3D Printer Hardware Question - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / beginners

author: ChrisGreece52
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: June 23, 2013, 04:30:05 pm
content: Hello i always loved 3d printers and i would like to gather the parts to build one.I was thinking of the Prusa Mendel since its parts are easy to find and the part list is very accuratehttp://reprap.org/wiki/Prusa_MendelBut if we assume that i got the parts (the 3D printed ones) from ebay (i found some offers) could i go to a hardware store and ask for the nuts and rods or i need a specific kit( i know that it says its dimensions but i would like to be sure if this can be found in any hardware store )Also what electronics are involved in a 3D printer (except stepper motors and their driver and the heating pad )And are these electronic parts easy to find ?Thank you.

author: paul23
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: June 23, 2013, 08:29:55 pm
content: For the most part yes, you might struggle with the bearings. Most of the hardware is common stuff, it just depends how you do it, there are loads of variations. When I priced it up, it was cheaper to buy a kit than to source all the parts individually.The electronics also depend on the variation. I have one PCB which drives everything. It does the motors for all the axis, the extruder, hot end, heat bed, and cooling fans. It has USB and SD card for loading the Gcode to. There are also 2 sensors which detect the temperature of the bed and the temperature of the hot end and three microswitches for the endstops. That´s all there is to the electronics, it´s quite simple. I use the Melzi V2 controller.

author: ChrisGreece52
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: June 23, 2013, 10:15:43 pm
content: Quote from: paul23 on June 23, 2013, 08:29:55 pmGreat thank you for the information and i will give it a search and compare prices

author: ChrisGreece52
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: June 23, 2013, 10:32:15 pm
content: Is it possible to buy/build (i would prefer to build one) with less than 100 usd ? (too cheap but i think its possible )

author: mariush
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 23, 2013, 11:27:34 pm
content: Chris ... you've asked question after question on this forum and everyone tries to help you out ... but if I may ask, have you actually finished anything that you wanted to accomplish and kept asking questions about?Don't get me wrong, it's nice that you ask but it's just that it seems either you have little attention span or just get distracted by the next big thing and lose focus ... wouldn't it be more helpful for you to actually finish something and learn about that in the process?Now you want to make a 3d printer... something expensive and hard to do without some basic knowledge or without doing research into it.. what are you going to ask about next week?

author: Skimask
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 23, 2013, 11:38:20 pm
content: I've been thinking the same thing for a few weeks.The attention span of a goldfish...

author: ChrisGreece52
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: June 24, 2013, 08:28:20 am
content: Quote from: mariush on June 23, 2013, 11:27:34 pmI have accomplieshed almost everythingSawtooth waveform module works like a well oiled machine , LM386 amp is complete and working , the reasearch for a new amp chip is still on the way because i need to compare some other than TDA's and find the proper supply , from the information all members in this forum provided me with i will etch my own board for the amp so that i do not have to solder on a prototyping board and about the 3D printer the only thing is the cost for me..... but i am now starting my reasearch as you can see so we will see how that goes.

author: ChrisGreece52
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: June 24, 2013, 08:29:39 am
content: Quote from: Skimask on June 23, 2013, 11:38:20 pmOk since i dild not get that ...... (attention span of a goldfish) ill answer with thanks

author: paul23
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: June 24, 2013, 06:15:31 pm
content: Quote from: ChrisGreece52 on June 23, 2013, 10:32:15 pmNo chance, not one that would work anyway. Seriously you're wasting your money unless you do it properly. i would definitely agree that building itself is a massive help, that way you know exactly how it all works and what you need to tweak when something goes wrong, or you need to replace something, but there is no way you could source all the parts for 100usd, not even close.

author: ChrisGreece52
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: June 24, 2013, 10:49:44 pm
content: Quote from: paul23 on June 24, 2013, 06:15:31 pmyeah did a bit of more reasearch and it would not work the heatbed is about 20 bucks the extruded 25 and each motor about 25 total 120 USD for the motors extruder and heat bed not to mention the driver board (about 25+) i would not work right now for me i have to save some money to build a proper one .Well anyway thanks for your help and thanks for being polite and not offendingAnd PS i am not seeking attention just have an urge to learn.

author: cthree
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: June 25, 2013, 04:44:05 am
content: Quote from: ChrisGreece52 on June 23, 2013, 10:32:15 pmYou are missing a zero on the end.

author: ChrisGreece52
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: June 25, 2013, 10:12:53 am
content: Quote from: cthree on June 25, 2013, 04:44:05 amI found a 3d printer that costs 250 usd but it is pretty crappy.

author: paul23
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: June 25, 2013, 05:41:49 pm
content: Mine was around 600€, a Reprappro Mendel.

author: cthree
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: June 26, 2013, 06:56:24 am
content: Like I said $1000.

author: paul23
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: June 26, 2013, 05:25:04 pm
content: The pro mendel is a bit cheaper than that at 760 USD, the Huxley is cheaper still at 670 USD, so it is easily do-able for under well under 1000USD.