Thank you for taking the time to watch the video that marks my return to RU-vid. I spent the better part of 2019 creating this content and revamping my website. My plan for 2020 is to continue to focus on quality over quantity, so subscribe to this channel to make sure that you don’t miss the small batch of videos that will be released this year.
dude like holy shiz man, this is like almost a course on 3d printers man... well done! i must admit i ddnt really like your intro as it seemed Goofy ... but with content made to this standard il watch some Goofy stuff :D
Also, i know that belts may seem to have a serious downside in the zaxis but some printers use them, can you please do a video about that? i know that lead screws can get bent really easily under weight. I've noticed that almost every leadscrew that i have ordered or received in a kit, has some sort of bend in it.also i have heard that using belts in the z make layer thicknesses more accurate.....also can you mention something about your lcd/ touch screen?
Has anyone thought of using some sort of lead screw trolley? It would follow along the lead screw for direction and motion but have a roller on a rail below it for support
@Dr. D-Flo I ain't a computer wiz but I needed some help I wanted to actually build a printer which can actually make car part such as bumpers, dash boards... So needed something of that size can this same concept be used or will I need a more advance mother board to control it.... Pleas help asset me looking a 2m x 0. 5 Mt x 0.5mt.... Ife you have any links or pages I can read up on will be much appreciated
I'm currently going toward the end of a course in 3D printing and composite materials. As Internship I have to design a whole 3D printer form the beginning with a friend of mine. He's an expert, I'm a noob and I'm trying to keep up with him by learning something new every day. Thanks to this video I learned almost everything I needed to be useful too in this project. Good job.
I'm a mechanical engineering student and I love your videos. They are so accurate and helpful. But what I love most is that it's one of the few english speaking channels, which uses the metric system instead of footballs per chicken nugget or stuff like that
Brother i agree, im a mechanic and mechatronics student looking forward to study mechanical engineering once i finish high school and this guy makes amazing videos and projects in my opinion
Any competent engineer needs to understand both measurement systems, or they're going to be a pretty shitty engineer. I've actually had some applications from young engineering students who can't use both measurement systems, and are attracted to metric because it's easier. I understand the sentiment, but I'm not hiring someone who can't do the job for all customers and countries. -an engineer.
@@rogaldorn605 Relying on conversion calculators is why the Hubble telescope was screwed up. Engineers relying on conversion calculators and not knowing what a bad measurement looked like.
Great tutorial! The perfect overview on anyone who is looking to build or upgrade a printer. Helped answer a few of my questions that no one else seemed to answer.
Nice job Dr.D! This is a great resource for 3D printer building on all levels. The effort put into this really shows. Thank you and your team for sharing.
As a total 3D noob, {my Ender 3 Pro arrives tomorrow), I want to thank you for a fascinating deep dive into 3D printing. I've been doing woodworking, wood turning, CNC woodworking and laser cutting for a while, and I see 3D printing as a whole new world of stuff to keep my old brain engaged. Will be checking out all your RU-vid Content. Thank you.
@@cowgoesmoo3850 His ENDER 3 PRO ate him in his sleep after he ate too much popcorn watching Short Circuit for a straight month. It was horrible. Sorry to be the bearer of bad news. Nothing to see here. Now move along. 😔
I didn’t have the means to get schooling in engineering. But most people always ask if I did go to school. It’s videos like yours that have carried me. Thanks
Amazing video! I've been 3d printing as my job for 4 years already, and this is a video I'd love to have seen before I began, very comprehensive and thought out. Congrats! Teching is obviously your calling!
Hi David, Zidex original creator here :) Thank you for your kind word and acknowledgment. I can't believe there's anyone crazy enough to attempt this build and then you even hit homerun with your documentation. Well done! Hope you enjoy never have to deal with Z offset between the two toolheads ever :) - Stephen
Stephen! Thank you man for dreaming up this design and providing the code and 3D models, so that I could build on what you have already created. Zidex was the inspiration for this entire video. Wishing you the best. Perhaps, we could collaborate on a future video.
Hi Stephen, I was wondering if your software would work for a standard bed slinger system with two independent Z axis. Basically the same design but with the offset on the Y instead of the X axis.I would run the 2nd Z axis on the rear of the gantry. With a longer bed I could realize a big print area with the benefit of two independent Z axis and maybe even independent mesh leveling. Would run both z on linear bearings.and ball screws.
I gave you a thumbs up the second I heard you using the metric system Great video! As a person who only used 3D design softwares I found it very helpful and I am totally sold to building my own printer
This video is sheer class. Ive never seen any of dr D-Flo's videos, but I look forward to watching some more. The presentation, content, explanations, length, music EVERYTHING. Mega impressed. Thanks so much. See you again soon
Thankyou so much for providing this knowlege, i am Converting 3D printer into 5 DOF printer, And this video literally answers all my questions.. Thanks again DR. D-Flo
I don't like to install limit switch in front of a moving part. I prefer on the side, this avoid a crash if something goes wrong. And that's why mechanical switches have a round part at the end of the lever. Very clear explanations btw.
Many 3D printer designs used threaded rod as drive screws. They actually work very well with little backlash for the Z axis where the weight of the Z axis assembly forces the threads of the nut to remain in contact with the threads of the rod regardless of the direction of motion.. Even during a change of direction, gravity keeps the threads in contact so there is little if any backlash. In a horizontal motion system, common threaded rods would have backlash without a spring keeping the threads in constant contact. One should also mention the use of ball bearing drawer slides as linear rails in a low budget RepStrap. My current home brew printer used these on all three axies, only later did I replace the Y axis with linear rods, and a 'real' linear rail on the X axis. The Z axis still uses the drawer slides, but the threaded rods were replaced with 8mm dual start drive screws. There is enough support from the screws, and enough pressure between the two parallel rails to keep the Z axis moving quite true without wobble. Eventually, I might replace the drawer slides with a pair of linear rails, but this would require much rebuilding of the printer, it would probably be better to simply build an entirely new printer. We shall see...... Nema motor specs may also have SAE or Metric screws. Obviously not interchangeable. Some stepper motors have 6 wires, or even 8. 6 wire motors can be used in a 4 wire circuit by ignoring the two extra (center tap) wires. 8 wire motors can be used in 4 wire circuits by connecting the correct two extra coils in series so there are only 4 wires connected to the controller, with the other 4 wires correctly connected, and insulated.
Thank you for this write up. I of course had to cut some corners on some of the details, but I will happily upvote this comment to bring visibility to some of the information that I missed. I am interested in your low cost 3D printer builds. Care to share any pictures?
@@DrDFlo I first built a Repstrap after finding a half dozen NEMA-23 stepper motors at a ham radio flea market for $4 each. I used 10mm wide 5mm/tooth belts with suitable pulleys to fit the motors 1/4" shafts. Ball bearing drawer slides for the linear rails, and a homebrew heated bed made from 1/8" aluminum plate with sand resistors glued to the bottom with JBweld, wired in series parallel and run off of a surplus 44v power transformer out of a surplus stereo amp. Ramps controller on an arduino mega2560, ATX pc power supply. I went through several hot ends from a Jhead-Lite, ALU-hotend, and now a Prometheus. I have a homemade direct drive extruder (400 step/rev motor) with an MK7 drive gear. I later replaced the X and Y axis with linear rail and linear rods respectively. Most of the printer structure is made of steel and aluminum members (Home Depot), and some 3D printed parts designed with OpenScad and printed on the printer to upgrade itself. Most recent upgrade was a WhamBam flexible build surface. I also downloaded the STL files for a RepRap Wilson TS, and bought a hardware kit from it's designer. The Wilson was built using surplus stepper motors (maybe a bit undersized but they work). I'm now converting the Wilson to a Bowden extruder and a Chinese clone E3D style Jhead hot end (hope it works).
Thanks are not enough for this video. Elegant explanation. Thanks for, efforts in making this excellent video. I never saw this much of a description of 3d printer.
well at least as far as I can say, you not only included really all that disorienting diffrences in every single part, I struggled 2 years to learn myself. you even did a great job explaining the really critical decisive factors about themwitch I remember was hard to find. I would personally say thats even a very short video compared to all the information it covers. Great job made a new fan over in Germany ^^
Great work sir and very informative. And a note to those on this forum, please don't put down this 3d printer and make it sound like it is no better than your ender, creality, or other Chinese printers, all because you don't want to spend the money or don't have the money. If you want something cheaper, hey, have at it, but don't judge and condemn others, please, I see too much of that in most 3d printer forums and comment sections and it's pretty old now. Have fun 3d printing!
Really excellent video. You did great job balancing the need to cover many topics with just the right amount of detail necessary. Do you have a great future as a teacher.
I have been a 3d printing and CAD autodidact since 2013, absorbing as much information as I can about the craft. This is by far the most comprehensive, educational and well thought out presentation of how a FFF system works I have ever seen. Great job.
Why go to college for this when you can just stay here? also, college includes a lot of unnecessary crap to fill time that you pay for which works but may no longer work with the power of tech today and the social corona going on. What is the point of trying to live super long and pay bills for 30-years when you would die to corona or just do stocks/BTC that would wipe out all that debt in less than 5 years? How long until people would continue doing it the old way which is becoming but not currently extremely obsolete.
@@alialtinel2960 It will take some time for corona and rioting to properly force modify the world but until then people will still be seeking the old ways.
fantastic video and a really cool printer design i hadn't seen before. thank you for the very thorough guide. i'd love to see a video on the filament extruder! it looks much simpler than many other solutions, but very robust.
Absolutely fantastic video for newbies like myself. Thank you for taking the time to create it. I watched from beginning to the end and I feel so much more comfortable and confident about what to buy and how to build my first 3d printer.
as someone who tried to change print bed size from an easythreed X1 i can say it was painful but that printer was never meant to be upgraded so you maty have more luck
This is exactly what I was looking for! I'm taking apart my first cheap printer (JGAurora A3S) while I wait for my first Prusa to arrive because there are some serious design flaws. I'm planning on using the parts to construct my own custom printer and needed some guidance. Thanks for making this!
This has been one of the most informative and well-structured videos that I have seen on 3D printing. I'm definitely subscribing and can't wait to see your future projects. Please keep making such high-quality and easy to understand content. Thank you!
I'm not sure if this is a how to build video or a "learning engineering" video but in both cases WOW, that was defiantly in depth. Great Job that is certainly a robust printer. However, unless I'm missing it I'm not seeing your links you mention in the video.
Doug thanks for your compliment! I am glad you enjoyed the video. For all resources/links pertaining to this video please find them at my website: www.drdflo.com/pages/Guides/How-to-Build-a-3D-Printer/FFF.html
Linear guides do have some adjustment to a certain extent. You can replace the ball bearings in the carriage with slightly larger or smaller ones depending if there is too much or play or drag. It's not exactly as easy as adjusting a v slot wheel, but it's doable.
Awesome video! thank you so much for the info. I'm in the fence of getting a cheap 3D printer and your video pretty much convenced me of it. After I get one... I'm pretty sure im gointo build one with this video. Thanks!
I would like to have a chat with you about a very very different design/setup, its advantages are high torque and absolutely zero backlash, there are NO Rods/screws or belts/cables
D-Flo: "... you probably didn't think i was going to lecture you for 30+ minutes" Me: "wait, what?" *looks at time = 42:46 * "how have i been sitting here for 40 minutes already??" I already know a lot of what you are talking about, but, you have filled in a lot of empty spaces at this point. Really enjoying this video. Have an internet point.
Drag chains should only be used with drag chain approved wires... And while I'm at it... Your way of mounting said drag chains doesn't look like how they're supposed to be used.
After watching this video I 'am more motivated to make my own 3D printer. thanks the best video i have seen on the subject !!!! i subscribe but i want plenty of yodiiy !!! yoou are a great teacher !
Hi! If you format the Table of Contents in description from 1. Linear Rail (4:33) 2. Linear Rods (7:57) To: 00:00 - Preview 02:30 - Intro 04:33 - Linear Rail etc. RU-vid will automatically add the chapters on the video timeline with corresponding names. Hope it helps!
I have been looking for 2 years for a full course on 3d printers.. There are small videos on everything you teach but not as informative as this is.. It's the first time I learned what each part does and how to set it up correctly.. One of the biggest issues with 3d printing is information.. There are no books or real reference material.. Now at least there is all the information we need to build and run our printers.. This is a great video thumbs up.
This is such an extremely well made and informative video, not just for those building 3d printers, but for anyone working with belt drives, lead screws, motors, controllers etc. Amazing job!
@Muhammad Zubair Hi! I'm finishing mine, so slow because I'm studying too, but now I'm in vacancy so I want to finish it till the end of this year. When i do it maybe I make a video and post on my channel, and share to you the link. Its very rustical cause I'm learning, but trying to make as better as possible my first, so I'll can make the parts of a new one even better.
Where have you been all of my countless number of videos that were always half informative. Excellent job! I know you spent a ton of time to put together a video like this... Thank you for that. I really have a much better understanding about how the 3d printer works. Forever grateful, Andy Happy printing!
Please where can I get resources to learn and gather knowledge for this setup. Like setting up the motors, drivers, and controllers and telling them what to do. I am new to 3D printing. Thank you!
Being serious here! I have a design for a 3D Printer that doesn't have gears, belts, or rods, or screw-rods, and will have Zero backlash, very high torque, and less than micron presision, and the X&Y translation of the extruder is done on the inside of the 2 motors in the same space. So if your build volume is 2 feet in diameter, then the motor will be around 2 feet 2 inches in diameter hence the high torque. And the bigger the build volume the higher the presision gets. But with this setup it can be so much more, a simple cnc/mill, obviously a laser engraving/cutting, and even Photolithography but done with a laser instead of a photo mask. Forgot to mention, it is Always homed, even if you could make the motor skip steps or the computer lose count. And I've never used a 3d printer, I'm learning FreeCAD now to get this built, it will be the new industry standard everyone want to upgrade to / get
Very good work thorough on the toms3dp level perhaps even more. I think I subscribed to you when I first saw the robot arm but notifications somehow got broken. Reenabling them now keep up the good work.
