https://imgur.com/na1yBgx
Motivation: I wanted a Fortus 450mc but they cost around $250,000 just for the printer. Materials for stratasys printers can be around $300 per kg of ABS. Since I couldn’t afford a 450mc I built one! A big part of why I wanted a 450mc was the heated build chamber and large build area. A heated build area allows for warp free printing of ABS and PC. In addition it also allows you to print PEEK, PEI, PPSU, and other high temp exotic filaments.

Link to whole Imgur photo album of printer build: https://imgur.com/a/guFPFbn
Some addition video of my printer in action: https://youtu.be/yPAY0QT0az8

Tools used to build the printer: Solidworks, manual mill, plasma CNC table, angle grinder, bandsaw, drill press, and basic hand tools.

Specs: CoreXY with 21.5x12x18in build volume, heated bed, heated chamber, flexible thermal barriers, E3D Titan Aqua, E3D super volcano, E3D .6mm copper plated super volcano nozzle, PT100 temp sensor, Duet Wifi, Nema 23s, Ball screw for Z, removable spring steel build plate held on by high temp magnets (Samarium Cobalt -SmCo), PEI build surface.

Link to a very early draft of my design document (link: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1QNHoIpd1QWBDZGYRaK_gxPx1XXUlXQM__-ho9reaCfc/edit?usp=sharing ) PLEASE NOTE THIS IS A DRAFT so excuse any grammar/ spelling errors. In addition I have made several design changes to the physical hardware, electrical design, and overall operation of the printer. My hope is that by sharing this early documentation that others can draw some inspiration from it on their own builds. I am still working on an updated project documentation, but between school, work, side projects, and my recent Kickstarter I don’t have a ton of time. I am also working on V2 and a smaller version as well.

Print quality has been hit or miss, I am still working on getting my cura profiles dialed in. Some prints have turned out gorgeous while others have had lots of stringing issues. I have also been working with PEEK filament which has not been the easiest to print. If anyone has tips on getting the super volcano dialed in I am all ears.

About me: My name is Grayson, I have been working with 3D printers and 3D printing materials since 2014. I have been contributing to the open source filament extrusion community since 2015. I am currently studying electrical engineering at California State University Long Beach. My main interests in STEM fields are robotics, industrial automation, electrical vehicles, materials science, and additive manufacturing.

As always, if you have any questions please ask me!

@mwolter

Thanks! I kept thinking about how much of a pain it would be to sew bellows like Stratasys does and ended up finding an easier way to do it. I actually have a new design that iterates on this one that is slated to be included on the V2.

@Tony-Owens

Doing my masters on additive manufacturing would be super cool. Defintely something to think about

I actually I am using coolant used in cars for the cooling loop. I recently replaced an engine so I have a bunch of automotive fluids left over.

can you expand on what you mean by integral flexures?

While Stratasys has been a source of some design inspiration, much of the way they do buisnes is not. I actually applied to intern there last year and they weren't interested. I appreciate the heads up

Still working on getting things tunned, but I will post about it soon

@NitroFreak I have been a huge fan of your work for several months now. I have been meaning to reach out and swap stories/ problem solving methods. I used glass fiber silicone fabric. Printed on it was "welding fabric" Link to where I got it: https://www.tarpsnow.com/index.php/silicone-fiberglass-fabric-by-the-yard-roll.html?gclid=CjwKCAjwu5veBRBBEiwAFTqDwdYSBPqoeXbokl0bSiwG44zAfgKuLMHZc7IsjyRM4GwG0aRzkbjeXBoCoGUQAvD_BwE

@bearer Fixed, thank you!

https://imgur.com/na1yBgx
Motivation: I wanted a Fortus 450mc but they cost around $250,000 just for the printer. Materials for stratasys printers can be around $300 per kg of ABS. Since I couldn’t afford a 450mc I built one! A big part of why I wanted a 450mc was the heated build chamber and large build area. A heated build area allows for warp free printing of ABS and PC. In addition it also allows you to print PEEK, PEI, PPSU, and other high temp exotic filaments.

Link to whole Imgur photo album of printer build: https://imgur.com/a/guFPFbn
Some addition video of my printer in action: https://youtu.be/yPAY0QT0az8

Tools used to build the printer: Solidworks, manual mill, plasma CNC table, angle grinder, bandsaw, drill press, and basic hand tools.

Specs: CoreXY with 21.5x12x18in build volume, heated bed, heated chamber, flexible thermal barriers, E3D Titan Aqua, E3D super volcano, E3D .6mm copper plated super volcano nozzle, PT100 temp sensor, Duet Wifi, Nema 23s, Ball screw for Z, removable spring steel build plate held on by high temp magnets (Samarium Cobalt -SmCo), PEI build surface.

Link to a very early draft of my design document (link: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1QNHoIpd1QWBDZGYRaK_gxPx1XXUlXQM__-ho9reaCfc/edit?usp=sharing ) PLEASE NOTE THIS IS A DRAFT so excuse any grammar/ spelling errors. In addition I have made several design changes to the physical hardware, electrical design, and overall operation of the printer. My hope is that by sharing this early documentation that others can draw some inspiration from it on their own builds. I am still working on an updated project documentation, but between school, work, side projects, and my recent Kickstarter I don’t have a ton of time. I am also working on V2 and a smaller version as well.

Print quality has been hit or miss, I am still working on getting my cura profiles dialed in. Some prints have turned out gorgeous while others have had lots of stringing issues. I have also been working with PEEK filament which has not been the easiest to print. If anyone has tips on getting the super volcano dialed in I am all ears.

About me: My name is Grayson, I have been working with 3D printers and 3D printing materials since 2014. I have been contributing to the open source filament extrusion community since 2015. I am currently studying electrical engineering at California State University Long Beach. My main interests in STEM fields are robotics, industrial automation, electrical vehicles, materials science, and additive manufacturing.

As always, if you have any questions please ask me!

Thanks for the throughout reply, the reason I chose those fans is not because I need the amount of air they move, but because of their high temperature rating of 150C. I am trying to get my print chamber near the glass transition temperature of ULTEM 1010 (186C) and polycarbonate (around 130C) had a difficult time sourcing and smaller high temp fans.

In terms of the heating elements I am using, I have two 400w finned heaters like yours from an old Stratasys machine. The build volume chamber dimensions are around 20x14x18in. I also was able to salvage properly rated SSR's from the power distribution board on the Stratasys machine as well.

The bit of advice on how the chamber fans shouldn't act as print cooling fans is helpful, I did not fully think that part out. Maybe a cheaper and less disruptive option would be sourcing a metal blower fan wheel and attaching it to a smaller actively cooled motor steel shaft. If you know of any suppliers that stock hightemp fans that are not too big let me know.

I appreciate the response!

Hello, I am working on a 3D printer with a heated chamber and I have found a pair of fans I would like to use. I am pretty inexperienced with PWM control etc, so I am reaching out for some advice as to how to connect things and if I will need additional circuitry to run these fans. A picture of the fan data sheet is linked below. I read through this article on fans: https://duet3d.dozuki.com/Wiki/Connecting_and_configuring_fans and it stated that drawing more than 1.5 amps per output isn't recommended, but a startup current of 3-4amps is permissible. My question is could I used the fans I want and just run them at a slower speed so I do not exceed the maximum operating current of 1.5amps? Thank you!

For some reason, my fans data sheet picture isnt showing up, here a link to the imgur picture: https://imgur.com/a/mfm4XQi