Well, Budget IS always a concern.  But one who does not see time as capital is doomed to waste it.  This RAMPS conversion is easily $75+ bucks in parts and 15-20 hours of labor, and learning. Even at a modest $15/hr worth my time ( that is ridiculously low), that is over $350.00.

I can get a reprap  for 1/2 that, and spend just 5-6 hours assembling it.  Then I have 2 printers. and one is a 200mm+ volume

Increase print bed volume is never a motivation for RAMPS conversion for Jr.. I did my first one so that I don't have to buy their expensive filament. (Now the paper tag method came out, this is no longer attractive reason anymore)

When I got my 2nd Jr. I RAMPS converted it anyway because I found RAMPS conversion allows improvement of print quality and make it a lot quieter. I spend about $50 for the parts and about 10 hours for the 1st Jr. and about 6 hours for the 2nd Jr.

I don't know how it take less time to build print from kits than replace a mainboard, but if both time and budget is a concern, check out Maker Select V2/Plus on ebay. It take about 10 minutes to assamble and you can bid one for $150-200. It is very noisy printer, but print quality is great.

billpealer wrote:

The issue is the firmware sets the limit and there is no way to alter the firmware in this model. So the only option to achieve your goal is to replace the controller with one that has firmware you can alter. Of course there is always the option of buying a different printer with a larger bed.

I hear ya,...  just never realized I could print a phone case.  my phone is 155mm long   I am just going to split and fuse the model after printing in halves.  I have had good luck fusing with a mini torch and a 3d pen.  5 GD mm!!   argh!

Well, you could try printing on its side ( using rafts / brims ) and put the case diagonally across the bed.  The diagonal is 212 mm.

i pondered this.  good suggestion.  I am printing TPU.  have you tried supports for tpu yet?  that are pretty dreadful.

Yes, if budget is not a concern, buying another printer with larger build volume is better option. The space seemed to be "wasted" by stock design is conserved for hotend parking spot and reduce risk of unexpected issue that might affect your print quality or even damage your printer. And you will see similar design when you get printers with larger build volume.

Well, Budget IS always a concern.  But one who does not see time as capital is doomed to waste it.  This RAMPS conversion is easily $75+ bucks in parts and 15-20 hours of labor, and learning. Even at a modest $15/hr worth my time ( that is ridiculously low), that is over $350.00.

I can get a reprap  for 1/2 that, and spend just 5-6 hours assembling it.  Then I have 2 printers. and one is a 200mm+ volume

The issue is the firmware sets the limit and there is no way to alter the firmware in this model. So the only option to achieve your goal is to replace the controller with one that has firmware you can alter. Of course there is always the option of buying a different printer with a larger bed.

I hear ya,...  just never realized I could print a phone case.  my phone is 155mm long   I am just going to split and fuse the model after printing in halves.  I have had good luck fusing with a mini torch and a 3d pen.  5 GD mm!!   argh!

Well, you could try printing on its side ( using rafts / brims ) and put the case diagonally across the bed.  The diagonal is 212 mm.

The issue is the firmware sets the limit and there is no way to alter the firmware in this model. So the only option to achieve your goal is to replace the controller with one that has firmware you can alter. Of course there is always the option of buying a different printer with a larger bed.

I hear ya,...  just never realized I could print a phone case.  my phone is 155mm long   I am just going to split and fuse the model after printing in halves.  I have had good luck fusing with a mini torch and a 3d pen.  5 GD mm!!   argh!

yizhou.he wrote:

It is easy after RAMPS conversion, not sure how to do it in stock condition.

i really did not want to permanently alter this unit to the extent of the ramps mod.

if time is $, then buying a new unit is a better option

The issue is the firmware sets the limit and there is no way to alter the firmware in this model. So the only option to achieve your goal is to replace the controller with one that has firmware you can alter. Of course there is always the option of buying a different printer with a larger bed.

This should be a factor for all new perspective buyers to consider. They need to ask themselves what the largest print they think they will make is and will the model they consider accommodate that print in stock form. Of course you can't know all the prints you will make and there will always come a time when you need larger. You then need to divide up the print then glue it together or buy a bigger printer. My choice was to buy the biggest I could afford and hope I don't out grow it.

It is easy after RAMPS conversion, not sure how to do it in stock condition.

i really did not want to permanently alter this unit to the extent of the ramps mod.

if time is $, then buying a new unit is a better option