3D printer arduino uno

How to Make a 3D Printer with Arduino – ELEGOO Official

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3D printing technology is wide, despite having been around for a little over 30 years. The improvements the technology has been undergoing are all slowly pushing it slowly towards a realm where everyone will be able to access simple 3D printers at low prices, getting the ability to make whatever they want from the comfort of their own homes. One of the most utilized 3D printing concepts is the Arduino.

Arduino is an open-source electronics platform that is based on easy-to-use software and hardware. They are boards that have the ability to read inputs, activating other machines, among many other automated functions. We are going to explore how to make a 3D printer using the Arduino platform, the benefits of having a DIY Arduino printer as well as some comparisons with other official models that are in the market.

Why Arduino?

Source: ELEGOO

There are perfectly good reasons why Arduino is used extensively in most DIY projects of making 3D Printers. The first Arduino kit was created in 2005, and in the last 15 years, it has become a very reliable software for people who are looking to create their own 3D printer. The following are reasons why they are the best choice for DIY 3D Printers.

It is cheap: Arduino is easily accessible and affordable, and the price keeps going down as more improvements are being made in the 3D printer sector. A simple Arduino kit will set you back just about $24, which is well within the affordable range of most people.
Easy to use: An Arduino kit is usually ready to use straight from the box. The kit comes in a complete package that includes a 5V regulator, a burner, a microcontroller, a serial communication interface, LED, and headers. All you have to do is plug it into the USB port of a computer, and you are ready to roll.
Wide range of codes: Arduino comes with a huge library of codes that are already present in the Arduino itself. The kit literally sets itself up in a number of ways, and in the event, you run into obstacles, troubleshooting is not that complicated to pull off on your own.
Large community: There is a huge number of online forums that are full of people who use Arduino, and this provides new users with a platform where they can get help immediately from other users who have had the experience already. Every trouble you may run to will have a solution, and this makes Arduino a very resourceful tech.
Cross-platform: Arduino is a cross-platform software that can be used on Windows, Linux, and Mac. This makes it resourceful and unlimited in many ways. You don't have to buy a particular computer to run it; all you need is to get a computer with the right specs. You will be making your 3D models in no time.

Making a 3D Printer with Arduino

The process of making a 3D printer may look daunting for those that have never used it before, but if you are a newbie to the game, the process is a little easy. The following are some of the stages that are used in making a 3D printer using the Arduino platform.

To start off, you have to start collecting the components and supplies to start yourself off. The following are the boxes you have to tick off.

A ramps 1.4 controller board: This is used for interfacing purposes like connecting the end-stop switch, the heatbed, the stepper motor driver, the hotend, and a host of other components with the Arduino.
Optical end-stop switch: This is a sensor switch that comes with two markings. NO or NC (Normally Open/Normally Closed). They function as triggers when the XYZ axis of a printer reaches its endpoint. They can be used at any time to stop and start movements.
NEMA 17 stepper motor: This is a motor that allows the user to set the speed of revolutions for the movable parts of the printer. The average motor has about 200 steps, but you can get a bigger one.
PCB heatbed: This keeps the extruded plastic parts warm at all times to prevent them from warping.
Power supply: A 12V/20A power supply is needed to run a simple kit. These power metrics are the minimum you should go for success.

The Process

With all the important components in place, the next step is to start making your DIY 3D printer. The stages involved include the following.

Step 1: Build the Frame

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The frame is the outer casing that houses the entire contraption, and it can be made to any size depending on what you need. The materials used to make the frame also vary, and the decision comes down to personal preference. The most compliant used materials are aluminum, acrylic, or hardened plastic. You have to make sure that all the parts fit well and there are no loose parts. It is important that the frame is solid because it will be providing support to the other parts that are added.

Step 2: The Display

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An LCD display is important as it relays the information you need to know about the printing process in the absence of a computer connection. You need an aluminum sheet for this process with some holes and screws, and nuts. You have to cut out space into the aluminum sheet through which the display screen will pop out of. Once you have all that art covered, connect the necessary display cables from the inside leading out, waiting for the main part of the printer to be installed.

Step 3: Preparing the Y-axis and Z-axis

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You need an MDF base that houses a cooling fan to reduce the heat produced by the stepper motor. These are done by adding two wooden cuttings for the X-axis placement. This is followed by making the Y-axis placement that’s supposed to be at 90 degrees from the X-axis. Hold them in place using glue, or you can simply use some screws.

You have to add a stepper motor to the X-axis using two pieces of sliders of any length that can fit within the structure. Once the slide is screwed in place, fit your wooden mount for the hot-end, the cooling fan, and the PTFE tube. With these two in place, your 3D printer is starting to take shape.

Step 4: Preparing the Bed

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The bed is one of the most important parts of the entire machine. It is the part that provides the platform upon which the model being printed is made. It can be made out of glass or an acrylic sheet held down by screws. You can have the base supported by another solid material. Once all that is done, place the bed on the Y-axis, and it is ready to start rolling.

Step 5: Make the Connections

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The next part involves making the wiring connections of all the components that you have already laid down. All the electrical components like the ramps. The drivers and the power supply have to be linked properly for them to run as designed. To avoid entangling the wires, make sure you deal with one connection at a time, ensuring that they don’t cross each other unless there’s no other way around it.

Step 6: Make Alignments

The bed you created earlier has to align with everything else, or you may experience a lot of trouble getting the models right. Start by aligning your bed, rotating it clockwise and counterclockwise until you create some space between the hot-end tip and the bed. The margin of error should be between 0.5mm to 1mm. Anything larger than that will have the printing guy misfiring.

Step 7: Programming

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With all the hardware installed and the electrical wiring and cabling in place. It is time to install the brain of the whole operation. Programming the 3D printer doesn’t require you to code from scratch. The software simply needs to be installed on the computer connected to the machine. This should not take too much of your time.

Step 8: Run the Machine

Once the 3D Printer program is installed and the components are set, it is time to run the machine for the first time to finger out if it is working as designed or whether it needs some more tinkling. The number of software that you can use to model your objects is many; you are free to choose the one that works best for you and switch the machine on for the first test run. Make sure the fan is working to deal with the heat.

Building Your Own 3D Printer. Is It Worth It or Not?

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Having established that making your own printer is possible, and having seen the process and what it takes to attain success, the question now is, is it worth the trouble? High-quality 3D printers cost less than $400 these days, and as much as making your own brings pride and cuts costs significantly, how do DIY 3D printers hold against professionally manufactured ones? To better get to the answer, the following are the pros and cons of DIY 3D Printers.

Pros

DIY Kits are cheap and easy to access. For as little as $25, you can have a full package that can help you set up your own printer.
DIY projects will make you understand 3D printing more, adding to your experience on the subject, which increases your level of knowledge and chances of success if you ever think of getting fully immersed into the industry.
It is fast if you know what you are doing and you have all the materials you need in one place.
There’s a huge online community of DIY 3D printer enthusiasts, and these platforms provide resources that help people learn more about 3D printing.
The kits come with instruction manuals that anyone can follow and hack the construction. They are very easy to use.

Cons

You still need some basic knowledge of assembling electronic parts in the right way to be able to put 3D printers together. You can’t wake up one morning and decide to make it because you feel like it.
They are not as high quality as those that have been manufactured by proper 3D makers. The parts found in DIY printers are too rough and rudimentary for the machine to produce superior products.
There are very many things you may miss along the way, and this can end up frustrating you later on as that will force you to retrace your steps backward until you find the source of the malfunction. That will waste a lot of your time.
You will always need to buy more parts the furthest along you go. There’s also the disadvantage of the parts falling apart since they're not well optimized for such an intense process. You will need replacements much faster.
There are limitations when it comes to software configurations and upgrades since the hardware is not optimized for the software you may choose to go with. You may end up using the same software for years, and that will limit the things the printer can pull off.

Roughly, you may end spending between $100-$200 making your own DIY 3D printer. That cost may be cheaper than the standard prices for a professionally made printer, but when you weigh the strengths and weaknesses of each, the DIY is at a disadvantage. Therefore, on the question of whether to go for a DIY 3D printer or simply buy a good one, the answer comes down to what you plan to do. If the thrill of making your own is what is important, then take the DIY route. But if you want to get some professional work done, then you are better off adding that extra $200 and getting a proper 3D primer with accessories and software updates.

There are some things you have to pay attention to when going the DIY route, factors that will determine the success or the failure of your project. Some of them include the following.

The size of the printer you intend to make
The printer type (Cartesian vs. Delta)
Extrusion type
The cost
Availability of liquid polymers
Software compatibility.

Before you embark on setting anything up, you have to first determine whether all the conditions mentioned above are met; only then will you get anything done by coming up with a good plan.

Conclusion

DIY 3D Printers are effective if they are made in the right way, and there are many methods of creating them. Finding a good Arduino kit could be the difference between having a 3D printer that world and one that keeps breaking midway. Ensure you do some background research before having to gain more knowledge before committing yourself to an ambitious project like this one.

For more information on how 3D printers work, the accessories they need to function properly, and the current trends in the industry, check out our website, and you will have access to a huge pool of resources and expert advice.

Everything You Need to Know to Get Started With Arduino

Published on September 30, 2021 by Mikahila L.

The open-source 3D printing maker community is ever-evolving as new tools innovate the space. One such tool is an Arduino— a programmable circuit board that is often referred to as a microcontroller. Arduino launched in 2005 as a tool for students at the Interaction Design Institute Ivrea, Italy, with the goal of providing an inexpensive and easy-to-use device for novices and professionals to be able to create devices that interact with their environment using sensors and actuators. Now the company makes a variety of boards as well as accessories that heighten the board’s processing power. Let’s take a dive into all the things an Arduino board can do.

What is an Arduino?

Arduino is the name of a company that produces microcomputers that are popularly known as Arduino boards, or simply an Arduino. These boards come in a variety of models that offer different features, such as WIFI or Bluetooth for instance. The most popular microcomputer board by Arduino is the UNO. For less than $30, the Arduino UNO board is a powerful piece of hardware capable of processing a broad range of data inputs.

Arduino UNO board. (Photo Credit: Unsplash)

A microcontroller is a small computer processor that is mounted on an Arduino board along with different components that process the inputs and outputs. On the micro-controller you can, for example, you could have a variety of input options, such as a button or photosensor, send information to the computer processor and after analyzing the input then the computer processor sends output to any connected devices—such as a 3D printer. Since the board is open-ended on the frontend and as well as the backend, this allows you to have any myriad of inputs controlling any outputs.

How Do You Control an Arduino?

To control the board, you can use the USB port that is included on the board and connect it to a laptop, desktop, or 3D printer. Using the Arduino development environment on a desktop or laptop, you can write C++ code that is sent to the board through the USB port. You can remove the USB connection, then each time you turn on the board the code will run continuously in a loop.

Stack of shields. (Photo Credit: Arduino Forum)

On the board, you can have analog or digital inputs. For instance, if you have an on/off button, that would be a digital input. Whereas a dial that is tuned to varying degrees, for example, would be an analog input. Using the available header pins on the board, you would connect devices to the analog or digital inputs. You can purchase what is known as a shield for your board, which will allow you to add more functionality to your board. You can stack several shields on top of each other to add even more functionality.

Arduino Project Ideas

Since the company open-sourced the design of the board, your first project could possibly be to build your own microcomputer board piece by piece instead of buying a complete board from the brand. Next, you can build your own 3D printer on an Arduino board—there are plenty of inexpensive (under $100) 3D printer kits to get started with. Additionally, similar to Raspberry Pi, there are a number of other interesting projects you can do with 3D printing and Arduino. For example, users have created robots, robotic arms and even products for the home like automated door locks or dog treat feeders. You can learn more about Arduino boards HERE.

(Photo Credit: Unsplash)

Have you used Arduino for your 3D printing project? Let us know in a comment below or on our Facebook and Twitter pages. Don’t forget to sign up for our free weekly newsletter, with all the latest news in 3D printing delivered straight to your inbox!

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3D printer on CD/DVD-ROM and arduino Uno

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Hello 3D Printing Lovers!

So I decided to share what I have achieved in creating a 3D printer. Do not judge strictly this is my first post and experience of creating a printer.

I don't have a purchased 3D printer, so I decided to make it myself, try my hand) The simplest and cheapest option seemed to me to be a printer on old sidiroms :). Fortunately, there is a lot of information on the Internet about creating 3D printers at home.

I decided to make the case out of plexiglass, I saw it somewhere and I really liked it :D.

Made a drawing in SolidWorks and printed it 1:1. And armed with a hacksaw, I cut out parts of the future printer from the plexiglass found at work:

When assembled, it looks like this:

and extruder. Installed them too. I also installed limit switches for a minimum on each axle, took them from disassembled sidiroms. Subsequently, one had to be replaced with a limit switch taken from the flop.

At the time of assembly, there was only arduino Uno from electronics, and I decided to implement my printer on it. I read on the Internet that the conclusions for the printer should be enough. The hardest part was the firmware. I spent a lot of time on it and eventually came across an option with Teacup firmware. I found a working assembly :) and uploaded it to arduino. I checked the movement along the axes and it turned out that the Z axis refuses to work, it sticks all the time (due to the fact that I sawed the mounts of the sidirom). It was my mistake in the pursuit of lightening the design of the Z axis. I found more sidir and fixed it in its entirety. The power supply was taken from the computer. Here is the printer I got:

The result is a printer with a usable print area of 38x37x37 mm, a nozzle of 0.4 mm, an unheated table, and the weight of the structure was ~1.6 kg. To feed the plastic, I used the Nema 17 engine (also ordered from AliExpress). The hot end is heated through a relay, and for the correct temperature registration, I soldered a circuit diagram, which is on ramps 1. 4, by hanging mounting.

First print trials (so far I've only printed PLA):

I can tell from the press that I haven't been able to get rid of the snot yet. And from time to time there are problems with the supply of plastic: it either flows out by gravity, then it stops pushing through - while I'm sorting it out.

For the future, there is a desire to increase the print area and make a heated table (there are conclusions on arduino).

Here are some more print samples:

I will be glad to answer questions and get advice from professionals)

Thank you for your attention;)!

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Don't want

Mechanical part

MDF boards:

-1x 30x34 cm (Base).

-2x 6x4 cm.

-1x 34x6 cm.

-1x 15x4 cm.

- 2 GT2 pulleys + 1 m GT2 timing belt.

-10 bearings 624.

-1 pulley Mk8 for drive.

-1 PTFE tube.

Smooth rods for guides with a diameter of 8 mm:

- 2, 22 cm long.

- 4 x 17.5 cm long.

Local hardware store:

- 1 shaft with M5 thread, which you will cut into 2 pieces.

-2 M5 hex nuts.

- 8 screws M3x16 mm.

-6 screws M3x 25 mm.

-4 screws x M4x45 mm.

-2 screws M4x60 mm.

-4 screws M4x20 mm.

-20 M4 hex nuts.

-10 M3 hex nuts.

-12 small screws.

Electronics

-1 Arduino Mega 2560 board + Ramps 1.4 + 4 A4988 stepper motor drivers.

-4 stepper motors 28byj-48.

-3 optical limit switches.

-1 Nema 17 stepper motor (we also order from Ali or Ebay. Such drives cost about 10 dollars).

Extruder tip:

-1 E3D-V5 Aliexpress extruder

or more expensive but with cooling

-1 E3D-V6 Aliexpress extruder.

Knots to be printed on a 3D printer

Download the latest versions of 3D models of units to be printed from the link: Thingiverse

2 "Z-Motor" parts

2 "Y-End" parts

2 "X-End" parts

1 "X-Carriage" part

1 "Motor" part

1 "Hotend" part

1 piece "Hotend Clamp"

Download mechanism for extruder here: Thingiverse.

28BYJ-48 Stepper Motor Modification

In order to convert the 28BYJ-48 stepper motor from unipolar to bipolar, you need to open the plastic cover.

Then remove the red cable and open the contact track from it as shown in the figure.

Now at the other end is the output that you will connect to the Ramps, arrange the pins as follows:

blue--yellow--orange--pink

With this little modification, you can connect these motors directly to the pins provided on the Arduino Ramps 1.4 shield

Y Axis

First you need to glue two wooden boards together.

Then place the printed parts "Motor", "Z-Motor" on the wooden boards.

Then fix the printed parts with the screws.

Next step: fit the motors into the slots and then the LM8UU bearings.

Install the pulley on the motor and the 624zz bearings next to it.

Use plastic ties to secure LM8UU bearings.

Next - install two guide rails 17.5 cm long with a diameter of 8 mm.

Finally, pull the belt through the "Y-ends" and install the limit switch.

X-Axis

For X-Axis you need:

Install two M4x45mm bolts in the "X-End" piece.

Connect the motor as shown in the illustrations.

Tension the belt and install the limit switch.

Mount the extruder with two screws M3x25 and tighten with nuts.

Z Axis

In order to assemble the Z axis you need:

Install LM8UU bearings in "X-Carriage" + "X-Ends".

Post install "X-Ends" + "X-carriage" on rails 17.5 cm (X-Axis) and 21cm (Z-Axis).

After that it is necessary to connect the threaded shaft with the motor

Printing table

We drill four holes with a diameter of 3 mm in a wooden plate 20x13 cm.

After that we tighten 4 bolts M3x25.

We assemble the entire 3D printer

We assemble it in accordance with the figures below. There is no point in giving additional explanations. The main thing is that the previous steps are correctly implemented.

3D printer arduino uno

How to Make a 3D Printer with Arduino – ELEGOO Official

Why Arduino?

Making a 3D Printer with Arduino

The Process

Step 1: Build the Frame

Step 2: The Display

Step 3: Preparing the Y-axis and Z-axis

Step 4: Preparing the Bed

Step 5: Make the Connections

Step 6: Make Alignments

Step 7: Programming

Step 8: Run the Machine

Building Your Own 3D Printer. Is It Worth It or Not?

Pros

Cons

Conclusion

Everything You Need to Know to Get Started With Arduino

What is an Arduino?

How Do You Control an Arduino?

Arduino Project Ideas

3D printer on CD/DVD-ROM and arduino Uno

Hello 3D Printing Lovers!

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Cheap Arduino 3D printer||Arduino-diy.

Mechanical part

Electronics

Knots to be printed on a 3D printer

28BYJ-48 Stepper Motor Modification

Y Axis

X-Axis

Z Axis

Printing table

We assemble the entire 3D printer

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