Recently Ive been considering building a 3d printer. This would be my first build and I am amazed at how many different printer options there are to build. Im looking for a cheaper printer with good quality and something pretty sturdy. Multi-color printing would be nice but its not really nessesary. Also I would like a good sized build area and possibly the ability to be somewhat portable. Can someone point me in the right direction? Thanks! **Also I would prefer to build the printer myself and not a fully assembled one** https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?4,200623,200623#msg-200623 Tue, 11 Aug 2026 04:55:09 -0400 Phorum 5.2.23 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?4,200623,202288#msg-202288 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?4,200623,202288#msg-202288 REPRAP SQUAD Reprappers Tue, 23 Apr 2013 15:48:31 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?4,200623,202274#msg-202274 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?4,200623,202274#msg-202274 Jacobblue34 Reprappers Tue, 23 Apr 2013 15:10:14 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?4,200623,202264#msg-202264 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?4,200623,202264#msg-202264
the RAMPS is an arduino SHIELD, which means its a board that you mount on top of the MEGA2560.
The Mega2560 is the board that you program, and the RAMPS is the board that helps you connect everything together!
On top of the RAMPS, you add 4 or 5 DRIVERS (polulu drivers or any other A4988 compatibles, stepstick etc..).

If you want, i can supply you with these and many others (simply PM me). There are also many good sellers out there, i wont mention names there as i fear to hurt others.. but if u need a list of sellers PM me and i will send you on a private PM.]]> badmanjoe Reprappers Tue, 23 Apr 2013 14:39:43 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?4,200623,202248#msg-202248 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?4,200623,202248#msg-202248 Jacobblue34 Reprappers Tue, 23 Apr 2013 13:45:42 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?4,200623,202224#msg-202224 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?4,200623,202224#msg-202224 REPRAP SQUAD Reprappers Tue, 23 Apr 2013 12:17:55 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?4,200623,202221#msg-202221 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?4,200623,202221#msg-202221 Jacobblue34 Reprappers Tue, 23 Apr 2013 12:11:52 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?4,200623,201884#msg-201884 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?4,200623,201884#msg-201884 REPRAP SQUAD Reprappers Mon, 22 Apr 2013 13:07:05 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?4,200623,201871#msg-201871 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?4,200623,201871#msg-201871 Jacobblue34 Reprappers Mon, 22 Apr 2013 12:34:23 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?4,200623,201515#msg-201515 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?4,200623,201515#msg-201515 REPRAP SQUAD Reprappers Sun, 21 Apr 2013 01:38:15 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?4,200623,201512#msg-201512 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?4,200623,201512#msg-201512 Jacobblue34 Reprappers Sun, 21 Apr 2013 01:29:06 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?4,200623,201452#msg-201452 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?4,200623,201452#msg-201452 REPRAP SQUAD Reprappers Sat, 20 Apr 2013 17:20:26 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?4,200623,201393#msg-201393 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?4,200623,201393#msg-201393 Maxx Mayhem Reprappers Sat, 20 Apr 2013 12:22:53 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?4,200623,201387#msg-201387 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?4,200623,201387#msg-201387 Jacobblue34 Reprappers Sat, 20 Apr 2013 11:41:28 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?4,200623,201370#msg-201370 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?4,200623,201370#msg-201370 rhmorrison Reprappers Sat, 20 Apr 2013 08:56:30 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?4,200623,201309#msg-201309 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?4,200623,201309#msg-201309 Jacobblue34 Reprappers Sat, 20 Apr 2013 00:16:02 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?4,200623,201074#msg-201074 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?4,200623,201074#msg-201074 Inquisitor Reprappers Fri, 19 Apr 2013 03:55:37 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?4,200623,201071#msg-201071 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?4,200623,201071#msg-201071 aduy Reprappers Fri, 19 Apr 2013 03:49:38 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?4,200623,201020#msg-201020 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?4,200623,201020#msg-201020 Jacobblue34 Reprappers Fri, 19 Apr 2013 00:00:49 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?4,200623,201001#msg-201001 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?4,200623,201001#msg-201001
Don't get me wrong, the Prusa i3 and Mendel 90 are great machines. The Prusa i3 is very portable (Prusa actually packs his up and travels the globe with it in tow), while the Mendel 90 is pretty much a piece of furniture - very sturdy, but heavy if you use MDF to construct it (least expensive method).

Food for thought.

EDIT
i2 to i3 in 2nd Sentence. :)]]> akhlut Reprappers Thu, 18 Apr 2013 20:45:49 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?4,200623,200932#msg-200932 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?4,200623,200932#msg-200932
Another one to look into is the mendel 90 by Nopehead. It is very well designed with great support as well as excellent instructions. There is also a huge following and I've never once heard of a complaint about his product which is not common in this industry.

As far as printing with PLA it is less problematic and doesn't require as high of extruded temps. It also doesn't need a heated bed, it is made out of plant matter and has a non-toxic sweet smell when printing. ABS is less flexible and has a bad smell when printing and should be used in a ventilated room. I prefer PLA but certain parts require the use of ABS plastic.

Pretty much any printer can be ran off of SD it comes down to the electronics used. I always use RAMPS for my repraps, it costs a little more but is well worth it. It supports SD printing, LCD screen and I believe you can add an extra extruder but I would look it up to make sure. Multi head printing is just now starting to get all the bugs worked out so I am waiting till they are more reliable. As far as robo3d's kits I'm not sure on the timeline but you can go to their website and email them directly. I was just told it would be soon.]]> REPRAP SQUAD Reprappers Thu, 18 Apr 2013 15:16:06 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?4,200623,200909#msg-200909 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?4,200623,200909#msg-200909
Edit: Whcih is the better plastic? ABS or PLA? And what are the differences?]]> Jacobblue34 Reprappers Thu, 18 Apr 2013 13:48:21 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?4,200623,200889#msg-200889 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?4,200623,200889#msg-200889 REPRAP SQUAD Reprappers Thu, 18 Apr 2013 13:01:20 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?4,200623,200879#msg-200879 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?4,200623,200879#msg-200879
(Edited the OP to reflect this remembered part :) )]]> Jacobblue34 Reprappers Thu, 18 Apr 2013 12:27:24 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?4,200623,200774#msg-200774 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?4,200623,200774#msg-200774
The photo I attached is just a rendering of the reprap I'm recommending .

** Thanks for checking out my sites. If you ever need any help I'm always available for fellow builders. Happy building.**]]> REPRAP SQUAD Reprappers Wed, 17 Apr 2013 22:19:00 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?4,200623,200768#msg-200768 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?4,200623,200768#msg-200768 Sturdy is a must have.
Budget is around $500-ish (USD) can do more it will jsut take longer to save :)

Do you know anything about the FoldaRap? and also how long does the average reprap take to pay itself off by printing parts and such?

I checked out your websites and you have a very nice machine there. Good work.]]> Jacobblue34 Reprappers Wed, 17 Apr 2013 21:40:25 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?4,200623,200720#msg-200720 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?4,200623,200720#msg-200720 REPRAP SQUAD Reprappers Wed, 17 Apr 2013 17:46:43 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?4,200623,200623#msg-200623 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?4,200623,200623#msg-200623
**Also I would prefer to build the printer myself and not a fully assembled one**]]> Jacobblue34 Reprappers Wed, 17 Apr 2013 12:05:11 -0400