So you’re looking at 3D printers, but the build volumes for the current offerings just aren’t where you’d like them to be. [Ben Reylblat] had the same problem and came up with the 3DMonstr, an enormous printer that has (in its biggest configuration) a two foot cubed build volume, four extruders, and the mechanical design to make everything work.
Most of the ginormous 3D printers we’ve seen are basically upgraded versions of the common table-top sided models. This huge Ultimaker copy uses the same rods as its smaller cousin, and LeBigRap also uses woefully undersized parts. The 3DMonstr isn’t a copy of smaller machines, and instead uses very big motors for each axis, ball screws, and a proper welded frame. It’s highly doubtful anyone will call this printer a wobblebot.
The 3DMonstr comes in three sizes: 12 inches cubed, 18 inches cubed, and 24 inches cubed, with options for two to four extruders. We caught up with the 3D Monstr team at the NYC Maker Faire, and from first impressions we have to say this printer is freakin’ huge and impeccably designed.
I saw them at makerfaire and was impressed, it looks like they’ve even made improvements since then. I’m curious how they are getting around ABS warping issues on large prints. The issue scales with size, and i can say it’s non-trivial, ex: http://transistor-man.com/3dprinter_upgrade1.html
Looking forward to them getting funded!
Eh, the design looks rather crude, basic and unfinished. The axis’s are going to have so much torque (much more than’s needed) that if you were to touch the extruder nozzle to the print bed (it happens to me fairly often on my reprap) which given the raising z axis extruder mount looks very possible, something’s going to break!
It looks like it’s 70% done, as a prototype then sure, but as a finished product? nah.
Obviously that’s why they are using kickstarter. AFAIK kickstarter doesn’t equal to finished projects.
Obviously you haven’t read the article and aren’t familiar with kickstarter, the vast majority of which are all finished final products, they just need money for the initial production run. Notable examples, pebel watches and oculas rift.
That’s nice, but it still isn’t big enough to create my life size Pterodactyl zoo.
I approve of your goals.
http://www.kamermaker.com/
It’s FRAME is an 18′ shipping container.
The idea that 3D Printing is scalable in build volume is really nothing new, and I’m getting rather tired of beating this dead horse (so to speak). The basic designs have been done to death, so where’s the novelty?
How about more posts concerning things that are actually being DONE with 3D Printers? I acknowledge that there have been a few, on varied topics, but I’d really like to see more applications that feature 3D printing as the core of the fabrication process.
Not to say that this isn’t interesting, but.. well.. meh.
How about a 3D printer which “sprays” material outwards from pivot?
The pivot is on rotational x/y base and, using basic physics, predicts where the stream will land and reverse-calculates the angle and strength to use for the desired co-ordinates.
You would need to operate it in a windless environment, and you’d need a new material. And it would be a bit more dangerous…..but in principle you might be able to completely decouple build volume from device volume. Instead it would be linked to how far the spray could project upwards.
Not saying it would be practical, but it would be an interest design to see experimented with imho.
I am hoping for someone to start making 3D printing more accessible to the newbie or even the normals. just the software alone for 3d printing makes 90% of the population freak out.
I think we are mostly there. There already is pc-less solutions. The new Ultimaker basically lets you download a file from thingyverse, dump it on an SD card then the printer can use that directly. Meanwhile theres plenty of “ultra easy” 3d software online and offline these days.
I think the speed is the big hold up atm really. 6 hours or so is just too much for most people. That’s why I have high hopes for;
http://hackaday.com/2013/09/22/a-100-stereolithography-3d-printer/
And itterations of that design.
The Dollar store lets you walk in and just buy plastic crap too.
And I can buy a paperback book cheaper then I can print one on my 2d printer.
Your point is?
I think he’s saying we’re at the stage before Postscript and LaserWriters were invented. Sure, we’ll have fun with these things, but when will your parents be able to use one?
That would make sense if it was a quality issue holding it back from being mainstream, but I dont think that’s the case.
And, as I mentioned in the above post, I think the answer to “when will my parents” is “right now” in terms of “able”. Cant get much easier then “download and print from sd card”. :)
Ok, ok. When will they want to use, naturally turn to, or see the need for a 3-d printer.
At the same time when they will want to purchase a loom in order to make a blanket or some article of clothing.
3D Printing is more likely seen as a craft by the majority of people. The only ones who take notice of it are the crowd that just can’t resist learning a new craft, or are novice engineers that have an idea that they would like to make work.
People who think that 3D printers will become mainstream the way computers and 2D printers have, are neglecting the basic psychology of mankind which is: “if I can pay someone else to do it, why should I do it.”
That basic psychology however, does not eliminate the need to make the craft more accessible and easier to use as doing so expands the number of people that will at least try it. 3D Printing, will likely be categorized alongside knitting, black smithing, and other such crafts that allow people to make things. So the only ones who will delve into it are the ones who are inclined to take the time to learn the craft, and excel at it.
No, no it cannot. You still have to slice the STL before the printer can understand what to do with it. Granted, cura (software from Ultimaker) is now getting to the point where you get pretty ok prints without messing around with any settings at all but for the best results you need to learn a thing or two and be willing to experiment with both settings and other slicers.
We’ve come a long long way since the early RepRaps and Skeinforge though.
Do you really think that normal people are going to endure the smell of molten plastic in their house? Does anyone actually bother to test these things for the amount of outgassed toxins? What is the effect on children and infants? Big build volume and fast print speed also mean higher concentrations of toxins in the air.
Selling to “normal” people also requires things like guards to protect young fingers from pinches and burns.
Also I’ve no doubt that many of these 3-D printers would go up in smoke and flames if they were left unattended and had a software meltdown resulting in stuck motors.
By the time you trick out a 3-D printer to make it UL compliant for home use, you’ve doubled the price, pushing it back up out of home range pricing.
Yes. And Yes. Study’s (so far) show is no worse then frying. (and honestly, my Ultimaker hardly smells at all unless your within a few feat).
You should absolutely be in a ventilated space if your going to be standing near it, but thats it pretty much.
Likewise, there -is- guards. Lots of current designs are semi or fully encased. Compare the Ultimaker1 to the new Ultimaker2 (and there’s stuff like the Form1…go and look whats out there!). If you want a 3D printer more like a 2d one, there’s choices now.
Even without guards though, they wont burn the house down. When it goes wrong you might damage the moters/belts, or clog the tubes. But their not explosive, and the head isn’t just going to fall off and start burning stuff.
You seem a few years out of date with whats available basicly.
Price is still an issue, however. Another reason for what I linked too being a good template for future designs.
Heres a link to the Formone;
http://formlabs.com/products/our-printer
The price (particularly of the Resin) is imho the biggest issue there. Everything else seems pretty mainstream accessible to me. At least as much as cars, vacuum cleaners, fridges etc. Everything needs maintenance/learning curve after all.