Looking for an open source belt printer Hi everyone ! So I was wondering if there is a good open source belt printer around… I was looking for a rather simple design, but with aluminum extrusion and linear rail ? a bit like what the kossel did to delta printer… I’ve come across the piper infinity [www.thingiverse.com] which looks interesting but a bit cheap… The printerbelt from brook drum looks very interesting but rather complex to build (it seems to me that laser cut metal is required+ no linear rails)… [www.brookdrumm.com] Maybe the search didn’t work for me, but it doesn’t seem to me that there are a lot of talk about such kind of printer on the forum ? https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,861079,861079#msg-861079 Tue, 16 Jun 2026 10:40:44 -0400 Phorum 5.2.23 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,861079,861132#msg-861132 Re: Looking for an open source belt printer https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,861079,861132#msg-861132
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Archiclem
I completely agree with you, but in the case of the piper3d, there is no bracing of the printer (unlike the prusa which rely on a waterjet powder coated frame...) So the printed part are having a much more important structural role... I don't say it cannot work, I just say it's less sturdy.
"powder coated frame" is fixing structure in X direction. What about Y direction?
We may have a lot of assumptions and do not trust our eyes. Check this build of Piper 2 with flimsy plywood enclosure, but with the same frame based on 1/2 inch conduit and printed parts Rob's Piper 2. it has about 700+x900+x1000 print volume and 13 tools (9 working at the ERRF)... It was carried on the side (to fit doors) from Rob's house to the van, driven 250 miles and 4 people carried it to the table at ERRF and than it went back you may hardly believe that it would survive but it did and was printing at the show.]]> piper3d General Mon, 21 Oct 2019 02:04:37 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,861079,861103#msg-861103 Re: Looking for an open source belt printer https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,861079,861103#msg-861103
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dc42
There is nothing wrong with using printed parts in a 3D printer if they are used appropriately. The genuine Prusa i3 Mk3 uses lots of them.

I completely agree with you, but in the case of the piper3d, there is no bracing of the printer (unlike the prusa which rely on a waterjet powder coated frame...) So the printed part are having a much more important structural role... I don't say it cannot work, I just say it's less sturdy.

Plus I have 4 linears rails at home that serve no purpose other than collecting dust... And a bunch of aluminium extrusions... So so I want to put them to good use...

I think I'm going to go for a printrbelt homemade style printer... (I like the overall simplicity of a "cantilever" design especially if it relies on linear rails...).]]> Archiclem General Sun, 20 Oct 2019 13:55:16 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,861079,861102#msg-861102 Re: Looking for an open source belt printer https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,861079,861102#msg-861102 dc42 General Sun, 20 Oct 2019 13:44:54 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,861079,861101#msg-861101 Re: Looking for an open source belt printer https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,861079,861101#msg-861101 piper3d General Sun, 20 Oct 2019 13:05:41 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,861079,861093#msg-861093 Re: Looking for an open source belt printer https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,861079,861093#msg-861093
So I’m kind of reluctant to use such configuration… (+I really don’t like rods for the linear axis…)

I just want a bit more expensive and reliable machine. I totally get why you made such an inexpensive 3D printer, and I think it’s great if you want to start the 3d printing… But I’ve been printing since 2012, and I want something strong and reliable…

But hey, if I don’t find anything, I think I will start to make my own design, so you will be able to say it’s much too expensive…

AND. P.S. I am very impressed that you suceed to create such a printer...]]> Archiclem General Sun, 20 Oct 2019 06:12:30 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,861079,861086#msg-861086 Re: Looking for an open source belt printer https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,861079,861086#msg-861086
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Archiclem
I’ve come across the piper infinity [www.thingiverse.com] which looks interesting but a bit cheap…
This is insulting... Just order custom pipes in gold or platinum or at least titanium and it won't be cheap.]]> piper3d General Sat, 19 Oct 2019 18:54:03 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,861079,861079#msg-861079 Looking for an open source belt printer https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,861079,861079#msg-861079
So I was wondering if there is a good open source belt printer around…

I was looking for a rather simple design, but with aluminum extrusion and linear rail ?
a bit like what the kossel did to delta printer…

I’ve come across the piper infinity [www.thingiverse.com] which looks interesting but a bit cheap…

The printerbelt from brook drum looks very interesting but rather complex to build (it seems to me that laser cut metal is required+ no linear rails)…
[www.brookdrumm.com]

Maybe the search didn’t work for me, but it doesn’t seem to me that there are a lot of talk about such kind of printer on the forum ?]]> Archiclem General Sat, 19 Oct 2019 13:59:52 -0400