Hello, i have been wanting to build one of these printers for a while and i have a few questions for those who have more experience. Im looking to build a printer that has a printable area of 18x18x12. Ive decided to design the printer to raise and lower the print bed for the z axis. The extruder and hot end will move along the X and Y axis. It will likely have a gantry ( i believe that is the correct term for a beam or arm that travels along an axis) that moves front to rear along the Y axis. On that gantry there will be a moveable platform that the extruder and hot end is mounted to that travels side to side along the X axis.
For this design i will use two 20mm shafts to support the print bed using 4 linear bearings. The gantry that travels along the y axis will ride on two 16mm with 4 linear bearings. The platform the hotend and extruder are mounted on will also ride on two 16mm shafts and 4 linear bearings.
I will use acme lead screws( 1/2-10 ) to give it life from NEMA 17 stepper motors. The problem im having is the electronics. It would appear the best way to set up the motion would be to run a single stepper motor in the Z and X axis as the path they are traveling is relatively narrow compared to the distance. The Y axis would seem to benefit from the stability of being driven from both sides using two steppers and lead screws.
I also want to keep the option open to run two extruders and hot ends so i could use the PVA water soluble support material.
I would need a board that would allow for 6 stepper drivers, two of witch position the Y axis.
Is there way i could use RAMPS to do this? Or are the stepper drivers on the RAMPS already "assigned" the axis that they control? I would also need a board that can handle the current of a 18X18 heated bed, AND have three thermistor inputs and be able to control the 3 heaters for the heated bed and the two extruders.
I like the RAMBO board because it seems to be updated, but i also like the RAMPS because the stepper drivers can be easily replaced or upgraded is higher current drivers are needed.
What would be the best electronics to go with?
-Dan
For this design i will use two 20mm shafts to support the print bed using 4 linear bearings. The gantry that travels along the y axis will ride on two 16mm with 4 linear bearings. The platform the hotend and extruder are mounted on will also ride on two 16mm shafts and 4 linear bearings.
I will use acme lead screws( 1/2-10 ) to give it life from NEMA 17 stepper motors. The problem im having is the electronics. It would appear the best way to set up the motion would be to run a single stepper motor in the Z and X axis as the path they are traveling is relatively narrow compared to the distance. The Y axis would seem to benefit from the stability of being driven from both sides using two steppers and lead screws.
I also want to keep the option open to run two extruders and hot ends so i could use the PVA water soluble support material.
I would need a board that would allow for 6 stepper drivers, two of witch position the Y axis.
Is there way i could use RAMPS to do this? Or are the stepper drivers on the RAMPS already "assigned" the axis that they control? I would also need a board that can handle the current of a 18X18 heated bed, AND have three thermistor inputs and be able to control the 3 heaters for the heated bed and the two extruders.
I like the RAMBO board because it seems to be updated, but i also like the RAMPS because the stepper drivers can be easily replaced or upgraded is higher current drivers are needed.
What would be the best electronics to go with?
-Dan
