http://www.soliforum.com/topic/6526/pre … revisited/

I already have all the parts for this, it's just that I never found the time actually put it together.  It's all sitting in a nice box in the closet.

Maybe some day....

markpenix wrote:

pirvan wrote:

Thanks,  I use Solidworks for most of my stuff.

Very cool. I've toyed with making my own printer as well and it's interesting to see others process. Are you planning an enclosure ala solidoodle/makerbot or more open style reprap? After receiving my solidoodle 3 about a week or so ago I would've designed the frame much differently but maybe that's just me.

It's most likely going to be open frame, but it will use extruded aluminum beams like these:

I know this is an old post but any updates on it?
I also think about using ballscrew for x and y and would love some feedback if you did it.
thanks

pirvan wrote:

markpenix wrote:

Really nice design so far. What are you using to do these renders/designs? I use sketchup/Cinema 4d pretty regularly - never really got accustomed to cad software per se.

Thanks,  I use Solidworks for most of my stuff.

Very cool. I've toyed with making my own printer as well and it's interesting to see others process. Are you planning an enclosure ala solidoodle/makerbot or more open style reprap? After receiving my solidoodle 3 about a week or so ago I would've designed the frame much differently but maybe that's just me.

It's most likely going to be open frame, but it will use extruded aluminum beams like these:

markpenix wrote:

Really nice design so far. What are you using to do these renders/designs? I use sketchup/Cinema 4d pretty regularly - never really got accustomed to cad software per se.

Thanks,  I use Solidworks for most of my stuff.

Very cool. I've toyed with making my own printer as well and it's interesting to see others process. Are you planning an enclosure ala solidoodle/makerbot or more open style reprap? After receiving my solidoodle 3 about a week or so ago I would've designed the frame much differently but maybe that's just me.

Really nice design so far. What are you using to do these renders/designs? I use sketchup/Cinema 4d pretty regularly - never really got accustomed to cad software per se.

Thanks,  I use Solidworks for most of my stuff.

I hate to criticise, but that looks like a lot of weight for 8mm rods. May want to upgrade to 12mm.

I won't know for sure until I actually build this, but I don't think so.  I have some 8mm rods I got from McMaaster Carr, and they are hardened steel.  Then there's the balls screw itself which has an unbelievable rigidity factor by design, so I don't think that something that weighs less than a pound is going to make it deflect.

But we won't know for sure until I get it built...  One of these days

Problem with optical positioning is that is usually works in a short range of distances. I was thinking more along the lines of http://www.celesco.com/linearpot/

The MLP series shown above runs at about $500 per unit, but these are MIL spec; idea is to use similar unit for 10 bucks.
Or may be even make your own.

Precision screw should work better then belts for backlash reasons, however i suspect that it will also be much slower; since it usually has very high mechanical force advantage. An idea i played with in my mind and on the back of a napkin is to add 3 linear position sensors and have the head location controlled in real time via the position sensors instead of just linear calibration of drive belts.

Are you thinking about something like this?

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Parker-Maxon-Mi … %26ps%3D54

I think to use this type of slider from Igus

I looked at Igus product and I assume you're looking at their DryLin product.  Their iGlide product seems to be made from some proprietary plastics mix, similar to Teflon or Delrin.

I like the stuff, but I personally prefer to have this machined from alluminum and have linear bearings instead of plastic bushings.

Hi @pirvan,

...I plan to use only one motor by axis because the movement of balls crew is irreversible and if one motor fail the other cannot drive the axis, (mechanical laws for bolts and screws). For cutting the structure i think to use water jet cut.

I'm not sure I understand what you mean by irreversible.  The ballscrew turns bidirectlionally, so each ball screw is driven by one motor only. 

At this moment, I haven't decided if the motor will be in-line and drive the screw directly, or if I will be mounting it on top of the end block and using a gear drive.