EMCRepRap

If you have a CNC machine which you control using EMC2 on GNU/Linux, you can just mount the plastic extruder and start printing using EMC2. See here a video that shows EMC2 printing.

There are at least 2 users that already made an EMCRepStrap and documented and shared their code - brendanjerwin made his EMCRepStrap at 2008 and sam0737 at 2009.

Config EMC for working with plastic extruder

NOTE: This guide follows the work of sam0737 user.

• Download the necessary files from sam0737 account on github.
• In the repstrap-extruder.hal, changes the absolute path to the repstrap-extruder.py script
• In the EMC ini, under the [DISPLAY] section, add the PYVCP, like this:

[DISPLAY]

DISPLAY = axis

...

PYVCP = /absolute/path/to/repstrap-extruder.pyvcp

• In your EMC ini, there should be a POSTGUI_HALFILE in the [HAL] section. If not, create one :

[HAL]

...

HALUI = halui

POSTGUI_HALFILE = custom_postgui.hal

• In the customZpostgui.hal, include the repstrap-excluder.hal file, like this :

source /absolute/path/to/repstrap-extruder.hal

• Make a change in the input parameter of "steps_per_mm_cube" in that hal file.

The value is number of encoder steps representing 1mm cube

• Modify RepRapSerialComm.py, make sure the path to your serial device is correct.

• Soft link the mcode-inject.py to M101, M102, M103, say in the shell, you do:

ln -s mcode-inject.py M101

ln -s mcode-inject.py M102

...

ln -s mcode-inject.py M108

• Make sure all of them are marked as executable, say in the shell, you do:

chmod a+x *.py*

• Hook up your cable and such.

• Fire up the EMC amd you should see the image:

Cheap CNC machines

It's important to find cheap CNC machines, Ebay is a good source for cheap CNC machines.

3 axis CNC - $225

There is one CNC on Ebay for $250. Here is the page from the seller with some pictures and information about his CNC($225).