Taking apart printers and playing with Arduino and protoboard
3D Printer – Taking apart printers, playing with Arduino and protoboard
3D Printer – Using a desktop case as a Base
My friend Gary Schoonmaker got his desktop broken. After trying many things, I found out that the Microprocessor was busted. Then decided to give me the desktop so I could used it.
I think is going to be a good base for the 3D printer, plus this is going to be considerate as recycled.
Here are some examples:
The interesting part is that it seems that some materials will need the platform to be heated.
I can reuse the busted CPU as a heater: http://hackaday.com/2005/11/26/cooking-with-processors/
3D Printer – tools – file set
Since I am going to be working with aluminum and other materials, I bought a 10-piece file set for U$S 9.98. However, I still need to buy more tools if I wish to work faster, else, I will have to go slowly and keep improvising.
Building a 3D printer using other printers, picked up from the street, is like building a puzzle using different puzzles sets. I must confess that it would be easier to build a 3d printer from scratch but I don’t have the resources to buy a lot of materials and tools needed. Also, this is more challenging, original, and I can learn more than building a 3d printer from scratch.
3D Printer – Decision plus benefactor
When I started the 3D Printer, the idea was to build it mostly of recycle parts.
I got my hands on four printers, three from the street and one given to me.
The problem I uncounted was that I still needed extra materials to build the 3D printer.
This was slowing the process even more.
Well things seems to change. I found a benefactor that is willing to help me to buy the material I need.
After talking with him, we agree that I don’t have too much time to waste since summer is very short.
Also, I am building this alone. The building/engineering of the printer is the easy/fun part, the challenging part is to program the drivers which is fun but takes longer. I need the most time I can get.
Tomorrow, I am going make a list of things I will need to buy so I get approval.
3D Printer – TODO list
- Create base
- Finish X and Y axis structure
- Z platform
- Access to Oscilloscope. Send email.
- Linux Driver / Module
- Program Arduino for communication to Module
- Investigate different materials that can be used to build 3d Objects
- Investigate option of turning materials
- Interaction between Module and Blender / other applications
- Build own 3D editor?
- Need GUI properties panel for printing
- Record expenses (in progress)
