I'm new to 3D printing... I have nearly gone and bought a cheap kit multiple times, but each time I have to stop myself because I know for a fact that I'm basically going to rebuild it almost completely with upgrades. So, despite having never worked with 3D printers, I've opted to design and make my own. I don't own a lot of tools, so the build criteria is to be (relatively) cheap and use parts that can be bolted together easily. So, here is where V-slot extrusion comes into play! My idea is to take a prusa i3 and make it almost exclusively with 'off-the-shelf' 500mm lengths of extrusion. The Z-axis will be driven by a single nema-23 attached to 2 leadscrews, and guided by wheels on the extrusion. The X-axis will also use wheels on the extrusion, ran by a nema-17 on a belt. The Y-axis will be the print bed and will run on smooth rods, this is purely for ease of set up and to keep costs down a bit. I realise I will need a rigid frame, and so most extrusion will be 40x20 pieces By using 500mm uncut lengths, the build area on this machine is potentially quite large... at least 450x450x450mm. So, this leads me to my questions! Will a build of this size come into any potential problems? what problems does size cause? Hopefully,when this finally progresses i'll be making a build log of it all https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?4,588604,588604#msg-588604 Wed, 07 Oct 2026 17:43:51 -0400 Phorum 5.2.23 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?4,588604,588718#msg-588718 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?4,588604,588718#msg-588718 the_digital_dentist Reprappers Tue, 24 Nov 2015 23:48:39 -0500 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?4,588604,588661#msg-588661 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?4,588604,588661#msg-588661
Core XY is great, although it adds more complexity which I'm not sure can be achieved as easily with 'off the shelf' parts. most designs I see tend to use some form of printed part. It also adds a higher cost for the frame.]]> Origamib Reprappers Tue, 24 Nov 2015 18:49:07 -0500 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?4,588604,588614#msg-588614 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?4,588604,588614#msg-588614
Moving a 450mm x 450mm bed can be done, but it will slow things down due to the large moving mass. You might want to consider a CoreXY design for something that big. The bed only moves in the Z axis so it is easier to control.]]> the_digital_dentist Reprappers Tue, 24 Nov 2015 16:32:02 -0500 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?4,588604,588604#msg-588604 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?4,588604,588604#msg-588604
So, despite having never worked with 3D printers, I've opted to design and make my own.
I don't own a lot of tools, so the build criteria is to be (relatively) cheap and use parts that can be bolted together easily. So, here is where V-slot extrusion comes into play!

My idea is to take a prusa i3 and make it almost exclusively with 'off-the-shelf' 500mm lengths of extrusion. The Z-axis will be driven by a single nema-23 attached to 2 leadscrews, and guided by wheels on the extrusion. The X-axis will also use wheels on the extrusion, ran by a nema-17 on a belt. The Y-axis will be the print bed and will run on smooth rods, this is purely for ease of set up and to keep costs down a bit.
I realise I will need a rigid frame, and so most extrusion will be 40x20 pieces

By using 500mm uncut lengths, the build area on this machine is potentially quite large... at least 450x450x450mm.
So, this leads me to my questions! Will a build of this size come into any potential problems? what problems does size cause?

Hopefully,when this finally progresses i'll be making a build log of it all]]> Origamib Reprappers Tue, 24 Nov 2015 16:04:57 -0500