CNC and 3D Printer

Hello Ben!

after seeing a lot of your videos i was hoping to make an' CNC and a 3D Printer for my self.... and I notice some similitudes between both, the 3 axis sistem for example.

What about a CNC and 3D printer with interchangeable headset? I now it's not a easy task but you know... im just saying.

Thank you soo much.

P.S: Sorry for my inglish im from Argentina .

amgalbu over 10 years ago

Hi
I think the main issue is on the size and weight of the headset
Looking at 3D printer layout, I noticed that there is a tendency to give some degrees-of-freedom to the plate where the object is printed instead of leaving the headset free to move in three dimensions. My thought was that was due to two main reasons
1. the PLA thread that is melted by the headset
2. the weight of the headset, which makes a little complicated to precisely control position (high inertia, high torque, etc)
May be I'm wrong. In that case, it could be a valuable way to save money: just one single piece of hardware for both a CNC and a 3D printer!
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fyantrix over 10 years ago

Good day!

To give you a little light at the end of the tunnel, No I have not made one yet, but I have been thinking of ways to make said CNC/3D Printer combo. For one you would need a head swap carriage (if you want it automated) and same with the bed.
The way I think it would be possible to use both on the same platform would be to:
1. Strengthen the axis's with thicker threaded rods.(to reduce possible bending in the rods)
2. Possible chain or belt driven for non threaded rods (can be thicker and you don't have to worry about possible wobble from warped rods)
3. Stationary bed. Its the only way I can see this to be possible to a precise build.
4. A gantry crane setup. This will help with having a stationary bed.
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colecago over 10 years ago

Questions about those combo machines get asked a lot.

http://www.element14.com/community/message/65543/l/re-show-ideaquestion-combined-3d-printer-cnc-router-laser-cutter#65543
http://www.element14.com/community/message/73339/l/re-challenge-3d-printerrouterlaser-cuter-multi-system#73339
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Former Member over 10 years ago in reply to fyantrix

I know it's not easy, but we are talking about a machine like no one before rigth?
better materials, more precise, MAYBE just maybe portable, functional.
im thinking about a cnc for small pices, with a Dremell headset (?)

Im just a dreamer, but it's the first step rigth?
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Former Member over 10 years ago

I have been thinking along the same lines, but mainly using the CNC to be a proto-type pcb router

I was thinking of perhaps using openbuilds V slot linear rail as the runners, to make it simpler to construct
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Former Member over 10 years ago in reply to Former Member

Would them be strong enough?
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Former Member over 10 years ago in reply to Former Member

Yes they are extruded aluminium, in 1, to 4 width sections (20mm per section), which are made so that V wheels can run in the groove - one of their suggestions is a CNC router
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