We did talk about going to 1500mm tall but scraped that idea at the moment....

 

why scrap the 1500 mm idea?

 

for bigger dimensions you will need bigger lead screws.
in my case, after doing some math, i decided trapezoidal metric, 16mm diameter, will do the trick.
four of them, to be more precise. got mines from roton, 60 inch uncut, about 40 bucks a pop. the nuts are acetil, also from roton.
anything else you can get from openbuilds for that size.

 

Steven, I am curious: why did you go with the solution of using a 3 axis extruder and a fixed platform?

 

Had to sell them all to fund for additional parts....

 

Indeed, this is where our designs part away. I went with the inversed z solution because my extruder is 2 lbs. in weight, obviously not Bowden. Having it on a rail flying around would increase inertial forces, therefore jerk movement. On the other hand, a Bowden is hard to use in a big printer, due to the relatively long travel distances of the extruder, although one could think of some solutions.

 

Hi Steve, Awesome build buddy! One small question, will such a large piece of glass lay flat? I suspect it may bow without any support in the middle. A single 20x20 would preclude that problem, I think.

I could be all wet too. You are the one there looking at it.

Cheer's!
Larry

 

Steve,

It's a borofloat glass @ 6.5mm thickness.

 

Great!

I've been off line for several days, family obligations, so catching up this morning has been great. Seeing this build is really getting my urge to build going again, but then again I have those Christmas presents (a mini-mill and a lathe) to play with.......

 

Hi Steven,

Sometimes, I think building a large printer is a curse in disguise, but I only have me to blame for that.
Glad to hear you could find your borosilicate glass for the 600x600 mm intended area. Been researching left and right for one myself, but at the dimensions I need, 1332x1170 mm, I managed to scare pretty much all the suppliers. Thickness is another issue, I am still undecided between 10 mm and 12 mm, but this only adds to the aforementioned curse. In Canada, such a glass would set me back anywhere from 3000 to 6000 bucks, and probably a whole year of sleeping on the couch if wifey found out. Luckily, there's China, Hong Kong to be more exact, where a 12 mm glass costs only 600 bucks.
I am also toying with the idea of using a tempered glass, and use its slight, inherent bowing due to fabrication, to bring it back flat, by clamping it down at the edges of the heated platform.
You mention the silicone pad sticking to the bottom of the glass. I wonder if the same would happen to me, seeing how my pad is considerably larger, and capable of 4000 watt at 110v, or 8000 watt at 220. I am asking this because I haven't got to that part yet, and I am trying to figure out all the glitches before the slap me in the face. Thank you in advance for your advice.

 

mini mill and lathe?

man, you're living my dream.

 

Fundamental engineering question Steve - have you measured the stairwell? Will you be able to get this out of the room it's built in, or is it a stationary fixture in the room?