The RepRap 3D Printer

G'day Guy's,
Yesterday I went and registered with Design Spark with the hope of getting a free diligent board when I came across this RepRap. I did spend hours researching it and I do think this open source project is the best thing since sliced bread..... The only downside from my point of view all the electronics are based on the AMTEL arduino setup. Personally I'm going to start a project where I'll be using pic's and may even go the maximite route yet.

One can retro fit an exisiting CNC and the setup will be for a 4 axis machine. The 4th axis is just for the stepper on the extruder head and the scripts have already be done for EMC so for the guy's who do use EMC for their CNC's already have a head start.

I did go have a look this morning and the smallest drill I have here is 0.015" so I'll get my micro lathe back up and going to drill the ejector hole and making the nozzles will be a breeze.

https://reprap.org/wiki/Main_Page

Anyway guy's what ya reckon......

Regards Bryan

Why is it a downside that it's based on Atmel's chips?

Just been looking at your links. Inspiring stuff I must say.

Sceadwian said:

Why is it a downside that it's based on Atmel's chips?

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He already explained?.

Personally I'm going to start a project where I'll be using pic's and may even go the maximite route yet

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Hi Bryan,
the RepRap project did originally use PICs, see here:
https://reprap.org/wiki/BuildingTheCommonElectronicsForAllTheControlBoards

Perhaps they changed to Arduino to get builders up & running more quickly?

Convert the code and submit it, the project is opensource I'm sure adding a Maximite control board option would be nice for users that prefer PIC's.

I've been thinking of getting one of these..... Then printing another.... The arduino manages quite well in this design.. I don't think it needs updating! Does it?

Ian Rogers said:

I've been thinking of getting one of these..... Then printing another.... The arduino manages quite well in this design.. I don't think it needs updating! Does it?

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Could I have first dibs on the first born?

My debate... should I / shouldn't I Pro's...The thing is cool and can provide quite a few prototypes.... possibly end products.. Relatively easy to make!!

Con's The plastic is expensive (over £30 per reel) and that's for basic plastics... The second is the smell... There is a engineering plastics place about a mile away (they would actually provide the plastics ).. On a bad day the stench is overpowering..

It would cost me about £300 to make as I have a machine shop at my disposal ( mine )

Your thoughts please

The smells easy to manage if it's a nuisance, just use a vacuum system that has activated carbon filters, or just vent it outside.

I think the biggest question is what would you be printing? It looks like a great tool, but will it fill a need you have or is it just an expensive toy? =)

Ian Rogers said:

My debate... should I / shouldn't I Pro's...The thing is cool and can provide quite a few prototypes.... possibly end products.. Relatively easy to make!!

Con's The plastic is expensive (over £30 per reel) and that's for basic plastics... The second is the smell... There is a engineering plastics place about a mile away (they would actually provide the plastics ).. On a bad day the stench is overpowering..

It would cost me about £300 to make as I have a machine shop at my disposal ( mine )

Your thoughts please

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Taylors?

Anyway, if you have the spare time, cash, requirement and space neccessary for building one, why not make one? There's a builder not too far away, 'nophead' in Tyldesly Manchester, whom you may wish to contact for ideas, share your electronics experience with. You could be a welcome contributor to the project.

I'm short on space myself and had to tear down a DIY CNC mill I made. It was approx 48" X 24" X 60" and used NEMA 23 steppers, with drivers and PSU's housed in an old PC case. I have them stashed away for possible future use but they would be overkill for a RepRap.

As Sceadwian points out and I also found out, unless you have an actual need for it, it's great in the short term and you'll find yourself making things just for the sake of it. After that, it just gets in the way and gathers dust.

Hi Mick... Yeah Taylors.... I take it you've smelt that AWFULL smell... I have all the design files and arduino files.. I also downloaded the NEW heat ex changer files... We want to build one, but as you say...If I don't use it, it's going to take up room

I have an old engraver with the drivers and everything.. I need geeing along really.

This may be a little off-topic since you wanted to make a RepRap, but a CNC cutting machine is much more useful. It can cut wood, plastic, even aluminium if you make it sturdy. It can also do other useful things in electronics like engrave front panels and route PCBs (and drill PCBs) to save you the hassle of etching and hand drilling them.

It is also much faster than a plastic additive machine, as for many things you might just need a simple structure like a bracket cut to a 2D shape. Or an accurate grid of holes made in something etc. And CNC cutting makes a part which is much more dimensionally accurate.

For the same investment in time, and slightly sturdier materials, you can have a CNC machine that will be a lot more useful.

The little 25x20cm CNC machine is a Chinese cheapy, about $500 new;
https://sites.google.com/site/cncdiyorg/2520