Vision 3d Printer - A Quick Build RepRap Prusa Mendel
Posted by Beekeeper
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Vision 3d Printer - A Quick Build RepRap Prusa Mendel May 27, 2012 03:09AM |
I just posted my RepRap Prusa Mendel variant on Kickstarter. I like the Prusa Mendel in all it's flavors, a LOT. It is simple enough that most people could build one with most parts that they could have in 3 days, but it takes a long time to assemble and it still looks too hobbiest for most people to consider. Most people that I show my original Prusa Mendel to are unimpressed... until they see what it can do. I have never seen a machine that has everyone from small children to senior citizens entranced. This is the magic of RepRap. I have showed my original Prusa with only a Gen6 board and printing on Blue Tape in grade schools, at a local Mini Makerfaire, and to friends. The response is always the same, once it starts moving people can't get enough of it.
My Vision 3d Printer is a Fork of the RepRap Prusa Mendel Iteration 2. My goal was to produce a kit that builds in 1/3 the time of a normal Prusa Mendel while looking as cools as RepRap is. I hope you like it. The 12mm Acrylic Sidewalls make it much more rigid than a traditional Prusa Mendel Iteration 2. I tightened up a lot of tolerances and CNC machined the sidewalls. They could be made out of any other 12mm panels like Aluminum or MDF (although MDF will warp over time especially with humidity and under a load). I will publish all of my work either once I start shipping, or if the Kickstarter campaign is a bust. It comes with a fully built extruder, fully assembled electronics, all tools needed to assemble it, and all wires with connectors already installed, no soldering needed.
You can find it at:
[www.kickstarter.com]
I am also going to offer lower cost (but high quality) filament here in the US in a larger variety of colors then is currently available. I have a heavy background in plastics and plastic processing, and will set up a couple of extruder lines in-house. I hope to eventually lower the price from the amount in the Kickstarter campaign, but don't know how many people will even be interested. Either way, I will continue to work on all of the things in the Kickstarter listing.
I have been working on new materials for filament. The plastics world is filled with other great resins, With more machines to try them out, I can speed up development considerably. I have also been working with non plastic materials too, more about that on a later date.
I am very thankful for the RepRap community, and hope this machine helps.
As a disclaimer, I will release the source files and design files for everything in the machine(s) once I start shipping. That said, it is Open Source Hardware (as defined by when I ship, the files will be posted for all to have). If you are one of the few that don't like this policy, you can freely develop your own RepRap machine and post it for all to enjoy. I'm not out to please everyone (no one has that power), I am looking to make a positive difference.
Thank You,
Matt Underwood
aka beekeeper
My Vision 3d Printer is a Fork of the RepRap Prusa Mendel Iteration 2. My goal was to produce a kit that builds in 1/3 the time of a normal Prusa Mendel while looking as cools as RepRap is. I hope you like it. The 12mm Acrylic Sidewalls make it much more rigid than a traditional Prusa Mendel Iteration 2. I tightened up a lot of tolerances and CNC machined the sidewalls. They could be made out of any other 12mm panels like Aluminum or MDF (although MDF will warp over time especially with humidity and under a load). I will publish all of my work either once I start shipping, or if the Kickstarter campaign is a bust. It comes with a fully built extruder, fully assembled electronics, all tools needed to assemble it, and all wires with connectors already installed, no soldering needed.
You can find it at:
[www.kickstarter.com]
I am also going to offer lower cost (but high quality) filament here in the US in a larger variety of colors then is currently available. I have a heavy background in plastics and plastic processing, and will set up a couple of extruder lines in-house. I hope to eventually lower the price from the amount in the Kickstarter campaign, but don't know how many people will even be interested. Either way, I will continue to work on all of the things in the Kickstarter listing.
I have been working on new materials for filament. The plastics world is filled with other great resins, With more machines to try them out, I can speed up development considerably. I have also been working with non plastic materials too, more about that on a later date.
I am very thankful for the RepRap community, and hope this machine helps.
As a disclaimer, I will release the source files and design files for everything in the machine(s) once I start shipping. That said, it is Open Source Hardware (as defined by when I ship, the files will be posted for all to have). If you are one of the few that don't like this policy, you can freely develop your own RepRap machine and post it for all to enjoy. I'm not out to please everyone (no one has that power), I am looking to make a positive difference.
Thank You,
Matt Underwood
aka beekeeper
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Re: Vision 3d Printer - A Quick Build RepRap Prusa Mendel May 28, 2012 07:17PM |
My position is this: I don't see how your design improves on what has been done. What I see is a ploy to make money off people who will spring to buy a 3d printer that "looks good". Please, prove me wrong.
I agree I was being too harsh by not calling it a reprap. When I see those huge plexiglass panels though, my mind jumps immediately to "you made a 3d printer out of plexiglass". I don't think that when people see your "vision" they will immediately connect it with "this printer can make its own parts". So the concept of having THIS design to show off how cool REPrap is, seems flimsy in my opinion.
I bring up the prusa air to say that this concept of replacing the prusa triangles with plexiglass has been thought of and done, so I personally don't see where your design is improving from theirs. "Not even structurally the same"? Are we looking at different machines?
As far as I can see, the difference is your panels are shaped differently. Yes they are more substatial, but I think it's only a minor improvement when compared to the fact that most forces on the machine during fast builds are in the direction perpendicular to those panels. Your design has no cross bracing like the mendelmax has. Your design has those leadscrew stabilizers which over-constrain the z axis making it more likely to bind. Your design includes nothing to stabilize the triangles from being rotated relative to each other. Your design still has the z-steppers on top where they are more likely to wobble back and forth. These are the specific reasons why I think your design is not a significant enough improvement over the prusa air to justify calling it something new.
I'm glad you bring up my reprap history because I see that what I've done in the past is very important to our conversation about your mendel design. I'm sure you think I was just twiddling my thumbs for four years refreshing the reprap wiki page, and if it helps your ego to think that then go ahead, sure, I'm a loser. You caught me! Clearly only those people that have successfully designed and built their own 3d printers should comment in this forum at all.
I remember at some point in the past people were content with putting up their reprap designs (in their entirety) on the reprap wiki, allowing others to criticize and modify their work, instead of putting "new 3d printers" up on kickstarter and asking for money.
But I'm just a loser, so forget I said anything.
I agree I was being too harsh by not calling it a reprap. When I see those huge plexiglass panels though, my mind jumps immediately to "you made a 3d printer out of plexiglass". I don't think that when people see your "vision" they will immediately connect it with "this printer can make its own parts". So the concept of having THIS design to show off how cool REPrap is, seems flimsy in my opinion.
I bring up the prusa air to say that this concept of replacing the prusa triangles with plexiglass has been thought of and done, so I personally don't see where your design is improving from theirs. "Not even structurally the same"? Are we looking at different machines?
As far as I can see, the difference is your panels are shaped differently. Yes they are more substatial, but I think it's only a minor improvement when compared to the fact that most forces on the machine during fast builds are in the direction perpendicular to those panels. Your design has no cross bracing like the mendelmax has. Your design has those leadscrew stabilizers which over-constrain the z axis making it more likely to bind. Your design includes nothing to stabilize the triangles from being rotated relative to each other. Your design still has the z-steppers on top where they are more likely to wobble back and forth. These are the specific reasons why I think your design is not a significant enough improvement over the prusa air to justify calling it something new.
I'm glad you bring up my reprap history because I see that what I've done in the past is very important to our conversation about your mendel design. I'm sure you think I was just twiddling my thumbs for four years refreshing the reprap wiki page, and if it helps your ego to think that then go ahead, sure, I'm a loser. You caught me! Clearly only those people that have successfully designed and built their own 3d printers should comment in this forum at all.
I remember at some point in the past people were content with putting up their reprap designs (in their entirety) on the reprap wiki, allowing others to criticize and modify their work, instead of putting "new 3d printers" up on kickstarter and asking for money.
But I'm just a loser, so forget I said anything.
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Re: Vision 3d Printer - A Quick Build RepRap Prusa Mendel May 31, 2012 08:25PM |
Wow, it looks like you are off to a good start with your project with it almost half supported already! I say good luck with your project, the printers look good and solid, and your dual-extuder option definitely puts you ahead of most. 
Jacqueline
www.singularitymachine.com/blog
Jacqueline
www.singularitymachine.com/blog
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