Builders/JunkStrap

JunkStrap

This is a broad category of RepStrap that is build from "whatever I had laying around" + "as little purchased as possible".

It's the extremely budget-conscious version, for those with lots of time, and less money.

Essentially, it's a case of:

"Build a 3-Axis table"

- of whatever you've got lying around.  Wood, Steel, etc.

"Locate 2nd-hand steppers" - big old dot-matrix printers are a good source of these. (especially A3 or larger, with perforated paper feeders)

"Stepper Motor Drivers"

 - if you can re-use some of the circuit/s from inside the printers then great
 - otherwise the sanctioned drivers are great: http://reprap.org/bin/view/Main/Stepper_Motor_Driver_2_3

"Build an extruder" ( sound simple, but isn't for many ).

 You can make a wooden one, or plastic one from blocks bolted together, and a little milling. patience is a virtue. 
 or something similar to http://www.reprap.org/bin/view/Main/ThermoplastExtruder_2_0, 
 or a laser-cut one: http://blog.reprap.org/2008/11/ive-put-instructions-up-for-assembling.html 
 you might like to get some machine parts from here: http://forums.reprap.org/read.php?94,18969,page=3
or just buy the lasest offering from here: http://store.makerbot.com/toolheads/plastruder-kit-mk3.html

Here are links to pictures of a couple of junkstraps:

http://builders.reprap.org/2009/03/introducing-junkrap.html

http://davidbuzz.googlepages.com/buzzs_repstrap