Building a 3D printer

[RoGeorge]

Years ago I ordered most of the parts for a 3D printer, but never proceed to assemble them.

It was not a kit, just various components that I picked myself, starting from the idea of a big delta printer, bigger in size than a Kossel XXL, if possible, and without knowing much about 3D printers.

It was an impulse order, being hyped after reading and watching 3D printing videos for a whole weekend.   

Once the order placed, some time has passed between the order and the moment the packages start to arrive (it was with regular AliExpress shipping, between 3-10 weeks of waiting) so the hype went away.  Also, when received, not all the parts were exactly what I was ordered (a few shipping mistakes), so I need to reorder them and wait even more.  By the time I had enough parts to start assembling them, all the enthusiasm of heaving a 3D printer was long gone.

TL;DR
Meantime hoarded all the parts, except the flatbed (and optionally a heatbed), size not yet decided.
Just checked the ordering dates.  It's been 4 years.   

Guess I should start assemble these.

[xrunner]

Cool - a 3D printer build thread!

 

[Miti]

Following...

[Conrad Hoffman]

I have parts for major projects that I've neglected for 20 years or more. Try to move faster than I do!

[excitedbox]

Don`t we all. There is a 90% completed snow canon like the ski resorts use sitting at a friends house since 2006. We got just far enough for the first test runs and then winter was over and it was too warm to ever really dial it in.

[DaJMasta]

A huge printer as a first build?  Sounds kinda tricky!

Got a substantial hotend for it?  Large nozzle?  Prints are going to take ages if you want them full size without a pretty powerful hotend and larger than 0.4mm nozzle diameter.


Perhaps related, have you heard of the hangprinter?  Different kind of beast, really, but maybe some of the development relating to large format printing would be of use.

[SiliconWizard]

Don`t we all.

Oh yeah... I have several pending projects like this, one for over 5 years.

As to 3D printing, I also bought a few parts 2 years ago: steppers motors, a controller board (MKS) and a few other items. Never assembled anything so far. So I can relate.

Hopefully sharing this project here may get you motivated to move forward, and we'll be happy to see your progress.

[Mechatrommer]

Just checked the ordering dates.  It's been 4 years.   

Just checked the last file update (project progress) of my giant 3d printer...  It's been 5 years 2 years ago, i managed to make its giant (40x80cm i think) heatbed out of fiber glass, stripped copper wires and some materials.

[RoGeorge]

Thank you all, it looks like a "Shelved Project Anonymous (SPA) group therapy" thread will be at least as successful as Test Equipment Anonymous (TEA) group therapy thread  <--  (50 000 posts!    in 3 years).
 

A huge printer as a first build?  Sounds kinda tricky!

Got a substantial hotend for it?  Large nozzle?  Prints are going to take ages if you want them full size without a pretty powerful hotend and larger than 0.4mm nozzle diameter.


Perhaps related, have you heard of the hangprinter?  Different kind of beast, really, but maybe some of the development relating to large format printing would be of use.

About the size, maybe it's better to not go overboard with it, indeed, especially as a first build.  After all, any size is better than no size.  I will just go with the parts already bought.

- the base size - the 6 diagonal rods are 30cm long (about 1 foot) carbon fiber tubes, so they'll dictate the size of the base triangle.
- the total height - the 3 linear rails of 70cm each (2.3 feet) will mostly dictate the total height, together with 5 bars of 2020 T slotted Al profile already on stock, 198cm each (6.5 feet).

Yesterday spent some time recapping where the project was left.  Found some pics, specs for the stepper motors (NEMA17, but 0.9\$^\circ\$/step, so twice the resolution of a normal 200steps/turn stepper), old Aliexpress orders, etc.

TL;DR
Dinndu nuffin yet 
here's some pics

[Wimberleytech]

Guess I should start assemble these.

Giterdone!

I have a 3D printer which I use weekly (lately, daily).  I did not build it...bought it (an expensive one!)
Anyway, I love it.
Yesterday, I designed and printed some brackets to clip on to a red-iron purlin in my shed.  Beautiful.
The day before, I printed protective cases (thin wall) for some neodymium magnets that I am using in the shed.