Opinions: P3Steel, MendelMax

Veti

Did you consider a rail version? This makes the movement more ridged.
https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:2567757
I found that the lmuu bearings tend to have a bit of play

OBELIKS

The solution with bronze bushes also gives you a rigid movement.

DocTrucker

I was thinking of an off the shelf collection of parts such as:

https://www.hta3d.com/en/p3steel-diy-kit

I've contacted them to see of they'd do a price for without PSU, arduino, RAMPs, extruder etc as I've broken a couple of ebay printers recently and would liek to reuse some of their parts!

OBELIKS

So frame with plastic parts and fans?

Veti

@doctrucker

so you actually just need the frame if you have parts from other printer like stepper motors etc.
https://orballoprinting.com/en/frame/8-prusa-i3-steel-frame-p3steel.html

DocTrucker

Thanks for the links. Yes, I had spotted a few ebay frames kicking about but none available with the hardware. That link does include options for the hardware, rods, bearings, and hopefullt somewhere there the printed components. Any other suggested links welcome!

OBELIKS

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/P3Steel-Prusa-i3-3d-Printer-Metal-Frame-galvanized-RepRap-Mendel-Lasercut/162700068255

Veti

@doctrucker

yes the printed parts are there as well
https://orballoprinting.com/en/frame/33-piezas-impresas-prusa-i3-steel-.html

A Former User

I Have a HTA3D P3Steel. All thats left from its original format is the fame and the motors, everything else has been changed, as it turned out to be junk.

I changed the bed to an Aluminium three bearing type from FYSTEC, its holding up very well compared to the somewhat flimsy original steel one which was very floppy. I changed from the M5 threaded rod to 8mm lead screws, I use bronze oilite bushes throughout the whole printer, and Genuine titan Aero on a alloy mount.

Plastic parts are XZ Carriage mod for P3steel V1.0 from Thingiverse

DocTrucker

Priced it up from Orballoprinting and it comes in around £230 for Stainless frame, printed parts, hardware, bearings (inc dry bearings for smooth rods), pulleys/belts, and TR8 screws. Not quite as cheap as I thought it maybe, so I'll be studying this a bit further and concentrating on finishing my Ormerod rework projects first!

@calvinx said in Opinions: P3Steel, MendelMax:

I Have a HTA3D P3Steel. All thats left from its original format is the fame and the motors, everything else has been changed, as it turned out to be junk.

I changed the bed to an Aluminium three bearing type from FYSTEC, its holding up very well compared to the somewhat flimsy original steel one which was very floppy. I changed from the M5 threaded rod to 8mm lead screws, I use bronze oilite bushes throughout the whole printer, and Genuine titan Aero on a alloy mount.

Plastic parts are XZ Carriage mod for P3steel V1.0 from Thingiverse

Thanks for the warning. I'll also look into that bed you mention.

DocTrucker

Thanks all for the opinions. I've got some work coming up using RAMPs. I was going to build a ramps system for myself at somepoint but need it faster so went for the complete budget system from Orballoprinting.