Lego RepStrap CartesianBot

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Lego Rep Strap

Release status: experimental

LegoRepstrap.jpg
Description
A Cartesian Bot type repstrap built from Lego
License
Author
Contributors
Based-on
Categories
CAD Models
External Link


Ethos

Use Lego as much as possible. At least use Lego for all parts that aren't off-the-shelf standard hardware, and all moving parts.

OK to use non-Lego for large rigid parts that would require a vast quantity of lego bricks, i.e. the base-board and the stand / pedestal that mounts the Z axis and print head.

Progress

X,Y and Z axes have smooth movement and no noticeable play. OptoEndstop_2.1 works and senses limits. The Lego extruder can drive a feed rod. Next step is to finish the extruder by adding the hot parts and not melting my Lego bricks.

Will submit details of Lego construction once the entire machine is verified to print accurately.

Mechanical Design

The arrangement of motors and axes is based on the McWire_Cartesian_Bot_1_2_(Death_March:_Do_not_build!!!) . The object is printed onto a stage that moves coplanar to the ground plane in X and Y; the print head moves in Z only (ie, up and down).

Motors

Extruder driven by Lego technic motor. Lots of information about Lego technic motors here.

Axes driven by Keling KL23H276-30-8B in a unipolar configuration using Stepper_Motor_Driver_1.1 and the instructions for the Keling motors on the StepperMotor page.

Electronics

The electronics are from Darwin specifically Generation_2_Electronics. A breadboard-compatible Arduino clone is used.

Further reading