Actions
Forum Thread Details
  • Replies 13 replies
  • Subscribers 332 subscribers
  • Views 1264 views
  • Users 0 members are here
Related

Getting into 3d Printing

xarlyx

Hi, I'm XarlyX from the Arduino forum.

 

 

i'm too jealous from all the people who have a 3d printer, because i can't stop imagining all the thing i could print. The reason i haven't got one: the price

 

 

i have studied all the pieces that i need to build one.

 

 

I have an Arduino,

the RAMPS and POLOLU are cheap in my country

i can gather some stepper motors from my "old printers collection"

for the "chassis" i have great ideas,

The PSU, i think i could make one from a old PC power supply.

 

 

but... what about the "extruder" and hot end?

 

 

NO IDEA in how i could get access to one, here in Spain are too expensive like 60/70€ the "medium" quality extruder, that's in case i buy one from a spare part for any 3d printer.

 

 

My question is this:

 

How i could make a 3d printer from recycled printers and CD/DVD lectors units without spending more than 20/30€ or 50€ like so much.


Thanks, XarlyCodeX

  • in reply to xarlyx

    @XarlyCodeX,

     

    Looks like you are making some excellent progress towards your 3D printer. I have seen several attempts to use rotary encoders and DC motors through an H-Bridge instead of steppers. If you can make it work, make sure to share your exploration, as that could be the key to bringing 3D printer costs under $200 USD!

     

    Keep up the great work!

     

    Kirk Hausman

  • in reply to Former Member

    KKHausman,

     

    I have good news,

    Searching by Internet, i found that the "real name" of the optoelectronic sensor is Photo Interrupter, also i thought in the conveyor belt used in supermarkets; when a product reach the sensors, it cuts the communication between the emitter and the reciever, the conveyor stops, i think that i could use that idea for knowing HOW this photo interrupter WORKS, and when i get to the information i need, i will can start using the encoder strip for read the pits of it.

     

     

    Now i feel i'm closer to know the "secrets" of the hardcore electronics

  • in reply to xarlyx

    Very good new, Xarly Code X, the captive photo interrupter is a good design and very robust whenever you have a path that allows interruption along the axis of movement you want to test.

    image

    The emitter (E) transmits an optical signal to the sensor (S), which is latched as a digital 1 until interrupted, when it falls to a 0 state. We commonly use designs like this for pinewood derby car races and other actions that have an ad-hoc measure threshold within a defined region of completion. More detail is available for using with an Arduino microcontroller at: http://forum.arduino.cc/index.php/topic,20750.0.html

    You can also adapt the ATTiny85 microcontroller to run most Arduino code (also Atmel-based) on a much smaller form factor if you need to embed the controller in a space-constrained area.Details on that are here: http://makezine.com/2011/10/10/how-to-shrinkify-your-arduino-projects/

     

    Keep it up!

     

    Kirk