Originally shared by Nicholas Seward
One of my students just made this sweet 1-arm SCARA prototype. I have been meaning to try this geometry for a very long time. It checks out and will easily support 3D printing.
We are accepting suggestions for the Z. I really like the idea of a backpack printer that can print huge 300mm+ objects. That said…how can we add a Z and still keep it cute and foldable as it is now? I would be okay with a smaller Z such as 75mm or 100mm.
Something like one of the mini rail units from PBC linear so it’s all in one unit would be good. Especially if you want the printer to be collapsible.
I would continue the theme using a polar coordinate bed or a 1 DoF robot arm
Lockable telescoping Z?
^^^^^ A telescoping Z would be very cool. But how would you do the motion system for the Z axis?
@Blake_Dunham perhaps telescoping is not the right idea; however, folding might work, if the pieces were hinged, locked into place, and had gear teeth on the side, kind of like a rack and pinion setup. Then have a cog that runs up it. Hopefully, I’m conveying my idea clearly enough here…
But…it would need to be further constrained on the sides. Hmmm… back to the drawing board I guess. :-/
Start with basics: the bed has to move or the motors and the arms have to move. A single support will have usual swaying problems.
How are you going to “stow” the arms. Maybe a linear arrangement - pack everything in a tube instead of rectangular bag?