Help choosing printer design

Hello!

I have successfully converted my Shapeoko 2 CNC machine into a 3D printer but now I would like to have my CNC machine back and build a separate machine for the printing. However I am having a really hard time picking a design. I would like it to be future proof (or as future proof as a 3d printer can be) and be able to print many filaments. I also don't want a type of printer that with a moving print bed on Y but I would prefer a Z moving bed.

I would like to print following filaments:
-PLA
-ABS
-Nylon
-Flexible
-That wood type (don't know the name)

I have:
-(4) Nema 17s
-RAMPs electronics
-PSUs
-Mk2B Heated Bed
-3mm Boro Glass
-Bulldog XL
-E3D v6

As far as general design, it seems as though the Ultimaker 2 has the mechanical configuration I'm looking for but that's just too expensive. Plus it has too many things that I've already purchased.

I think I need a direct drive configuration for the flexible filament which I think rules out the delta printers due to my monstrously heavy Bulldog XL.

Any guidance please??

There's a lot of existing Ultimaker 1 clones and kits at reasonable price through the web. If you're interessed, do a little sourcing. Actualy, you own a lot of standard parts which can fit any reprap design. The choice can depend of your location too. What about a SmartRap Core ? It's a new cheap open source printer that uses the coreXY technology. It's pretty simple to build, especialy if you own a shapeoko and you're able to print your first parts with it.

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Collective intelligence emerges when a group of people work together effectively. Prusa i3 Folger (A lot of the parts are wrong, boring !)

I'm in the US so I should be able to get most of the parts available.

SmartRap Core looks pretty decent but it looks like bowden is the only option for it. which means from what i understand that flexible filaments are out. Am I wrong on this? Can Bowden do all of the filaments that direct driving can do?

Most reprap designs use standard metric components. Actualy you will be able to get whatever you need through the web or kit sellers. Honnestly, I never print with flexible filaments by the past. When the flexible filaments came to the market, some people had issues with bowden extruders. But now some people says they print that kind of filament with a bowden extruder with good results. So it looks like posible.

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Collective intelligence emerges when a group of people work together effectively. Prusa i3 Folger (A lot of the parts are wrong, boring !)

yeah i usually order my stuff online. brick and mortar stores usually have nothing i ever need

now it seems pretty clear to me that i want a CoreXY reprap. and maybe i should post this question instead in the CoreXY Reprap forum but are there any PROVEN (such as Mendelmax 2 or 3) designs with BOMs where I can source the equipment myself. since getting a kit would be a waste of money since i have more than half of the stuff.

About the SmartRap Core...looks great but i was really hoping for a 20x20 aluminum extrusion platform. plus looking at the smartrap core hot end, it looks like it is specifically designed for a certain hot end and wont fit my E3D v6

The Smartrap core is not the single CoreXY on earth Look at the CoreXY section, there's a lot of different designs.

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Collective intelligence emerges when a group of people work together effectively. Prusa i3 Folger (A lot of the parts are wrong, boring !)

This is like the Smartrap Core Printer. With direct drive extruder.

X3D XS CoreXY Printer Link

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 04/06/2015 06:26PM by madmike8.

after looking at a couple designs i would ultimately like to build something like the zelogik AluXY degisn which is all aluminum with extrusions and milled aluminum parts. however i need my Shapeoko 2 back for that. so in the meantime i think i will go with either the X3D or SmartCore because they look very minimal and im hoping to print the parts i need. or i was thinking of buying the already printed parts on their website. only problem is that when i go to sign up the US isn't an option for a valid country. Do they not ship to the US?? That would be a first to me.

Send a mail to Smartfriends. It is a small company, Serge will surely help you. Through, it's an opensource printer. You can download the STLs, print them up, get the BOM, then source the vitamins through the web or an US dealer. Then follow the videos for the build. It looks pretty easy for you, as far you can print with your shapeoko, then convert it to a mill to cut the frame with perfect drilled holes.

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Collective intelligence emerges when a group of people work together effectively. Prusa i3 Folger (A lot of the parts are wrong, boring !)