Guidance for Delta 3D printer (and open Poll)

Hello everyone :)

I am tasked with building a delta-style 3D printer for a social-causes NPO, expected to be running by 7^th May & presented on 10^th May. So please help me out.

I have been reading books, magazines & googling for 2 weeks now (analysis paralysis) and need some direct human advice & opinion on some questions to make up for ill-spent time.

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_{Side Note: I have little experience with Arduino electronics (proficiency 40%) & mechanical assembly (proficiency 90%) & I have already read Best Delta nowdays} & this

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Q1 to Q3 are over at google forms, you can see the poll results after filling.
_{Besides just helping me it will serve as a good stats resource for others in future also. I don't know HTML so I had to use Google Forms}

If you want to discuss/suggest anything about those 3 questions kindly post them here.

My other questions which I hope to get answers to are:

1. I am working on perfecting pellet to filament convertor but if that fails can I use braided-Nylon thread?
2. What affects the need of heated bed - filament material OR printer design (ie. gantry, delta, cartesian, etc.); can I skip it or is it necessary?
3. I do not have access to 3D Printer but to a CNC machine, all BOM carry a section "3D Printed Parts", can I make those parts myself?
4. Is it worth the time & effort if I try to DIY-build your chosen electronics board myself?
5. Skip on-board LCD using 3dPrinterOS || OctoPrint

I will make a blog on May 25^th & keep you al updated with the progress. And hopefully find some more help along the way if I get struck.

Hi,
A few comments on various points :
- if you try to produce 3D printer parts found on the internet, they are not designed with CNC milling in mind -> you're probably in for a big disappointment if you try to make them with a CNC mill. You'll probably have to redesign some of it.
- a heated bed is not always necessary depending on the material you intend to use. PLA can be printed without and is a very good beginner material as it has low shrink rate (-> little to no warp). While not a specialist, I would say that you can do that later as a retrofit.
- If you say you have little electronics experience and 2 weeks to complete, I would not design my own board...
- In fact, given your short time frame, I think you would be better off ordering a kit to assemble. Or is it a budget issue ?

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Originally Posted by LambdaFF

If you say you have little electronics experience and 2 weeks to complete, I would not design my own board...

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Not designing designing just soldering & etching if PCB's blueprints are available.

I can not build a decent delta (beyond my scope/budget) style printer so I am moving to cartesian style robots. And yes budget may become an issue soon (social-causes you know).

Anyway, which of the following do you recommend?

• Mondrian (FoldaRap2)
• Prusa_i3
• Ormerod
• Printrbot
• Huxley
• Mendel

(I really would hate to build the last two)

Unless you want to come with a new or improved system. You would be better off buying one. For a total cost of $38 you can have the whole package at your door in a few days. That's the Arduino, controller, and five stepper drivers. I do not see you doing it cheaper. With your schedule it is unlikely you could source all the parts and assemble them. And unless you have a well stocked junk box. You probably are not going to cheaper than a kit. Also some of the parts might be laser cut. But they are possibly do able on a CNC.

Have you looked into buying a used printer. I just checked Craigslist for my area. There is a used DaVinci XYZ 1.0 3D for $350.