Searching for: 3D printer head, stepper board
GordonMcComb
Posts: 3,366
I already have a 3-axis CNC machine that has a max actual cutting size of about 8x10x4. I'm thinking of retrofitting it to do 3D printing. The cutting tool (a Rotozip) is easily removed with two screws.
I was thinking of getting just the print head, which would consist of the auger feed and heater element. I will also need a motor controller board. While my CNC already has a stepper controller board on it, it's very old school, and designed for use with specific MS-DOS software. So I will also need a controller board for the X-Y-Z motors, and printhead. The motors are standard NEMA 23 double-stack, 1.8 degree, so nothing fancy there.
This is similar to my CNC -- mine is a bit older, and uses the larger Rotozip rather than the Dremel tool:
https://www.super-tech.com/root/itm.asp?p1=ITM-MiniRobo
Ideas for retrofitting? Favorite DIY hardware source? Recommended printing software? Or is something like this not practical. I'm wanting to go this route because the frame of my CNC is quite solid, unlike many of the <$1,000 machines I've seen with cheap wood, plastic, or thin metal frames.
-- Gordon
I was thinking of getting just the print head, which would consist of the auger feed and heater element. I will also need a motor controller board. While my CNC already has a stepper controller board on it, it's very old school, and designed for use with specific MS-DOS software. So I will also need a controller board for the X-Y-Z motors, and printhead. The motors are standard NEMA 23 double-stack, 1.8 degree, so nothing fancy there.
This is similar to my CNC -- mine is a bit older, and uses the larger Rotozip rather than the Dremel tool:
https://www.super-tech.com/root/itm.asp?p1=ITM-MiniRobo
Ideas for retrofitting? Favorite DIY hardware source? Recommended printing software? Or is something like this not practical. I'm wanting to go this route because the frame of my CNC is quite solid, unlike many of the <$1,000 machines I've seen with cheap wood, plastic, or thin metal frames.
-- Gordon
Comments
SainSmart has several 3D Printer controller boards that can either be plugged onto an Arduino Mega or are based on Arduino Mega (all on a single board) themselves... They mostly are Ramp 1.4-based controllers which are highly re-configurable. You can re-build Ramps to your heart's content and upload using the Arduino IDE... SainSmart is inexpensive, and you'll find that their support is rather limited (at least from my English language understanding). So, YMMV!
sainsmart.com/3d-printing/controller-boards.html
Inexpensive J-Head hot-ends are also available from BangGood or AliExpress. I find that when I'm in experimental mode, I tend to want to try these less expensive alternatives. That way I can get a good idea of what fits, before laying out more cash for probably higher quality components.
BangGood:
banggood.com/search/j-head-e3d-extrusion-kit.html
AliExpress:
aliexpress.com/wholesale?catId=0&initiative_id=SB_20160129182103&origin=y&SearchText=j-head+3d+printer+hot+ends
dgately