still wood. also need cooling fan installed to board. use Repetier Host couple vers. Slic3r also have all free ware STL programs

6 Reply by n2ri (edited by n2ri 2014-12-04 02:16:44)

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Re: Portable printer

most of my 6,00+ STL files could be printed on a 3x3 bed and at scales I use many for, even a 2x2 size lol. I really like the idea of a small portable 3D printer for travel and demo clinics use. $200-$300 price would make it easy for kids to get into the game. even run it from their tablets. and use the makerbot mini filament rolls

Solidoodle 2 with Deluxe kit cover & glass bed with heater. and 2nd board SD2 used not 3rd and alum platform not installed yet still wood. also need cooling fan installed to board. use Repetier Host couple vers. Slic3r also have all free ware STL programs

7 Reply by n2ri (edited by n2ri 2014-12-04 08:38:08)

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Re: Portable printer

like this, or some of the built in carry case types if they where cheaper

http://www.cnet.com/news/the-micro-3d-p … n-one-day/

or this

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/de … everywhere

or cheaper

http://creatorbot.com/

then theres the OMG I gotta have one of these!

http://www.iboxprinters.com/ibox-nano-1/

Solidoodle 2 with Deluxe kit cover & glass bed with heater. and 2nd board SD2 used not 3rd and alum platform not installed yet still wood. also need cooling fan installed to board. use Repetier Host couple vers. Slic3r also have all free ware STL programs

8 Reply by DePartedPrinter

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Re: Portable printer

http://portabee3dprinter.com/

SD2 with E3D, SD Press, Form 1+
Filastruder
NYLON (taulman): http://www.soliforum.com/topic/466/nylon/

9 Reply by n2ri

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Re: Portable printer

DePartedPrinter wrote:

http://portabee3dprinter.com/


saw it but cost is high like one of the links I posted. more than many full size printers

Solidoodle 2 with Deluxe kit cover & glass bed with heater. and 2nd board SD2 used not 3rd and alum platform not installed yet still wood. also need cooling fan installed to board. use Repetier Host couple vers. Slic3r also have all free ware STL programs

10 Reply by DePartedPrinter

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Re: Portable printer

n2ri wrote:
DePartedPrinter wrote:

http://portabee3dprinter.com/


saw it but cost is high like one of the links I posted. more than many full size printers

There is a premium for portability.

SD2 with E3D, SD Press, Form 1+
Filastruder
NYLON (taulman): http://www.soliforum.com/topic/466/nylon/

11 Reply by Ggalisky

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Re: Portable printer

DePartedPrinter wrote:

http://portabee3dprinter.com/

Nice looking printer. They have a ten week lead time. For the wait they give you extra PLA to compensate, and that is pretty cool.

Ulitmaker 2, a few repraps, Custom Big FFF 3D printer with heated chamber.

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12 Reply by n2ri

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Re: Portable printer

the last link in my post is the smallest 3D printer so far and liquid type with better resolution and way cheaper than anything close to it. plus it will print all my N scale items and small detail stuff with lots less issues of heat, noise, smells etc.
I am seriously thinking of buying at least 1 of them after browsing their sites info

Solidoodle 2 with Deluxe kit cover & glass bed with heater. and 2nd board SD2 used not 3rd and alum platform not installed yet still wood. also need cooling fan installed to board. use Repetier Host couple vers. Slic3r also have all free ware STL programs

13 Reply by Tin Falcon

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Re: Portable printer

Take a look at this one full size print area fits in a brief case sized case that will fit in a commercial Air line  overhead compartment.



Tin

Soliddoodle 4 stock w glass bed------Folger Tech Prusa 2020 upgraded to and titan /aero extruder mirror bed
FT5 with titan/ E3D Aero------MP mini select w glass bed
MP Utimate maker pro-W bondtech extruder
Marlin/Repetier Host/ Slic3r and Cura

14 Reply by pretenda

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Re: Portable printer

Sorry for dumping this question and then running. Work and sickness stole my life for a while.

The portable looks amazing, but the cost is a bit on the high side for what I am after. I have already got a bunch of my tools in sortimo L-Boxxes (as you can probably see from my thingiverse page) so I plan on building it into one of them. This means I can afford a bit more room than the portabee. I'm thinking maybe a solid z axis, one that doesn't fold out and cause calibration/reliability issues. This means having a smaller z height but that's ok. Thanks for all the thoughts so far! Keep them coming!

15 Reply by n2ri

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Re: Portable printer

Tin Falcon wrote:

Take a look at this one full size print area fits in a brief case sized case that will fit in a commercial Air line  overhead compartment.



Tin

this was a year ago and no price as its a 1 off. also ABS printed on a large open bed is prone to warping/spiting etc

Solidoodle 2 with Deluxe kit cover & glass bed with heater. and 2nd board SD2 used not 3rd and alum platform not installed yet still wood. also need cooling fan installed to board. use Repetier Host couple vers. Slic3r also have all free ware STL programs

16 Reply by Tin Falcon

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Re: Portable printer

So my question to you all is, have you seen a reliable, portable and simple design that I can hop off?

IMHO what I posted is a good starting point. , Proof of concept if you will for a portable printer.
yes there are many points on this and almost any 3d printer that can be improved. the wiring is sloppy there is no protection for the PCB one could argue that there are better boards than the RAMPS  better extruder etc.  But It is very portable and a good size print area.

This was a year ago and no price as its a 1 off. also ABS printed on a large open bed is prone to warping/spiting etc

Well if the next would be make a folding cover.
Tin

Soliddoodle 4 stock w glass bed------Folger Tech Prusa 2020 upgraded to and titan /aero extruder mirror bed
FT5 with titan/ E3D Aero------MP mini select w glass bed
MP Utimate maker pro-W bondtech extruder
Marlin/Repetier Host/ Slic3r and Cura