DIY 3D printing

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b26354

Sr Member
RPF PREMIUM MEMBER
Now this has potential to bring high resolution 3D printing into a home workshop

Homemade High Resolution 3D Printer - DIY

There are a bunch of DIY kits for 3d printers out there (makerbot, reprap, etc) but the resolution is limited since they squirt hot abs plastic out of a nozzle.

This uses UV cure resin and a DLP projector to print 50 micron slices (that's 0.05mm).

Hopefully he can develop a kit which provides consistent results and is a reasonable cost...
 
Eventually, the technology will improve and become cheaper. This may be as common as a laser printer at home today. Unfortunately, I would say that day will be at least 10 years from now...but I'm hoping it's a lot earlier.

TazMan2000
 
Theoretically there's no limit to the size using this DLP process - you just need a big enough tank, a long enough Z-axis and a bright enough projector - and a lot of resin :)
 
That´s just plain awesome.

I would not mind having several smaller pieces and then add them up to one large item.

The examples of the venus are mindblowing!

b26354 said:
Theoretically there's no limit to the size using this DLP process - you just need a big enough tank, a long enough Z-axis and a bright enough projector - and a lot of resin :)
Click to expand...
 
Have you guys read about the students trying to make a 3D printer that actually prints food in different flavors from bulk materials?! Hello REPLICATORS here we come!
 
He wants to start a Kickstarter page.
　
　
I'm totally down for donating money for Plans. Kits could net him legal troubles since he doesn't own the patented process used to do this. Envisiontec patented it.
　
　
　
He is using a "Optoma EP728" DLP projector with a UHP lamp. It has a 1024 X 768 pixel resolution.
　
　
There is a focusing lens between the DLP projector under the build tray to control the size of the DLP projected images.
　
　
He says the build areas size is 100mmX80mmX130mm. Each pixel projected by the DLP machine is thinner than a human hair (100 microns).
　
　
The Z Axis arm is a modified 140mm "Travelling Microscope" Arm with a Stepper Motor installed/modded on the thread rod. I am having a hard time finding these microscopes or parts for them at reasonable prices. I hope there is another way to build this part.
　
　
The acrylic tank cover has Red car window tint on it to prevent UV light from curing the UV resin inside the build area.
　
　
The build plate is made out of glass or quartz. It uses a spring based tilting mechanism to break each new layer from the build tray before the new layer is built.
　
This "Tilt" function would not be needed If there was a way to prevent the cured resin layers from sticking to the glass. Silicone or an optical anti hydrophobic layer might do the trick.

He controls the stepper motors via a parallel port and the DLP projector via a dual monitor output graphics card.
　
　
　
The program he's using sends time controlled images to the DLP projector.
He uses a STL or PLY slice program to convert his 3d models into a series of images. These images are Black and White. The white color vaule is used to tilt the micro mirrors on the DLP chip; Sending light created shapes to the build tray for each layer.
　
The program he uses:

A: Sends a time controlled image to DLP Projector through the second monitor output on the graphic card (I am hoping it has a user controllable time adjustment selector)

B: Uses a stepper motor and spring system to tilt the tray after image stops.

C: Uses another stepper motor on the travelling microscope arm to move the build up to start the next layer. Thanks in part to viscous nature of the resin there is a vacuum effect. It pulls the needed resin back into this area.

D: Process repeats.

　
The UV resin system he is using cost between $200-300 dollars per liter. It's probably acrylic, but polyester would also work. I am sure there are cheaper UV resins out there. Maybe someone here can solve this.
　
All Clear UV resin systems need to be pigmented to reduce cure depth and cure time.

If he flakes. I hope someone like "Jktechwriter" will take a stab at this. This Jr fella has had a working version for over a year + now. I don't fully understand why parts of his process haven't been shared with greater detail as of yet.

I have been asking various 3d DIY forums to pursue this tech since 2007. It's a very simple system, and it offers much better results than all of those other DIY RP machines.


Build area sizes can be increased. This guy is doing it at this scale because of the UV resin cost issues.

If it cost 2-3 grand to build it would still be a steal of deal.

Honestly though guys- I hate that this cat wants money, period. What he did is cool, but he should make that info free like all the other DIY machines out there. I'll pay for plans. I'll pay for the control program. I wont pay for a kit.
 
Last edited:
itsalive said:

Honestly though guys- I hate that this cat wants money, period. What he did is cool, but he should make that info free like all the other DIY machines out there. I'll pay for plans. I'll pay for the control program. I wont pay for a kit.
Click to expand...

Why? He's obviously put a lot of work into this to get this resolution. So why shouldn't he get compensation?

Plus he's already indicated that he will make plans available (at a cost, of course).
 
I'm cool if the money requested is for "Plans" and the "Program" to run it. I agree he put lots of time and energy into this, and he deserves compensation.

If I made this. I would give up the build information for free, but that's me. That machine practically prints money.


If he offers "Kits" and somehow lacking these "Kit" parts, leads to an inability to build your own without them. I can't lie. It will **** me off.

It's a free world. He can do whatever the heck he wants. I'm just worried about how this will unfold. Who can, and who cant get in, how much of the information is released. What Envisontec will do about it. Stuff like that has me worried.


-----------------------------------------------
I imagine the program needed to shop and control the batched slice images to the DLP projector would need these types of functions.
3146qmd.jpg


Wish I could program in VB.
 
Thought I'd revive this old thread with new information. He did indeed start a fundraising campaign on indiegogo:

DIY High Resolution 3D Printer -- Indiegogo

He set his goal real high and it doesn't look like he's going to make it. I think he set the price too high at $4000. That's a lot to trust some guy in another country to send you a working printer that hasn't been proven yet. Lots of potential, though. There is also some competition now from this printer:

B9Creator - A High Resolution 3D Printer by Michael Joyce — Kickstarter

That one is cheaper and is going to be open source. They've already tripled their campaign goal.

I'm going to wait until I've created some 3D models worth printing and the DIY SLA printers have proven themselves. I'm ignoring all the machines that use FDM (Fused Deposition Modeling, aka motorized hotglue gun). They're cheaper, but it's not possible to produce detailed models with those.

I am extremely excited about 3D printing. I'm putting together a 3D modeling workstation to get ready for the revolution!
 
One question I have--any plans in the future for a printer using a 1080p projector for higher quality xy resolution? Or extending the Z print size?

Any comparison to the top high resolution printers that are out there now? Like the Objet printers that do 600x600x1600 ppi or the Projet printers that can go up to 750x750x1600 ppi

At 10 microns it looks like it can do better in the Z resolution than those printers, but not as good in X and Y, is there a big difference?
 
itsalive said:
If he offers "Kits" and somehow lacking these "Kit" parts, leads to an inability to build your own without them. I can't lie. It will **** me off.
Click to expand...

Not sure what I'm missing here? He says they've had a small team of engineers on this for a year and will be having their kits manufactured in China to pro standards...complete kits, I'd have thought?
 
B9Creations said:
I'm also a long time rpf member.:) I'd be happy to answer any questions about the process if I can.
MikeJ
Click to expand...

Great to hear! While I am likely to hold out for version 2 with a larger build envelope, I am very excited about the B9 Creator. I actually discovered your kickstarter campaign when it was first live and had no backers yet and considered being backer number one. Then I remembered that whole "cart/horse" thing. I am still seeking the right design software to work with my 3D workstation.

I have a 3D monitor now (supports Nvidia 3D Vision) and a Phantom Omni haptic input device (which is beyond awesome for sculptors who can't draw, like me), but I need sculpting software that supports both the Phantom Omni AND the 3D monitor. So far the most popular tools (zbrush, mudbox) do not. My goal is true 3D sculpting on the computer. I do have the ClayTools software that came with the Omni, which isn't bad but doesn't support Nvidia 3D Vision. A note to anyone purchasing an Omni on ebay - they will not transfer the software license! If you want the ClayTools software, bid only on units that come with software and make sure they send you their license file off their computer. You won't be able to upgrade the software either (unless you pay the $1200 maintenance fee). That said, the Phantom Omni pops up on ebay all the time. BTW, Nvidia 3D vision systems are going for cheap on ebay now that the new version is out. I picked up the Asus monitor with one set of glasses for $200. Sure the new version is better, but most of the new monitors aren't out yet and the ones that are run $800 new.

Congrats on netting *10 TIMES* your kickstarter goal. That is pretty darn awesome.
 
Hey oh B9 one, I met one of the kickstarter kit buyers here in Portland and I am going to help him build his printer next month! I can't wait!
 
I'm really excited, I'm working on something right now that I want to print out, I think this'll get the quality that I need.

And even then the quality can be improved pretty easily--add a 1080p projector and a different resin for thinner layers and it can probably do better than the professional printers that cost tens of thousands.
 
Lookee - an SLA 3D printer with a huge build envelope!

http://acmedesign.co/

Too expensive at $15,000, but now we know it's possible to do a huge build envelope with this process. Specs:

Build envelope - 16.88” x 9.5” x 33” (X, Y, Z)
XY resolution - .0088”
Z resolution - .004”
Build speed - 1.12” per hour (Z height)
Total device size: 21" x 18" x 71"
Total Weight: 135lbs

Note however there are only a handful of photos and no video yet. There's also no software - you download your object in the form of slices from a USB flash stick.

Can we look forward to a future B9 Creator with huge build envelope at $3,000?
 
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