Are you looking for a new project? How about building your very own Arduino-powered 3D printer?
Sounds like a good challenge, so let’s get stuck in.
Like most projects of this nature, you’ll need a few basic tools (listed below) and some other bits and bobs to get the job done.
We have included links to some of the products in case you need to buy them:
Main components:
- 1 no. Arduino Mega
- 1 no. Ramps Shield 1.4
- 4 no. A4988 Motor Driver
- 1 no. Extruder Module
- 1 no. hot-end Module
- 2 no. end-stop
- Stepper Motor
- 1 no. 12V 5A Power Supply
- 1 no. Spiral Cable
- Various pieces of wood as shown in the video.
- Various bolts and nuts and acorn cap nuts.
Gear needed:
- Screwdriver set
- Electrical wires and soldering gear.
- Assorted PCB wire female connectors and male pins.
With all these bits and pieces in hand, it is time to get on with the build.
First off, take the wooden blocks and cut to size, as described in the video. Drill and screw together as instructed.
The dimensions for the pieces needed are as follows:
Dimensions will likely vary depending on the size of the DVD writer parts you were able to get your hands on.
These parts will form the main 3D printer bed and print head assemblies.
Now take the old DVD writer assembly. This will be used to form the “business end” of the 3D printer.
Affix to the wooden parts already assembled.
Wire up the DVD components as required and as instructed in the video.
Now take the end-stop component and attach it to the main 3D printer assembly as instructed in the video. Positioning will likely vary depending on the make and model of the DVD writer.
One half of the DVD writer will be used to move the printing bed, and the other will be used to move the 3D printer head.
With that in place, add some extra wooden block feet to the base of the DVD writer. Place onto the wooden frames previously constructed, as shown in the video.
Fix into place using suitably sized nuts and bolts.
Now it is time to assemble the print head. Take the parts required and assemble as shown in the video.
The parts used, and dimensions of the print head a frame will vary depending on the DVD writer you managed to salvage.
Once assembled, affix to the main 3D printer assembly as shown in the instruction video.
Take the extruder motor and attach it to the main 3D printer assembly as instructed. This will feed the plastic filament to the print head once the printer is complete.
Fashion a bracket for the 3D printer hot end, and attach it to the main assembly as shown in the video. Like other hand made components already mentioned, this will likely take some trial and error to perfect.
Now take the hot end assembly and attached to the main build as instructed.
With the main mechanical and structural parts sorted, the next stage is to build the electronic components.
Take the Arduino board, A4988 drivers, and RAMPS 1.4 Sheild. Assemble as shown in the video.
Attach the completed electronic components to the main 3D printer assembly as instructed.
Connect up the motors, cabling for the hot end, temperature sensor, extruder fan, and end stops to the completed circuit boards as shown. Next wire up the extruder motor too.
Now take the spiral cable and tidy up the wiring to the 3D printer bed.
Next, build the actual 3D printer bed using materials and dimensions as instructed.
Now grab the power supply and wire up the main electronic components and feed the filament into the machine. Connect up the Arduino board, load the code, and 3D model, and you are good to go.