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Printing Printers

Discussion in 'Projects' started by mark tomlinson, Jun 1, 2015.

  1. mark tomlinson

    mark tomlinson ༼ つ ◕_ ◕ ༽つ
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    I am printing the parts now for a small SLA printer (how meta). Uses a UV LASER rather than a projector. If we like it I will upgrade to a projector (larger) one at some point. This one I can use with Simplify3D given how it operates, sadly they don't directly support SLA layer-at-a-time directly.

    The LASER for the SLA is the most expensive bit (I have the parts for a LASER engraver too and the 5w LASER for that is really not cheap).

    Always new things to build. I'll post some pictures.
     
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  2. Printed Solid

    Printed Solid Volunteer Admin
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    Nice. looking forward to hearing more.
     
  3. Mike Kelly

    Mike Kelly Volunteer

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    Where did you source the UV laser? What are you using to aim the laser? mirrors?
     
  4. mark tomlinson

    mark tomlinson ༼ つ ◕_ ◕ ༽つ
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  5. mark tomlinson

    mark tomlinson ༼ つ ◕_ ◕ ༽つ
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  6. Mike Kelly

    Mike Kelly Volunteer

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    That last page looks super cool if you scroll through really fast.
     
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  7. mark tomlinson

    mark tomlinson ༼ つ ◕_ ◕ ༽つ
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    The Pile-O-Parts is growing.
    The LASER has not yet arrived, but is shipped. Will do a detailed build as it gets here.

    20150603_174916[1].jpg
     
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  8. KTMDirtFace

    KTMDirtFace Well-Known Member

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    Not sure I quite understand what your making yet but sweet. something like a forms lab1? but homemade?
     
  9. mark tomlinson

    mark tomlinson ༼ つ ◕_ ◕ ༽つ
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    Yes! And probably smaller.
    The printing area on this one will start out as rather small (6" square). Assuming we like what we get I will probably upgrade it to a projector version and go larger. Initially I want the high precision for smaller parts anyway. Bigger stuff I could do on the Robo.

    Normally a SLA printer uses a projector and essentially prints a layer-at-a-time. This type uses a UV laser like a print head/extruder to print it one point/coordinate at a time more like a regular 3D printer.
     
  10. mark tomlinson

    mark tomlinson ༼ つ ◕_ ◕ ༽つ
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    The projector is a big expense on the printer when you go that route. This one will not print as fast as the other type, but for only the basic parts costs (really just the laser in this basic case) it is dirt cheap. We already had a lot of the parts (except the UV laser) so printing the frame and throwing one together seemed like a worthwhile project. We will probably do a laser engraver next :) I want that 5w laser and I need an excuse to use it.
     
  11. KTMDirtFace

    KTMDirtFace Well-Known Member

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    Sweet.

    I have a buddy with a Laser cutter, and another one with a CNC machine, and another one with a homemade CNC haha I want one of those.

    So does a projector basically project the laser's entire layer all at once?
     
    #11 KTMDirtFace, Jun 4, 2015
    Last edited: Jun 4, 2015
  12. mark tomlinson

    mark tomlinson ༼ つ ◕_ ◕ ༽つ
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    More or less. The resin reacts to UV light, the projector uses white light (and there is UV in white light). No laser involved.
    This approach uses just a single UV laser and moves it around (or moves the resin around...either way works) to 'draw' the entire layer.
     
  13. Stephen Capistron

    Stephen Capistron Active Member

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  14. mark tomlinson

    mark tomlinson ༼ つ ◕_ ◕ ༽つ
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    Cool. The LASER version can certainly be smaller (physically) than the projector one.
    You see my motivation, look at those prices :)
    Beside which, it is a learning project...and hopefully not just about learning new curse words.
     
  15. mark tomlinson

    mark tomlinson ༼ つ ◕_ ◕ ༽つ
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    Progress.
    Laser/lens and aperture top left (the expensive bits).
    Scavenged DVD ROM steppers and chassis will be used for X, Y and Z.

    20150609_192556[1].jpg
     
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  16. mark tomlinson

    mark tomlinson ༼ つ ◕_ ◕ ༽つ
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    Ordered the laser goggles yesterday, those are ... expensive. I found a place with some that cover the spectrum we are using (420nm) for like 30 bucks, but most of them are 200 dollars a pop. Once assembled and tested the glasses will not be needed for normal operation. It will all be sealed up in a container and the view ports in the housing will have a filter over them.
     
  17. mark tomlinson

    mark tomlinson ༼ つ ◕_ ◕ ༽つ
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    So, was hunting for other parts... The stupid lead screws and nuts are #$%^ expensive. I finally found a set:

    2 x 400mm T8 Lead Screw 8mm Thread 2mm Pitch Lead Screw with Copper Nut 3D Printer Z Axis (SKU231743) US$19.18

    THAT I can live with.

    Proceeding now to make sure I have all the other bits while I wait for that to get here from (naturally) China. Will use a std. Nema 17 for the drive, Amazon has those reasonably.
     
  18. mark tomlinson

    mark tomlinson ༼ つ ◕_ ◕ ༽つ
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    Deciding now how to build the frame for the DLP.
    I am going to print from the bottom so the choices are stand the projector on edge or sit it flat. Flat requires a mirror on the output to redirect the image up into the resin. It only saves 6-8 inches so I am going to forgo the mirror and mount the projector on edge.

    Less parts, less tweaking and tuning.
     
  19. mark tomlinson

    mark tomlinson ༼ つ ◕_ ◕ ༽つ
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    Oh, and he laser goggles arrived so we can restart the work on the SLA one as well (I did not want to risk working on that without protection--I like my eyes). Also, you have to get the glasses to match the frequency of the LASER. They cover a range, so you need to match the output of the LASER to the style/color of safety glasses lenses. 420nm in our case.

    20150702_103259[1].jpg
     
  20. Stephen Capistron

    Stephen Capistron Active Member

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    Amazon carries the sainsmart brand of stepper with the integrated lead screw for $30-40.

    Another decent site to check out is sdp-si motion products. If you click around on their site a bit you'll find their online catalog which you can filter to "reduced price".

    https://sdp-si.com/eStore/Catalog/Group/379

    Genuine Thomson linear parts have been popping up on Amazon too for not too much money. ~$13 for 12mm rods.
     
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