Challenge - chap 3D printer

The electronics are (relatively) inexpensive. The bulk of the cost is in the mechanics. Google 'ballscrew' and check the prices. Note that you'll need three of them, plus motors. This cost is high (approaching $500 for something that may be a toy at best, unless you spend another $500 or so).

You do not have to use ballscrew when trying to do things cheap. And good source of stepmotors are old printers.

I agree with Shabaz that your looking at around $400 for printer.  I built my first one a couple years ago for around $500. That was as bare of printer as you could get.

That is why I call it challenge. Try to make it cheaper.

There are hundreds of people building 3D printers everyday continuously looking for ways to build them cheaper, myself included.  I think that at this point in time if you want a usable printer, it's not going to be possible to do it for much under $400-$500, and even that is pushing it.

As for the stepper motors from old printers, most of those stepper motors are strong enough to move in 3 dimensions.  As for the ballscrew, you need something to move the print head around - and using a ballscrew is fairly accurate.  You could use a trapezoidal screw, or belts but then you have other things you need to consider.

That being said, I'd love to hear or see about cheaper alternatives, but I've been thru it so many times I can't imagine building an entire printer from scratch for any less.  Between the stepper motors, electronics, linear bearings, etc.

If ti would be easy, it won't be chalange.

I agree with the 400-500 estimate.  Many of the parts are very specific and can't be taken from other products, like the hot ends, or the control board.

As for steppers from printers, most printers now a days use standard DC motors with optical encoder feedback, so that won't do you any good.

We see this question a lot lately.

Bare minimum is $400, so in that range, might as well buy a Printrbot kit that *will* work.

Remember cheap isn't always cheap. If you spend $250 and build junk that doesn't work, you're loosing money.

Yes, but I asked for 3D printer that works. And you can always spend more money, than you planned to to get it working.

Well, there you go then.  I guess you have your answer.   Expect to spend $400-$500 for a "cheap" 3D printer "that works".