Hello everyone 
I am tasked with building a 3D printer for a social-causes NPO, expected to be running by May 7th & presented on 10th May.
I can not build a decent delta (beyond my scope/budget) style printer so I am moving to cartesian style robots. I have 3 requirements:
I have been reading books, magazines & googling for 2 weeks now (analysis paralysis); so to make up for ill-spent time I need some human advice & direct opinion on which printer to start making:
Some other questions which I hope to get answers to are:
I will make a blog on May 30th & keep you all updated with the progress. And hopefully find some more help along the way if I get struck.

I am tasked with building a 3D printer for a social-causes NPO, expected to be running by May 7th & presented on 10th May.
I can not build a decent delta (beyond my scope/budget) style printer so I am moving to cartesian style robots. I have 3 requirements:
- Buildability (ease of assembly, w.r.t. kit contents) & low-cost
- DIY electronics would be great, I am ready to do soldering & etching, provided PCB isn't not too complex (ie. double sided etching), to reduce cost
- dual extruders, if possible
I have been reading books, magazines & googling for 2 weeks now (analysis paralysis); so to make up for ill-spent time I need some human advice & direct opinion on which printer to start making:
Side Note: I have little experience with Arduino electronics (proficiency 40%) & mechanical assembly (proficiency 90%). I must build it & not buy it, in worst case a kit may be brought
Some other questions which I hope to get answers to are:
- I am working on perfecting pellet to filament convertor but if that fails can I use braided-Nylon thread?
- What affects the need of heated bed - filament material OR printer design (ie. gantry, delta, cartesian, etc.); can I skip it or is it necessary?
- I do not have access to 3D Printer but to a CNC machine, all BOM carry a section "3D Printed Parts", can I make those parts myself?
- Is it worth the time & effort if I try to DIY-build your chosen electronics board myself?
- Skip on-board LCD using 3dPrinterOS | OctoPrint
I will make a blog on May 30th & keep you all updated with the progress. And hopefully find some more help along the way if I get struck.
Comment