New 3D Printer Plans

3D Printing
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I have an urge to build up a 3D printer from scratch. The KickStarter Smoothie V2 board is somewhere between Seattle and Phoenix heading my way and I decided to use this as the controller. I have a K40 laser and a Wanhao D6 running the Smoothie V1 board.

At this point I am gathering ideas. Looking through the older forum posts nothing recent is showing up. My plans include the following at this point:

  • Dual Extruders
  • Build volume in excess of 12"

I like the linear rail design that the D6 uses, the machine has been trouble free and a real workhorse. Curious as to what people would suggest for specific components

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Are you looking to design your own, or scratch build an existing design?

Ganged or independent dual extruders?

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Either way. I have a full on metal working shop at home were I make parts for www.starracecars.com and the local Ham Radio and Astronomy communities.

Was not aware of IDEX, and I will spend some time researching this. That sounds on the surface (pun intended) like a more flexible system. I am NOT doing production runs of parts. Mostly engineering samples for metal machining.

Beevo (aka Bill VanOrden)

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The Voron project has a variety of designs to look at, including BOMs. That might be a helpful starting point.

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Thank you!

This is the kind of information I am looking for. I have no plans to “reinvent the wheel” but don’t want to go down any rabbit holes…

Beevo (aka Bill VanOrden)

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Oh, good. I’m glad it’s helpful info.

By the way, I’m also a machinist working from a home shop. I mostly work on miniatures and replicas for collectors and museums. Right now I’m making replacement parts for antique cameras, though.

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Yeah, I’d be reasonably likely to pick something from the Voron family as a starting point if I were starting a project like this today. The RatRig has too many critical 3D printed parts for my taste, though I understand that many people are completely satisfied with it. While I chose the SK-Tank when I went through this exercise, I wouldn’t do that again for a variety of reasons.

For IDEX, you might consider GitHub - 3dprintingworld/MULDEX: Muldex - REP-RAP IDEX 3D Printer

I’d also look at:

I’m pretty sure you can put E3D toolchangers on a RailCore, which is another approach to multiple extruders.

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