RepRap iTopie - A Prusa i3 evolution - Development discussion

Hello, (in advance sorry for my bad English)

I have just published the sources of my future RepRap the iTopie. I come here to open a discussion on the new design, and I hope with your help make it sustainable.




Some people tell me that the support for the Y bearing has too many constraints, it is your opinion? it measures 10mm.



Sources on [reprap.org] and [github.com]

Thank you for your interest Peace.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 12/15/2014 12:45PM by skarab.

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_{"Ils ne savaient pas que c'était impossible alors ils l'ont fait!" Mark Twain
[DOC][CONFIG] Hauteur de couche (Layer height)
Lautr3k - A 3D printer without belts
iTopie - A Swissmade RepRap}

Hello,
Is there a place where I can buy the printed parts ?

Sorry, there are no kit for the moment, this is the first prototype.
But the plastic parts for the X and Z axis are Prusa i3 compatible, and for the other pieces I'm sure you will find a printer near you (Hackerspace, Fablab, RepRap Forum, IRC, 3dhubs, and more ...).

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_{"Ils ne savaient pas que c'était impossible alors ils l'ont fait!" Mark Twain
[DOC][CONFIG] Hauteur de couche (Layer height)
Lautr3k - A 3D printer without belts
iTopie - A Swissmade RepRap}

Not to threadjack but what are you using for the software toolchain for the CNC router? I'm using primarily Autocad, Inventor/HSM and VCarvePro (Vcarve because it comes with the Shopbot) but I'm bringing a Shapeoko online and haven'd decided what CAM to use.

The project looks good, I'll cut one when I do the Shobot batch in a couple of weeks.

no problems I use a lot sketchup but I'll will switch to OpenSCAD for the parametric side. Then I use CamBam to generate the G-Code (and the amazing Smoothieboard as electronics).

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_{"Ils ne savaient pas que c'était impossible alors ils l'ont fait!" Mark Twain
[DOC][CONFIG] Hauteur de couche (Layer height)
Lautr3k - A 3D printer without belts
iTopie - A Swissmade RepRap}

Hello,
an idea for an sturdier Y-Idler.

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_{"Ils ne savaient pas que c'était impossible alors ils l'ont fait!" Mark Twain
[DOC][CONFIG] Hauteur de couche (Layer height)
Lautr3k - A 3D printer without belts
iTopie - A Swissmade RepRap}

New Y endstop mount (printed part -1)

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_{"Ils ne savaient pas que c'était impossible alors ils l'ont fait!" Mark Twain
[DOC][CONFIG] Hauteur de couche (Layer height)
Lautr3k - A 3D printer without belts
iTopie - A Swissmade RepRap}

Hi Skarab,

Can you give us a ballpark of the machining time with a large ShapeOko?

What milling bit do you recommend?

Thanks.

Hello Misan,

With an OX (very similar to the shapeoko) and 16mm MDF at 1500mm/min, 2mm/pass, approximately 3h.
For the milling bit i use an 3mm (2 flute) endmill.

Pictures of the day, wiring finished and the first run is comming soon














Peace.

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_{"Ils ne savaient pas que c'était impossible alors ils l'ont fait!" Mark Twain
[DOC][CONFIG] Hauteur de couche (Layer height)
Lautr3k - A 3D printer without belts
iTopie - A Swissmade RepRap}

Very nice. It looks very sturdy, but also super heavy. This will be an issue if you ever offer kits online.

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-David

Find me online at:
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Check out my FolgerTech Prusa i3 (plexi) at MindRealm.net

Thanks Skarab.

It looks very nice and sturdy. It is great to use the space in the bottom for power supply and electronics (smoothieboard looks great).

Good Evening,
I assembled a Itopie designed by Skarab.
Here are some pictures.













You can find more photos on my Git

Some Videos Here

She did not finish as well as that of Skarab but it works very well,
I'll redo the paint when I have applied all changes.

see you soon

and thanks Skarab

Started mine but made a few altercations to files and was cut on waterjet. Made the smaller plates on my small cnc (in grey). I prefered the electronics on the side , similar to the Prusa I3, only for the fact that I could work on them and make adjustments without flipping the printer over.

Hi Chaser30,

Well done, nice iteration
I would like to have a detail about your holding pieces on the Y axis (Y idler an Y rods).

Thank you for sharing, I am looking forward to see more.

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_{"Ils ne savaient pas que c'était impossible alors ils l'ont fait!" Mark Twain
[DOC][CONFIG] Hauteur de couche (Layer height)
Lautr3k - A 3D printer without belts
iTopie - A Swissmade RepRap}

Here is the dxf for the upper shaft holders. Once I am happy that every thing works i will share the dxf files. Since I didn't do these plates on a cnc, i made additional pieces from 3mm MDF to hold the y-rods in place and for the end pulley. (as you can see in the photos painted in grey). What I love about this is that it keeps that Prusa look, but it is built solid, so I am comfortable moving this around without the frame moving out of place. The frame is made up of a sheet of 16mm mdf ($7), a few screws ($3) and some 3mm MDF ($3) wood glue ($4). So thats a complete frame built for $17. The whole thing went together, screwed and glued in less than 20 minutes, everything lined up perfectly. Once I get this one finished, i will be looking at making a mini version out of 12mm mdf. The only difference is I will be using V-slot for the x-axis opposed to the 8mm rod. I am waiting for some parts to arrive to draw up the plates for this set up over the next couple of weeks. I will defiently upgrade this to a dual extruder setup as the frame is quite solid and would be able to get some fast prints without having to worry about things on the frame moving out of alignment!!!!!!



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 02/12/2015 07:04AM by Chaser30.

Trying to get this cut by a CNC vendor.
Can you give me a bit of direction on how to generate Gcode in cambam, and what tools are used to cut it.
As the vendor is not familiar with cambam, it makes it a bit difficult.

Take the last "iTopie_plates.cb" (update: 03/23/2015).

I use a 3mm end mill for all operations.

Drilling operations :

1. corners_holes_3mm + holes_3mm
2. holes_4mm
3. holes_5mm

Pocketing operations :

1. pockets_2mm
2. pockets_3mm
3. pockets_6mm
4. pockets_10mm (from stock surface minus 6mm)
5. pockets_16mm

Profiles operations :

1. profils_in (Inside + Holding tabs options)
2. profils_out (Outside + Holding tabs options)

Sorry not much time right now, but do not hesitate to ask for more. Hope it will help ...

Peace.

---

_{"Ils ne savaient pas que c'était impossible alors ils l'ont fait!" Mark Twain
[DOC][CONFIG] Hauteur de couche (Layer height)
Lautr3k - A 3D printer without belts
iTopie - A Swissmade RepRap}

Can I get a BOM of the parts I need.
What size steppers, what size rods, and lengths.

Of Course, I've updated the wiki page " iTopie buyers guide" with a link to the B.O.M. Sorry it is not 100% complete (95%), but it gives a good idea of what it takes. Do not hesitate to propose changes or a more complete version. Thank you.

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_{"Ils ne savaient pas que c'était impossible alors ils l'ont fait!" Mark Twain
[DOC][CONFIG] Hauteur de couche (Layer height)
Lautr3k - A 3D printer without belts
iTopie - A Swissmade RepRap}

Hello makers,

Some fresh updates for the iTopie RepRap :

1. OpenSCAD sources files released : [github.com]
2. DXF builder tool : [github.com]
3. Laser cut experimental version (Tanks to Miguel Sánchez)
4. Writing the documentation (need help) : [reprap.org]

Peace.

---

_{"Ils ne savaient pas que c'était impossible alors ils l'ont fait!" Mark Twain
[DOC][CONFIG] Hauteur de couche (Layer height)
Lautr3k - A 3D printer without belts
iTopie - A Swissmade RepRap}

Hello

Thanks for such great design work, I should be getting the parts I'm missing to build within 2 month. I'll check back once it's done

Just wanted to say, very elegant design I love it! I just finished designing a prusa style printer for milling and a user pointed me to yours. I am in awe, great work!

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 03/27/2016 05:59PM by allted.

Hi Skarab, I saw your iTopie the first time in Thomas Sanladerer video, and I just knew this had to be my choice for my 1st 3D printer.

But I plan on expanding the horizontal plate, so that I can install some kind of greenhouse to keep the temperature more stable, and also to be able to print ABS with a proper exhaust system. It will have a slightly larger footprint, but not by much.

Any thoughts on this?

I'm not also sold on having the electronics under the printer - yeah it gives a clean look, but way out of reach for tinkering and maintenance. Still haven't figured it out where I will be putting them, since I also don't want them inside the greenhouse (heat and electronics don't mix well) - maybe increase even more the horizontal plate?

I also saw in the video, that some holes had the corners drilled, but in the DXF files there is nothing like that...

As for the rest of the setup, I'll probably go with a more common Mega + RAMPs, etc. Extruder I was thinking about the E3D V.6, as it gets so much praise, even comparing it with the Hexagon.

Thanks for this great design!

Cheers,
Miguel

Thank you all for your comments.

Quote
barrasman
Hi Skarab, I saw your iTopie the first time in Thomas Sanladerer video, and I just knew this had to be my choice for my 1st 3D printer.

Good choice for a first printer

Quote
barrasman
But I plan on expanding the horizontal plate, so that I can install some kind of greenhouse to keep the temperature more stable, and also to be able to print ABS with a proper exhaust system. It will have a slightly larger footprint, but not by much.

Any thoughts on this?

I'm not also sold on having the electronics under the printer - yeah it gives a clean look, but way out of reach for tinkering and maintenance. Still haven't figured it out where I will be putting them, since I also don't want them inside the greenhouse (heat and electronics don't mix well) - maybe increase even more the horizontal plate?

It is a RepRap, she is made to be modified / improved. Try, share and see what happens.

Quote
barrasman
I also saw in the video, that some holes had the corners drilled, but in the DXF files there is nothing like that...

I do not understand what you're talking about. (Maybe a picture?)

Quote
barrasman
As for the rest of the setup, I'll probably go with a more common Mega + RAMPs, etc. Extruder I was thinking about the E3D V.6, as it gets so much praise, even comparing it with the Hexagon.

Thanks for this great design!

Cheers,
Miguel

Have fun and do not forget to share what you do with the community.

Peace.

---

_{"Ils ne savaient pas que c'était impossible alors ils l'ont fait!" Mark Twain
[DOC][CONFIG] Hauteur de couche (Layer height)
Lautr3k - A 3D printer without belts
iTopie - A Swissmade RepRap}

Thanks Skarab,

As for the holes I was talking about are the ones you see in the inside corners marked in red:



But I also noted that in some other inside corners there are no holes (green circle). With the corner holes, one needs to fill the resulting gap with something (I was thinking glue with sawdust)... without the holes, those corners need to be made square with a file, right?

I'll share my drawings and photos of the resulting frame

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 04/09/2016 06:36PM by barrasman.

These corners in the red circles are cut this way so the part can sit flat on the hole it has to fit.

CNC machining leaves round inside corners due to the diameter of the tool. These 45 degree cuts inside the corners take care of that limitation.

That feature is usually taken care of by the CAM software that creates the machining code out of the DXF file, so it is not part of the design.

Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 04/10/2016 05:01AM by misan.

Hi again @skarab,

I'm now building my iTopie-C (C stand for chamber, since it will have a closed chamber). For that I have increased the horizontal plate, but I still have to figure out the chamber itself. For now I went to the Lisbon FabLab and had the frame done in the CNC router:



The DXF file can be downloaded from here: [www.dropbox.com]

And here is my B.O.M.: [docs.google.com]

The RepRap wiki and manuals are great, but they seem incomplete, specially in the final part - do you intend on adding more information?

Just a quick question: I've noticed that in your first build, you had this screws in the right XZ holder to avoid Z rod warping, right?



but in the final release, this screws are not there - why did you drop them?



I'm still waiting for almost all of the components (coming in the "slow boat from China"), so I'll be assembling the frame with no rush. I'll kep you all updated

Hi guys,

I want to thank skarab for a great design, I am really new to CNC parts and I had a hard time making a modification to make the frame taller because I already have 50cm smooth rods, so I made the vertical frame 10cm taller.

Also I have added the ABC top plates made by Chaser30 and I would really like if someone take a look at the uploaded files.

I just have some doubts on what to do with the DXF/DWF? I just hand it over to the shop?

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 05/17/2016 07:41PM by FherraZ.

HI skarab ,

thanks you for your design and would love to make one, as i saw in the dxf file i can't get the dimension? do i just pass to the machine shop and they will be able to do? they need asking for the dimension i don't know why.

Hi everyone, sorry for the lack of answers, I work on several open-source projects simultaneously.

@barrasman Unfortunately I do not have time to produce more documentation and even less to make several versions of the machine code files.

@all But it is an open-source project and any help is appreciated, feel free to participate and complete the wiki.

@evetanlm, @FherraZ The shop must produce machine code file (GCode) from the DXF files. All he needs to know is that the pockets are 6mm.

Peace.

---

_{"Ils ne savaient pas que c'était impossible alors ils l'ont fait!" Mark Twain
[DOC][CONFIG] Hauteur de couche (Layer height)
Lautr3k - A 3D printer without belts
iTopie - A Swissmade RepRap}