Can a 3D printer make a 3D printer?
Could you use a 3D printer to make 3D printers parts? What is the most of a 3D printer that can be built this way or parts that break that can't be replaced this way?
print-quality 3d-design print-strength replacement-parts
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Could you use a 3D printer to make 3D printers parts? What is the most of a 3D printer that can be built this way or parts that break that can't be replaced this way?
print-quality 3d-design print-strength replacement-parts
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add a comment |
Could you use a 3D printer to make 3D printers parts? What is the most of a 3D printer that can be built this way or parts that break that can't be replaced this way?
print-quality 3d-design print-strength replacement-parts
New contributor
Could you use a 3D printer to make 3D printers parts? What is the most of a 3D printer that can be built this way or parts that break that can't be replaced this way?
print-quality 3d-design print-strength replacement-parts
print-quality 3d-design print-strength replacement-parts
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New contributor
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asked Dec 29 '18 at 19:33
Muze
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Yes, you can print most of the parts (electronics, linear guide rails, ball bearings and nuts and bolts, etc cannot be printed). Actually this was exactly the purpose of RepRap.org:
RepRap is humanity's first general-purpose self-replicating
manufacturing machine.
and:
Since many parts of RepRap are made from plastic and RepRap prints
those parts, RepRap self-replicates by making a kit of itself - a kit
that anyone can assemble given time and materials.
There have been attempts in the past to even replicate the frames of printers (e.g. Dollo 3D or Snappy, but such designs are not very successful, printed frames are more flexible than metal frames.
I have built 2 custom printers myself using other printers to print parts and printed all printer parts for several others. It is possible to print your own linear bearings from POM, I prefer these over the noisy metal bearings.
add a comment |
Yes, printers can print printer parts. With the right design, all non-metal/non-electronic parts can be printed. That is actually the core of the RepRap philosophy.
Some early printers, like the Mendel, did use just materials from home depot and printed joiners together with the electronics.
add a comment |
Can a 3D printer make a 3D printer?
Not without a bunch of other parts
Could you use a 3D printer to make 3D printers parts?
To some extent.
What is the most of a 3D printer that can be built this way
Basically you you can't print the precision mechanical guides, you can't print the electronics, you can't print the parts that need to get hot, you can't print the motors, you can't print the lead-screws or toothed belts. Printing the whole main frame doesn't seem to be very practical either.
Afaict what you are left with is mostly printing the pieces that join all the functional elements of the printer together.
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3 Answers
3
active
oldest
votes
3 Answers
3
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
Yes, you can print most of the parts (electronics, linear guide rails, ball bearings and nuts and bolts, etc cannot be printed). Actually this was exactly the purpose of RepRap.org:
RepRap is humanity's first general-purpose self-replicating
manufacturing machine.
and:
Since many parts of RepRap are made from plastic and RepRap prints
those parts, RepRap self-replicates by making a kit of itself - a kit
that anyone can assemble given time and materials.
There have been attempts in the past to even replicate the frames of printers (e.g. Dollo 3D or Snappy, but such designs are not very successful, printed frames are more flexible than metal frames.
I have built 2 custom printers myself using other printers to print parts and printed all printer parts for several others. It is possible to print your own linear bearings from POM, I prefer these over the noisy metal bearings.
add a comment |
Yes, you can print most of the parts (electronics, linear guide rails, ball bearings and nuts and bolts, etc cannot be printed). Actually this was exactly the purpose of RepRap.org:
RepRap is humanity's first general-purpose self-replicating
manufacturing machine.
and:
Since many parts of RepRap are made from plastic and RepRap prints
those parts, RepRap self-replicates by making a kit of itself - a kit
that anyone can assemble given time and materials.
There have been attempts in the past to even replicate the frames of printers (e.g. Dollo 3D or Snappy, but such designs are not very successful, printed frames are more flexible than metal frames.
I have built 2 custom printers myself using other printers to print parts and printed all printer parts for several others. It is possible to print your own linear bearings from POM, I prefer these over the noisy metal bearings.
add a comment |
Yes, you can print most of the parts (electronics, linear guide rails, ball bearings and nuts and bolts, etc cannot be printed). Actually this was exactly the purpose of RepRap.org:
RepRap is humanity's first general-purpose self-replicating
manufacturing machine.
and:
Since many parts of RepRap are made from plastic and RepRap prints
those parts, RepRap self-replicates by making a kit of itself - a kit
that anyone can assemble given time and materials.
There have been attempts in the past to even replicate the frames of printers (e.g. Dollo 3D or Snappy, but such designs are not very successful, printed frames are more flexible than metal frames.
I have built 2 custom printers myself using other printers to print parts and printed all printer parts for several others. It is possible to print your own linear bearings from POM, I prefer these over the noisy metal bearings.
Yes, you can print most of the parts (electronics, linear guide rails, ball bearings and nuts and bolts, etc cannot be printed). Actually this was exactly the purpose of RepRap.org:
RepRap is humanity's first general-purpose self-replicating
manufacturing machine.
and:
Since many parts of RepRap are made from plastic and RepRap prints
those parts, RepRap self-replicates by making a kit of itself - a kit
that anyone can assemble given time and materials.
There have been attempts in the past to even replicate the frames of printers (e.g. Dollo 3D or Snappy, but such designs are not very successful, printed frames are more flexible than metal frames.
I have built 2 custom printers myself using other printers to print parts and printed all printer parts for several others. It is possible to print your own linear bearings from POM, I prefer these over the noisy metal bearings.
edited 2 days ago
answered Dec 29 '18 at 20:34
0scar
9,73021242
9,73021242
add a comment |
add a comment |
Yes, printers can print printer parts. With the right design, all non-metal/non-electronic parts can be printed. That is actually the core of the RepRap philosophy.
Some early printers, like the Mendel, did use just materials from home depot and printed joiners together with the electronics.
add a comment |
Yes, printers can print printer parts. With the right design, all non-metal/non-electronic parts can be printed. That is actually the core of the RepRap philosophy.
Some early printers, like the Mendel, did use just materials from home depot and printed joiners together with the electronics.
add a comment |
Yes, printers can print printer parts. With the right design, all non-metal/non-electronic parts can be printed. That is actually the core of the RepRap philosophy.
Some early printers, like the Mendel, did use just materials from home depot and printed joiners together with the electronics.
Yes, printers can print printer parts. With the right design, all non-metal/non-electronic parts can be printed. That is actually the core of the RepRap philosophy.
Some early printers, like the Mendel, did use just materials from home depot and printed joiners together with the electronics.
answered Dec 30 '18 at 1:43
Trish
4,511837
4,511837
add a comment |
add a comment |
Can a 3D printer make a 3D printer?
Not without a bunch of other parts
Could you use a 3D printer to make 3D printers parts?
To some extent.
What is the most of a 3D printer that can be built this way
Basically you you can't print the precision mechanical guides, you can't print the electronics, you can't print the parts that need to get hot, you can't print the motors, you can't print the lead-screws or toothed belts. Printing the whole main frame doesn't seem to be very practical either.
Afaict what you are left with is mostly printing the pieces that join all the functional elements of the printer together.
New contributor
add a comment |
Can a 3D printer make a 3D printer?
Not without a bunch of other parts
Could you use a 3D printer to make 3D printers parts?
To some extent.
What is the most of a 3D printer that can be built this way
Basically you you can't print the precision mechanical guides, you can't print the electronics, you can't print the parts that need to get hot, you can't print the motors, you can't print the lead-screws or toothed belts. Printing the whole main frame doesn't seem to be very practical either.
Afaict what you are left with is mostly printing the pieces that join all the functional elements of the printer together.
New contributor
add a comment |
Can a 3D printer make a 3D printer?
Not without a bunch of other parts
Could you use a 3D printer to make 3D printers parts?
To some extent.
What is the most of a 3D printer that can be built this way
Basically you you can't print the precision mechanical guides, you can't print the electronics, you can't print the parts that need to get hot, you can't print the motors, you can't print the lead-screws or toothed belts. Printing the whole main frame doesn't seem to be very practical either.
Afaict what you are left with is mostly printing the pieces that join all the functional elements of the printer together.
New contributor
Can a 3D printer make a 3D printer?
Not without a bunch of other parts
Could you use a 3D printer to make 3D printers parts?
To some extent.
What is the most of a 3D printer that can be built this way
Basically you you can't print the precision mechanical guides, you can't print the electronics, you can't print the parts that need to get hot, you can't print the motors, you can't print the lead-screws or toothed belts. Printing the whole main frame doesn't seem to be very practical either.
Afaict what you are left with is mostly printing the pieces that join all the functional elements of the printer together.
New contributor
New contributor
answered Dec 30 '18 at 16:04
Peter Green
1312
1312
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Muze is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.
Muze is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.
Muze is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.
Muze is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.
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