I was wondering if anyone knew of any designs for Mendel that aim to be able to print more part for itself and rely less on bolts, rods, etc? I tried to look through the development page but there is so much there and I didn't see any names that would suggest this was the goal. https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,72061,72061#msg-72061 Thu, 16 Apr 2026 13:17:43 -0400 Phorum 5.2.23 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,72061,72215#msg-72215 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,72061,72215#msg-72215
As far as strength, I've done a test by printing out the outlines on regular paper, gluing them to 1/2in particle wood, and cutting them out and fitting them together. Leaving aside what is probably not the best craftsmanship, everything fits together very well and the joints don't seem to be an issue. Especially given the fact that most of the joints are simply dry fitted together. I was proposing that for the printed parts, as an extra measure of stability, I drill countersunk pilot holes and put reinforcing screws in each joint to solidify the whole thing and keep the joints from coming undone.

While I do realize that using the metal rods wont be the end of the world, using less metal and printing more of the actual structure is my goal. The only 4 that I'm content with leaving in are the 4 used for the Z axis, 2 threaded and 2 smooth. These seem pretty vital to a quality machine. All of the other metal rods seem to be more for structural purposes, which I would assert, can be done just as well without them.]]> bacree General Mon, 31 Jan 2011 16:09:43 -0500 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,72061,72177#msg-72177 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,72061,72177#msg-72177 Piecing it together isn't the best option. Though not the end of the world if you still use the harden rods as the 'ways']]> anode505 General Mon, 31 Jan 2011 10:06:50 -0500 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,72061,72142#msg-72142 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,72061,72142#msg-72142
Your design reminds me a little of the Foton variant of Mendel.

Another concept design you might find interesting is the Rhombot.

There is also this well-known Makerbot variant which is made by gluing together printed pieces.

Some wiki entries that discuss related problems of printing motors, printing circuitry, and so on are:

Actuator Fabrication
Automated Circuitry Making

As for "crash testing" it sounds like Finite Element Analysis (FEA) might help identify weak points in the structure. FEA can be kind of difficult and time-consuming. There are a number of open source FEA software packages available. I don't know how well any of them work or how easy they are to use though...

Good luck with your design! Keep us posted on the results!

-Matt]]> MattMoses General Mon, 31 Jan 2011 01:18:10 -0500 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,72061,72099#msg-72099 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,72061,72099#msg-72099
The link you sent to "this" is known as a delta robot. There is a sub section here on the forum for their development. it seems that they were making some pretty good progress, and maybe hung up on their software.



Morrist]]> morrist General Sun, 30 Jan 2011 13:35:24 -0500 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,72061,72077#msg-72077 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,72061,72077#msg-72077
At this point, I'm waiting on my Gen6 electronics and then Ill buy the full kit (minus electronics and printed parts) from mendel-parts.com....assuming those don't take a year to ship lol]]> bacree General Sun, 30 Jan 2011 00:40:19 -0500 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,72061,72076#msg-72076 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,72061,72076#msg-72076 sarrus linkage. There were also some experiments with a design kind of like this. I don't remember where I saw it, but I think this particular developer was trying to use printed linkages in place of all the metal rods you see in that video.

Your design is much simpler than anything else I've seen. Good job. I'm curious to see what you have in mind for mounting the Y axis though.]]> dazed.dnc General Sun, 30 Jan 2011 00:33:01 -0500 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,72061,72075#msg-72075 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,72061,72075#msg-72075
Hmm, well it sounds like I'm taking a bit of a different approach than that lol. The way I went at it was more like a jigsaw puzzle or making dovetails in woodworking. This way you can do away with bolts altogether, well, mostly. Now, depending on how sturdy the whole thing is, I might end up putting a screw through each of the joints to stiffen it up even more. But that would only cost $5 for a box of 100 screws and I don't think it will need even close to that count.

I'm hoping this will work fine as a straight replacement for all the frames plastic and lots of the additional metals parts too. I haven't the slightest idea how much it would cost in materials to print this, but I was more focused on really hitting home the whole, "Reprap can self replicate" thing. Of course I hope I can try to make it more efficient to print as well as stronger. But this is really my first go. If this works well, I'll have a go at doing the same for everything else, with the exception of all the thick and thin sheets and it goes without saying, the electronics. :)

Right now, all but two parts are sized to be printed on a standard Mendel. But I just need to find the time to figure that one out this weekend.

Brandon]]> bacree General Sat, 29 Jan 2011 23:47:53 -0500 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,72061,72063#msg-72063 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,72061,72063#msg-72063
I keep thinking that using plastic screws (self-threading type) is the way it's done in industry, why aren't we doing it that way? We could design most of the parts to clamp on (as opposed to being held in place with nuts & washers on both sides) and hold the clamp closed with a couple of screws. Plastic does creep, so maybe it wouldn't work to well with smooth rod, but clamping threaded rod should be very stable even if the plastic does creep.

Could even design the clamp's strap to come off entirely, and at the cost of two more screws per clamp you could take things apart in any order - no more shish kabobs, no more taking everything apart to redo the Y axis.

And the screws are cheap...]]> jgilmore General Sat, 29 Jan 2011 19:47:56 -0500 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,72061,72062#msg-72062 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,72061,72062#msg-72062 bacree General Sat, 29 Jan 2011 19:24:24 -0500 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,72061,72061#msg-72061 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,72061,72061#msg-72061
I tried to look through the development page but there is so much there and I didn't see any names that would suggest this was the goal.]]> bacree General Sat, 29 Jan 2011 18:56:23 -0500