1 Topic by Tech-Com

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Topic: Ideas for increasing the build bed to 12"x6" (MOD)

I've got comfortable enough to start modding my soliddoodle.

I want to increase the building area to 12"x6"x6"

To do that I am going to take the door frame and move it forward another 6 inches.

Does anyone know where I can get some L shaped metal brackets that are used on the top of the box so that i can extend the length? It would be best if they were the same thickness and size of the as the original structure.

I'll also need longer belts and a longer rod/shafts, if the forum has a recommended source.


I'll also be putting two vertical support rods on the front of the build bed so that it does not sway left and right.

I have not started looking at how I will increase the size of the heater bed, but that shouldn't be too big of a problem, so long as I print the parts I need before I tear the machine apart lol.

Other ideas or suggestions would be appreciated.

2 Reply by wire10ga

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Re: Ideas for increasing the build bed to 12"x6" (MOD)

Dont know about thickness and size, but some cheap L metal is used/old bed frames.

SD2 - Glass Bed, Fans on PCB and Y motor, Custom enclosure
Slicer - Simplify3D

wire10ga's Website

3 Reply by pcpoirier

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Re: Ideas for increasing the build bed to 12"x6" (MOD)

Loews , homedepot and Ace hardware has them

4 Reply by Tech-Com

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Re: Ideas for increasing the build bed to 12"x6" (MOD)

pcpoirier wrote:

Loews , homedepot and Ace hardware has them

What are the typically called? I've been searching L Bracket, L Frame .etc

5 Reply by cozmicray

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Re: Ideas for increasing the build bed to 12"x6" (MOD)

Is your doodle printing perfectly?

Dumb idea!
Keep your doodle whole.

Build another printer with bigger volume.
Use doodle to print parts for new printer.
Lots of bigger printers /kits appearing out there
Mendalmax 1.5 / 2.0, Lutzbot, Trinitylabs A1, others

6 Reply by pcpoirier

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Re: Ideas for increasing the build bed to 12"x6" (MOD)

Amen

7 Reply by Tech-Com

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Re: Ideas for increasing the build bed to 12"x6" (MOD)

cozmicray wrote:

Is your doodle printing perfectly?

Dumb idea!
Keep your doodle whole.

Build another printer with bigger volume.
Use doodle to print parts for new printer.
Lots of bigger printers /kits appearing out there
Mendalmax 1.5 / 2.0, Lutzbot, Trinitylabs A1, others

So your saying its easier to build an entire printer from scratch than install some longer rods and belts? I do have plans to build a much larger printer, but baby steps first. Modding this will be a learning experience before I drop more than a grand on something much more complex.

8 Reply by ronsii

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Re: Ideas for increasing the build bed to 12"x6" (MOD)

Tech-Com wrote:
pcpoirier wrote:

Loews , homedepot and Ace hardware has them

What are the typically called? I've been searching L Bracket, L Frame .etc

'L metal' is typically called 'angle iron'

9 Reply by elmoret

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Re: Ideas for increasing the build bed to 12"x6" (MOD)

cozmicray wrote:

Is your doodle printing perfectly?

Dumb idea!
Keep your doodle whole.

Build another printer with bigger volume.
Use doodle to print parts for new printer.
Lots of bigger printers /kits appearing out there
Mendalmax 1.5 / 2.0, Lutzbot, Trinitylabs A1, others

+1

Filastruder - the robust, inexpensive filament extruder
E3Dv6 All Metal Hotend - the premier 3D printing hotend

10 Reply by iowajames

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Re: Ideas for increasing the build bed to 12"x6" (MOD)

Lulzbot btw.

No trees were harmed in the creation of this email, though some electrons were horribly inconvenienced.

11 Reply by jooshs

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Re: Ideas for increasing the build bed to 12"x6" (MOD)

Yes it would be easier to build a printer from scratch than try to modify a steel frame with lack tolerances. I would love to see a successful increased vol mod,  but building a new frame from scratch would be more precise.

12 Reply by cozmicray

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Re: Ideas for increasing the build bed to 12"x6" (MOD)

You got a great working printer.
If you mod it you won't have a working printer
to print things
If you mod your doodle you will have a one of a kind printer
with little community help.

You can get another doodle and mod it or SD3
or
get a kit with a lot of community support
or
Go out and make your own with all the greatest things you want
shooting out all kinds of ABS/PLA.  The drive electronics you want
and self coded firmware to soak up all kinds of neat g-code.

Learn about the 1000 parameters in Marlin, Slic3r and R-H with your
existing printer



Tech-Com wrote:
cozmicray wrote:

Is your doodle printing perfectly?

Dumb idea!
Keep your doodle whole.

Build another printer with bigger volume.
Use doodle to print parts for new printer.
Lots of bigger printers /kits appearing out there
Mendalmax 1.5 / 2.0, Lutzbot, Trinitylabs A1, others

So your saying its easier to build an entire printer from scratch than install some longer rods and belts? I do have plans to build a much larger printer, but baby steps first. Modding this will be a learning experience before I drop more than a grand on something much more complex.

13 Reply by Rondavouz

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Re: Ideas for increasing the build bed to 12"x6" (MOD)

Also since the X rods are glued in place it´s a bit hard to change the rods there. Had the same idea for my dual extruder setup but gave it up since it would have a too big change of ending bad.

14 Reply by ronsii

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Re: Ideas for increasing the build bed to 12"x6" (MOD)

I think the OP was going to extend the case forward and lengthen the y rods and belts which in itself is fairly easy and simple to accomplish smile it might be tricky to ensure a straight and square assembly after the mod but I think any deviations would be easily nullified in a good squaring process. This would be a cheap mod since the parts cost would be pretty low and time wise it wouldn't take more than a couple hours to drill out some rivets cut some metal and install new belts.

15 Reply by Gordym

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Re: Ideas for increasing the build bed to 12"x6" (MOD)

Trinitylabs.com sells belts, pulleys, rods, etc. that may help you accomplish the task. I would love to have a bigger build area but will opt to build a second printer instead of messing with my working printer.

SD2
E3D V6
MK5 V6

16 Reply by danny

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Re: Ideas for increasing the build bed to 12"x6" (MOD)

Tech-Com wrote:
cozmicray wrote:

Is your doodle printing perfectly?

Dumb idea!
Keep your doodle whole.

Build another printer with bigger volume.
Use doodle to print parts for new printer.
Lots of bigger printers /kits appearing out there
Mendalmax 1.5 / 2.0, Lutzbot, Trinitylabs A1, others

So your saying its easier to build an entire printer from scratch than install some longer rods and belts? I do have plans to build a much larger printer, but baby steps first. Modding this will be a learning experience before I drop more than a grand on something much more complex.

absolutely.
much easier to build a new frame, if you wanted to save some money you could tke the steppers and other electronics from the solidoodle, these are the expensive bits.

I'm not sure I understand what you;re hoping to complete with angle iron, when you;re building a carriage you really want/need smooth stainless steel rods that you puy either bushings or bearings around so that there is limited movement in the directions taht you don't really want the print head to move.