Need some help with Logic for a 3D Printer Project

stlouistechy

Hello all!

This is the first post I have made with the forums, and made it here based on a refferal from Parallax tech support since you members have a great rep for figuring out complex projects like this

I am in the process of building a 3D printer/Rapid Prototyper and using the basic logic of hacking a InkJet printer to do most of my work for me. There was another gent that pulled this off a few years back using the Parallax Propeller and had much success turning an HP printer into a flatbed printer. This is my first step in the project. His results are here:
http://www.indoor.flyer.co.uk/3dprint.htm

So I know I need to start with a Propeller chip/board to gain control of my InkJet printer heads. This will be my first fab project, and although I feel pretty technical, it will all be new. If I can manage to control my inkjet printer heads as need be, I will be building a powder bed that my jets will be spraying onto. This method has already been created using a heating element by the folks at CandyFab, and works quite well. http://wiki.candyfab.org/CandyFab_Mechanical_Design

With the printer head, I will need a way to control the X and Y axis of the stepper motors to put the print head into proper place. A method of telling the printer to begin expressing ink, and a method to return the head to a beginning position after completion. I may be able to simply use the printer controller board for this as it will likely require much less programming of the cartridges which are pretty complex.

Once to this point, I will need an array of controllers or chips to tell the bed (Z Axis) to lower a specified amount. A chip or process to drop new powder onto the bed, and another process to push a roller over the bed to smooth out next layer on top of the powder bed. This has been accomplished by CandyFab using many different Zuccherino circuit boards, but I would really enjoy being able to get all of my logic built into just a single or couple of boards if possible.

So, with all this out there, and hopefully it makes since, I am hoping some members can help me to determine what electronics Parallax currently carries that should be able to handle a job of this scope. I am open to all options, and ready to start ordering materials, just not sure what I need yet.

Thanks ahead of time for any advice you have!


CandyFab at work:


Flatbed Printer built from HP parts:

Timothy D. Swieter

I'd start by making sketches by hand or on your computer using any drawing or design tools you may have. This project could get really complicated, the key is to plan it out. While drawing think through the different components and where you think there will be challenges and what will be easy. From your sketches you can make a shopping list and also make a list breaking down the project into tasks or groups of tasks. That way you can set some goals and work through the problem step by step.

If you haven't done anything with the Propeller before, the first thing I recommend is to get a Propeller kit and work through the labs/education material on what the Propeller is and how to use it. You can do this while you sketch and think through the design. Learning more about the Propeller will help when it comes time to put software into the design.

▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔
Timothy D. Swieter, E.I.
www.brilldea.com - Prop Blade, LED Painter, RGB LEDs, 3.0" 16:9 LCD Composite video display, eProto for SunSPOT, PropNET, PolkaDOT-51
www.tdswieter.com

stlouistechy

Very good point Tim, thanks. I am about 80% through my design of the system in AutoDesk Inventor so I can actively test each moving part piece by piece before ordering materials. And yes, you are correct in stating this will be quite a large project. So far, there has been very many people attempt to pull this off over the last couple years with the RepRap 3D printer project http://reprap.org/wiki/Main_Page, and many of the other free source 3d printer communities. I have spent the last 2 weeks now, and probably 60-70 hours into working on the logic it will take to get this build and running. Many others have gotten really close, but have either given up due to costs, complexity, or just not having enough time to invest in getting it done.

I'll be sure to post some drawings here soon on what exactly this will look like, and a much closer view of what steps the machine will be taking for each process.

Any other thoughts on controlling a print head with a propeller chip or other pieces of the project?