How to Build a 3D Printer?

[Barbora]

Hello everyone!

I've recently become interested in 3D printing and would like to try building my own. I've heard that stepper motors are key components for precise control. Do you have any suggestions for choosing a stepper motor? I found a website, , that offers a variety of stepper motors; would you recommend buying from there? Also, what other important components should I be aware of when building a 3D printer? Looking forward to your sharing and suggestions! Thank you!

 

[Vassago]

I've never thought about building one with separate parts before. I did buy an Ender 3 that comes in pieces and has to be put together. People have created many additional components you can use to alter the printer. This is fascinating to me and now I'm going to be sucked down this rabbit hole.

 

[Uncle Gizmo]

I've recently become interested in 3D printing and would like to try building my own.

I was a member of one of the first groups building reprap 3D printers under the wing of Adrian Bowyer.
Adrian was the university lecturer (at the University of Bath, just outside Bristol) who started the whole RepRap project in 2005 with the specific goal of making a 3D printer that could print most of its own parts –

Most of the old sites for the 3D printing instructions are archived, but this on github should be a good start for you:-

The RepRap Project

The RepRap Project has 9 repositories available. Follow their code on GitHub.

github.com

and there's some pictures on this wiki here

Huxley - RepRap

reprap.org

and I built one very similar to this one

basically it's made from threaded bar with 3D printed parts

you can download the 3D files for the parts and if you're if you ask around you may get someone who would print them for you for free maybe... Otherwise there are people that will print them for a small fee....

 

[Vassago]

I was a member of one of the first groups building reprap 3D printers under the wing of Adrian Bowyer.
Adrian was the university lecturer (at the University of Bath, just outside Bristol) who started the whole RepRap project in 2005 with the specific goal of making a 3D printer that could print most of its own parts –

Most of the old sites for the 3D printing instructions are archived, but this on github should be a good start for you:-

The RepRap Project

The RepRap Project has 9 repositories available. Follow their code on GitHub.

github.com

and there's some pictures on this wiki here

Huxley - RepRap

reprap.org

and I built one very similar to this one

basically it's made from threaded bar with 3D printed parts

you can download the 3D files for the parts and if you're if you ask around you may get someone who would print them for you for free maybe... Otherwise there are people that will print them for a small fee....

That is very cool.

Also, my local library does 3d printing at cost of materials. That may be a good source as well.

 

[Uncle Gizmo]

here's a another useful link :- https://reprap.org/wiki/RepRap

and here's a YouTube video of Adrian Bowyer giving a presentation:-

TEDxEWB - Adrian Bowyer - Replicating Rapid Prototyper​

 

[arnelgp]

if you are an engineer and has experienced building one from scratch, then go ahead.
for us, dummies, just buy one, and be familiar with the for the dummies manual.