[Sticky] 3D Printer Corner

@davee Funny you should mention 'crowd funders', I have bought a lot from Kickstarter with great results. The most interesting purchase was actually two, version 1 and then version 2. This was a device to connect to my pro camera that adds AI to it. Although I know how to operate my camera, I am at the age where I sometimes forget things so the AI covers my butt. It now occurs to me that there may be something to be learned from that photography AI for the robot guys here regarding artificial vision. I don't know for sure, but it seems possible. Whether they can or will share what they are doing is the question, it may be patented or similar. I just find it a little humourous how life twists and turns for me.

FYI, although my camera has fully auto, several kinds of semi auto, my process involves pressing one button to focus, another button to measure the light, 1 or 2 dials to adjust exposure the finally press the shutter. I have to admit I secretly do enjoy using my iPhone and my DJI action camera with just a point and shoot ability. What is maddening is that the point and shoot is often as much as 80% or even more as good as I can do in full manual mode. It is a huge improvement over analogue film though, especially when I set the exposure to take several pictures at higher and lower exposures at 10 frames per second with one button push. I would NOT go back.

Catch 22... Having a printer to make a printer.

...but it's a pretty impressive printer.

Hi @inq,

    Yes, it appears to be nippy and the printing looks pretty clean in the video. BOM says it uses Ender Pro 2 bed, so that is small (165 mm * 165 mm). I wondered whether it could be stretched without breaking the magic, not that I am thinking of building it.

Best wishes, Dave

Posted by: @davee

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Hi @inq,

    Yes, it appears to be nippy and the printing looks pretty clean in the video. BOM says it uses Ender Pro 2 bed, so that is small (165 mm * 165 mm). I wondered whether it could be stretched without breaking the magic, not that I am thinking of building it.

Best wishes, Dave

Interesting... that I've gone through all the build videos and it didn't mention size anywhere.  I downloaded the files and have started looking through them. 

He implies that all the high-end, high-speed printers are using a very rigid structure actually causes the artifacts.  I guess I can see that maybe the belts would have to take all the stresses and possibly are starting to resonate.  His premise is that the less rigid structure reacts opposite the head movements and thus counter balances before artifacts are introduce into the print.  Considering he's getting these speeds with a Bowden design is simply unheard of!  

Interesting concept!

Hi @inq,

 Yes, I think I saw another related video a few weeks ago, maybe a longer version of the 'exhibition' that starts the link you found, and that also claimed that it relied on rattling around loosely, etc. I am afraid my mechanical knowledge is near zero, so I'll leave that to others to justify or debunk as appropriate. 

In the notes with the YouTube link you gave is:

https://www.printables.com/model/572689-the-100-the-fastest-3d-printer-based-on-a-printed-

And on this page  are some more links and info:

Links

• Bill of Material
• Join our Discord Server
• Support this Project on Patreon
• View the Video Assembly Guide
• View the Paper Assembly Guide
• Follow the Development
• Our Community on Facebook
• Printers build by the Community

Specifications

• Printing Technology: FDM
• Build Volume: 165x165x150mm
• Maximum Printing Speed: 400mm/s
• Maximum Acceleration: 100.000mm/s²
• Layer Height: 0.1-0.35mm
• Extruder: BMG Bowden Extruder
• Filament Diameter: 1.75mm
• Nozzle Diameter: 0.4 (swappable)
• Maximum Nozzle Temperature: 300°C
• Maximum Heatbed Temperature: 110°C
• Leveling Mode: manual
• File Transfer: USB Drive, WIFI
• Rated Power: 350W
• Supported Filaments: PLA, PETG

I used the BOM link, which pointed to AliExpress parts .. including Ender 2 Pro bed, which I looked up for size.. but I now see, I could have saved a few seconds if I had read further down, as I have copied above.

I noted he is also suggesting a new hot end to push the filament out faster in the future.

Best wishes, Dave

Posted by: @davee

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Build Volume: 165x165x150mm

Yes, I'm not to sure about this concept of making a printer that small.  It seems the exercise is totally about making the fastest Benchy.  He does a great job of describing the process and I don't (yet) see any real reason why the pieces can't be lengthened to make at least the standard size of say 220x220x250.  And really the videos on making the Tool Head and setting up the software on the motherboard are applicable to any DIY 3D printer build.

He has some interesting ideas and I certainly like the budget nature of it compared to say the Bamboo or Voron printers.  I think a lot can be learned for anyone wanting to approach a DIY printer.

Hi @inq,

  Totally agree with all of your last message. I too was wondering if the size was so small that its usefulness was too restricted ... I think it needs an Ender 3 (which is 220 mm x 220 mm 'usable out of the box' and 'stretchable' towards 235 x 235 physical) sized printer to build it, so you can't use it to build a brother or sister!

The Assembly Guide in the list of links above says:

Can I use a larger bed size?

Matt specifically chose 165*165 as the sweet spot between being large enough, and speed. Increasing the bed size will slow the printer down which isn’t the goal of THE 100.

However, there are several 235*235 created by the community in the mods section. For example: one by btlucas, and another by Duncan

I haven't followed these up, but maybe there is an escape route.

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And if any parts are transferable to other printers, so much the better for anyone looking to do some modifications to their present printer.

I am a bit concerned about the patreon price linkage to access to info, but it looks like all is being published .. eventually .. who knows. I can understand it costs more than a few dollars to do these projects, so that isn't a direct criticism just a concern that it could be frustrating for someone on a tight budget.

There are hints a Mk 2 is in the pipeline, so maybe that will become more practical, albeit I fear it may become a dragster, when I am only interested in transport that is road legal and sensible. But good luck to them, whatever their ambitions or achievemnets.

Best wishes, Dave

Posted by: @davee

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And if any parts are transferable to other printers, so much the better for anyone looking to do some modifications to their present printer.

I like this idea.  My TronXY is just way too slow.  Far slower than my Prusa.  The frame is good and solid, and even the Z-axis I think is fine.  So the speed issues with it are mainly X/Y steppers should get larger and the motherboard replaced and use the ones THE 100 uses.  I'd also like to improve the bed leveling.  I'd also like to get the make/get the higher flow head so it can pump out enough plastic.  It might make it a pretty decent printer at that point.

Again, it sounds like I'm a speed freak.  😆  I don't care about Benchy speed racing.  I don't know if I said why before... I want to build a boat and use the 3D plastic as the core/mold for the fiberglass layups on inside/outside. 

 This was a proof of concept 

With the Prusa the bottom segments shown are the absolute max volume (250x210x210).  They took about 23 hours each.  If I completed two complete hulls, the resulting boat would only support one person.  So... really it's just a proof of concept.  If I scale it up to what the TronXY could fit, I could do a serious 2 person catamaran.  With the size gain AND the brutally slowness of the current state, each segment would take almost a week to print.  If I could get the claimed speeds THE 100 will do, each piece is about 12 hours.  At that point, I have another project on the bucket list! 

@inq 

If "size matters" for you, then you shoud check out Ivan Miranda who has built many 3D printers and used the parts to bootstrap his way up to many projects, including metal machining.

The link below is to part 2 of his latest 3D printer build which he uses to create a life-size reproduction of himself (all in 1 piece). I give you part 2 because it starts off with the frame built so you can get an idea of scale.

@will,

What a hoot!  

Posted by: @will

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If "size matters"

I'm not sure how to take this. 😆 My wife says, it doesn't matter.  I'm not sure how I should take that either.  🤣 

Posted by: @will

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I give you part 2 because it starts off with the frame built so you can get an idea of scale.

 

I really like his professional build quality and attention to detail.  But what really stands out is his DIY mentality and his great way of presentation.  Quick and fun instead of tedious.

Thanks @will!