Here is a small tutorial links compilation that will grow in the future on how to make a simple and ultra cheap 3d printer or CNC from reclaimed or junk electronic and structural parts. Tutorials are very detailed and will help you to start with this technology, educate someone or save some parts form trash.
Reddit user 5ilver posted his no cost 3d printer project. He made it from parts and scrap from his workshop. It uses hot glue pistol sticks. It looks rough and it prints rough but the cost is zero :-)
SmartCore is a new 3d printer developed by SmartFriendz who gave us SmartRap. It should be VERY affordable, cheap and easy to make since the frame is a simple wooden box made from any available wood sheet.
The design elements like motor size, rod size, print volume and wall thickens are customizable and the design files can be recalculated. Since I'm a huge fan of wooden frame 3d printers I really like this design and will follow the project closely!
The project is still in development and could have some small disadvantages like slightly higher noise level since the box is an acoustic resonator.
All the files needed to make your own Smartrap Core can be found at:
Michael Ball decided to make a 3d printer from discarded printer and scanner parts like some people before him. His build process is very well documented and very educational especially about motor and electronics configuration. One of the projects goals is tocreate a 3D printer using DC motors and the salvaged Optical Encoder strips.You will also find his Arduino driver code on the project site.
The total cost of purchased parts for the build is around 355 USD. There are some low cost printers available for the same or lower amount, but this one has bigger print surface and the joy of building it.
Great work Michael!
Here is a video of RepScrap X-Axis DC Motor and Linear Optical Encoder repurposed from an old InkJet Printer. Arduino Pro-Mini is running the DC motor, and reading the high resolution Linear Optical Encoder for positioning.
QuadStrap is machine developed by Dr. Shauki Bagdadi, it is designed to produce other printers and therefore has no 3d printed plastic parts. It is ultra low cost with price at some 300 euro for 1 cube meter of print volume. That is very affordable! It moves with transmission by mason cord or packing tape which further lowers the cost.
There seams to be two or more different versions, so excuse me if mixing QuadStrap and QuadRap variants ...
If you are interested in different low cost 3d printer with no 3d printed or CNC parts take a look at Delta Twister, it also has very detailed step-by-step building tutorial:
RepStrap is 3d printer made from any parts available. They have raw DIY appeal and some of them are masterful DIY devices that would make MacGyver envious. Low cost of RepStraps is another advantage. They are not the most beautiful machines and noise level seems high ... but hey ... it's another type of cool ..
Here is Bre, current multimillionaire from MakerBot Industires explaining in a youtube video how to make RepRap (RepStrap) printer ... year is 2007 ...
This is part to of series in making on 3d printing history, which will be updated when interesting material come up. If you have something interesting from the "old days" let me know.
