This past week, my son and I built a 3D printer together.
We'd like to share the experience with you folks.
It was a great father/son project. It took about 3 days to complete. We talked about all kinds of stuff. I let him do most of the work, I just did a few of the physically difficult steps ( which require "daddy muscles") I also did some of the wiring, and tightened up the screws. I let go at his own pace, and guided him, but allowed him the possibility to break a piece or two (every piece can be bought) but it didn't happen.
My goal was to let him understand how these devices work, and to have him complete a multi-day project.
I see that the newer printers are "better" but really lack the "tinkerer" aspect- I don't want him to push a button to print, and not know how it works. I want him to be a creator, not just a consumer.
Hope you enjoy watching the build - I was a little afraid to even get the kit, but I had faith in his abilities, and I would have stepped in whenever he needed a hand. Along the way, I showed him some building 'tricks' which he used on future steps.
Normally, he'd be wearing safety goggles, but none of these steps really required them. Also,The solder we used was lead-free, and we did it outside.
[This message has been edited by TheDigitalAlchemist (edited 04-18-2014).]
I originally built my 3D CNC mill to be used to make circuit boards, with the option to add the extrusion head and use it as a 3D printer. I have used it to mill everything from wood, to plastic, to aluminum....but have yet make a circuit board or add the extrusion head
I'm still planning it, so I'll be watching intently to see how you make out. Post lots of pics!
Here's the kit we bought. it is a Kossel Mini. We chose this one because it's relatively unique among the 3d printers in that it is a delta printer (it has 3 arms (X,Y, and Z) instead of linear X and Y). it also has an autoleveler probe, which allows the machine to test the printbed prior to each print (as opposed to having to carefully make sure the bed is level. (you'll see why this is cool later)
His "parts box" :
Kit parts:
Sorting the parts (and making sure we have all of them!)
The First step was to assemble the arms. They needed to be drilled out using a tap drill.
We used JB Weld to bond them together, and allen keys to make sure they all are the same length. They are sitting on jigs which will hold 'em till the morning.
We put the arms aside and started with the frame. Screws and nuts. LOTS of screws and nuts...
He slid them in place...
And then reminded me he is 7... heh
I asked him if he was done for the day, he was like "We're just getting Started!"
Ok then... Time to do the upper frame
This step was really tricky. He needed to build three idler bearing assemblies. it was a series of washers, 2 ball bearings, more washers, and a nut and a screw. I honestly thought he would get frustrated here, but he was able to do it without any trouble.
Then, he assembled the frame.
Time to do the 'endstops'
The next step required some filing, and some use of a hammer to attach the bottom and top pieces of the frame( I did this part, because I didn't want any of the parts to crack.)
We had to do some measuring to make sure the ends of the frames were all even-Steven
--- He's just Soooo happy here.
he's preparing the Linear rails. They allow the arms to slide up and down (ball bearings) Each Rail had 18 screws +18 nuts
Now to work on the pieces which attach the arms to the rails.
TIME FOR A BREAK!
*nom *nom *nom*
More to come soon!
[This message has been edited by TheDigitalAlchemist (edited 04-18-2014).]
That's really cool. All I had to play with at that age was Lincoln Logs. If you don't mind my asking, approximately, what is the final cost of that printer?
Originally posted by TheDigitalAlchemist: And then reminded me he is 7... heh
More like,
"Like father like son" Or maybe, "The apple doesn't fall far from the tree!"
Melanie said
"He's 7, the Rumorling needs a sibling and a Dawg"
nice work you 2, have you made anything with it yet? I can't wait to see the first thing he makes with it, or did I miss that.
I am going to be sending you a PM about reading that hard drive I asked you about a few years ago, if you are still willing to do that? I finally got ahold of it, well the tower, its been sitting in my shop and I have got to take it out, you will need to send me a static bag again, China Mart no longer sells them, at least I can't find them and no one that works there says they have ever seen them. So I bet they are right in an isle I have been through several times if they do have them. But I don't want to even open the tower up until I have one of those bags and can ship it right away.
great job by the way, especially for a 7 year old with a 7 year old at heart for a dad.
Steve
------------------ Technology is great when it works, and one big pain in the ass when it doesn't
Detroit iron rules all the rest are just toys.
[This message has been edited by 84fiero123 (edited 04-18-2014).]
That's really cool. All I had to play with at that age was Lincoln Logs. If you don't mind my asking, approximately, what is the final cost of that printer?
If you buy the parts separately, it would be between 450-700.
We bought a package which contained all the pieces from a company called Blomker for 600. Their instructions were incredibly well done, and the quality of their printed parts were top notch. (this printer, like many others, utilizes parts which were created by a 3D printer (in ours, all the orange pieces)
A Makerbot costs a little over 2 grand. It's nice but pre-built. If you are interested in this stuff, there was a great issue of Make magazine where they compare a bunch of printers.
If you buy the parts separately, it would be between 450-700.
We bought a package which contained all the pieces from a company called Blomker for 600. Their instructions were incredibly well done, and the quality of their printed parts were top notch. (this printer, like many others, utilizes parts which were created by a 3D printer (in ours, all the orange pieces)
A Makerbot costs a little over 2 grand. It's nice but pre-built. If you are interested in this stuff, there was a great issue of Make magazine where they compare a bunch of printers.
I Googled the kit and it was $69. Then I went to the link that sell all of the other goodies and it was $500-$800 (if I remembered correctly). Then I wondered how many other add-ons were necessary. Thanks for an approximate price. I'll keep it in mind for my son's birthday in August.
I Googled the kit and it was $69. Then I went to the link that sell all of the other goodies and it was $500-$800 (if I remembered correctly). Then I wondered how many other add-ons were necessary. Thanks for an approximate price. I'll keep it in mind for my son's birthday in August.
it's usually about that much for the printed pieces (end brackets, end stops, carriages, extruder head, effector, etc) It's cheaper to go 'piecemeal' then to buy a 'kit', but I just wanted to make sure we could do this build in a week week, without me finding out I had to buy more online...
But there are additional things , such as a heated bed (20 bucks) which you can add afterwoods (I ordered one, it'll be here next week)
We built the Kossel Mini - there are larger Kossels which cost only a little more (relatively) which can produce larger prints, but this one was just a better 'fit' for my son.
We bought ours on ebay from blomker.. At the time, they had two of them up for auction. I see that they now are charging 699 for it both on ebay and their website...
There's one last step we need to complete before we can start printing with it. Install 3 Force-sensing resistors which will provide more accurate autoleveling. Should arrive sometime this week.
Very COOL project. I like that you did the project with you son, and the level of hands on you gave him. Give him so much resposability that he could brake the parts, VERY good move. That goes a long way. Looking forward to seeing the projects you two will make. Thanks for the insight into the printer also.
[This message has been edited by Rickady88GT (edited 04-21-2014).]
Recently, we printed a few upgrade parts for the printer, but haven't had a chance to add them yet. Trickier than we thought. So its been offline for a while. Hope to do this on this Saturday afternoon, and then we can start printing out the items we will be sending our supporters.
I feel bad about not getting the parts out yet, but he doesn't want to send out 'blemmies". we need a decent chunk of time to do the work, So it'll be this weekend...
Haven't printed anything in awhile (too much "life" has been happening) But we've been working on getting the new Autoleveling stuff working, and a control box to centralize all the POTS, switches, and connections.
We've submitted his project for the NY MakerFaire, and hopefully, they will accept it and he'll have a booth.
Post lots of pics!
China Mart no longer sells them, at least I can't find them and no one that works there says they have ever seen them. So I bet they are right in an isle I have been through several times if they do have them. But I don't want to even open the tower up until I have one of those bags and can ship it right away.
