What is the Gantry on a 3D Printer?

[zegreeta]

I know that this might sounds like a stupid question, but can someone please explain to me what the "Gantry" is on a 3D Printer? I keep hearing it but I have no clue what it is

[trimmedup]

I believe the Gantry is the frame that the printer runs on, but I too am not 100% sure. You'd think someone here would know LOL

[awerby]

On a FDM-type machine, the gantry is the part moves along the rails (the X axis) which carries the sliding part (the Y axis) which holds the extruder.

Andrew Werby
www.computersculpture.com

[ToyMakerRon]

So I would assume this would mean that Delta 3D printers don't have a gantry?

[awerby]

Right; the Delta (aka hexapod or parallel kinematics) machines use a different design principle; instead of Cartesian movements (in X Y and Z planes) they suspend the extruder from arms that get longer or shorter and hinge. That has the potential of moving the hot end more quickly, with less expense devoted to sliding parts. The mathematics involved in computing their motions are more complex, but computers are good at that.

Andrew Werby
www.computersculpture.com