Looking at building a rigid set up for use as a printer and possibly a light cnc machine. I am trying to use all the parts available here at the part store as the prices are pretty good. Basically, I am looking at using mostly 20x40 and 20x20 v-slot and need to know what would be the best hardware to use. Do I use through bolting for the cross braces or do I use a 90 degree bracket of some sort? I will attach a photo of my idea. Any help would be great do I can work on my BOM and hopefully finish my design work. Also and recommendations for my design are welcome. Looking and the gantry plates/kits I was thinking of using them for all the axis, but not sure if I should use v wheels or mini or full size of what? Is there one better than another? Everything is 500mm except the bed rails are 1000mm as I'm wanting to use 4 gantry plates with wide spacing to keep it level and rigid. Thanks in advance.. Erik
1) Don't try to build a dual purpose machine. It will fail as both a mill/router and as a printer. With that said, would you like to build a printer, or would you like to build a mill/router? 2) Even that won't be nearly rigid enough for a printer.
Thanks for the response. I will keep it as just a printer then. What size extrusion would you recommend.
First, you have to identify what your goals are. build footprint build height print speed material types You can't get to physical design until you know what you want.
If you're not really sure where you are going with this I would suggest looking through the 3d printer build section of the forum to get some ideas of what is workable. One of the better builders to look into the works of would be @Keith Davis. One of his simpler concepts can be found here: Student OneZ
I would like to have a build size approximately 400 x 400 x 400 give or take. I don't really need an exact size at this point. Footprint I am open on as I have some open space to install it. Speed, we all want a super fast one but I am on a budget so I don't need the top of the line build. Just a medium pace with a nice out come. And lastly as for material types, I would like to do pla, abs, flexible, maybe wood some day. I know I need a heated bed but I want that as a later add on and I'll just work with pla for now.
Thanks, I have been looking at the ones in the section and thought I would try to do a design. I haven't worked with the extrusion so I have been looking at the other builds to get an idea of what to use but don't know the limitations of it. I will take a look at the links you provided for more insight and will continue my drawing for a build as a way to learn and experiment.