Desktop Printing Press

In my history class, I recently learned about Johannes Gutenberg and the role he played in the foundations for the Renaissance. I found myself captivated by his invention of the printing press, a revolutionary technology utilizing movable, inked type that could produce hundreds of Identical prints. I found myself asking "What would a modern re-imagining of this classic invention look like?" Before long, I had developed the idea for a desktop-based, "mini" printing press that used flash cards.

I cut all pieces of wood for this printer by hand, however, all pieces can be cut using a laser-cutter. I feel that this project is perfect for a laser-cutter, and its boundaries could be expanded greatly with one.

anyways, on to step 1!

Step 1: Materials & Tools

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For this project, you will need:

MATERIALS

-Masking tape
-Strips of adhesive velcro (more than is pictured)
-Ink pad (used in stamping)
-foam letters (if you have a laser cutter or 3D printer, these are not necessary)
-1/2 inch bolt (approx. 5 inches)
-1/2 inch nut

PLYWOOD
-5/8 inch
-1/4 inch

NOT PICTURED
-12 wood screws approx. 1/2 inch long

TOOLS

-Wood saw (unnecessary if you have a laser-cutter)
-Handheld drill
-Hot glue gun
-Scissors
-Screwdriver

DRILL BITS
-1/2 inch
-1 inch

NOT PICTURED
-Drill bit for 1/2 inch long wood screws

i am going to make a similar version for my school 40 hour project thats due in 6 months getting started now!

This is cool. I am going to make this

Thanks Liefe! It would be awesome if you posted it if you make it!

This is amazing. I will have to make something similar.

Thanks Edbed! Let me know how it comes out!

What does it mean when it says 5/8 inch plywood but then says 10 by 3 by 1/8? I'm making this for a school project and I'm shopping today someone please respond asap

Hope I'm not too late!The plywood is 5/8" thick, and that particular piece cut out of the 5/8" plywood has a length of 10" and a width of 3 and 1/8".Let me know if this helps!Cheers,MU5ICI4N

Couple of comments from an old letterpress printer: Yes, you can die-cut with that type of press but the pressures may require to add more bolts to fasten the frame uprights to the bed. The platen (the part that screws down to press the paper to the type) may need strengthening if lots of type is used. I do like your idea. Another history AND business note: Gutenberg had to sue the guy who ordered the bible that made him famous and he never collected.

Hi, I'm a history teacher and am thinking about having my class build something like this, but I am also interested in your history/business note - do you have any more detail about that? I love teaching info that doesn't make the history books!

The info I gave was from memory. Your best bet is to start with Google.

enginepaul, If I ever did utilize this press for shearing or die-cutting, I will take that advice into account. However, for the most part I will be using this for the occasional odd print, and I am fairly confident that the frame can withstand that. Also, I had never heard that before! Gutenberg never fails to surprise me.

Is it possible to use this for a die cut press?

This project reminds me of high school print shop, 50 yrs ago but we were not quite this primitive even back then :) close but not. I actually have or my son has the lead castings I made as one of the projects we did in the first classes. I say kudos to you for your inquiring mind to make something like this.

I also had print shop experience, though it was in junior high school. We had two printing presses, a small one that was hand powered and a larger one that used an electric motor. We did some of the printing for the school, mostly theater programs.

Bgunville,Glad you could connect this with your high school shop :) They haven't been this primitive for quite some time- I wonder how a modern newspaper would fare with only Gutenberg presses!That's awesome! The castings definitely seem like keepsakes to hold on to :)Cheers

Cool.. another option to start letterpress printing for personal use.

Very interesting! I do some printing, linocut... For a while I have been thinking making my own press for it. I'm definitely looking at yours in detail!

Marc,Very cool, thanks for sharing! what exactly is linocut?Thanks! I'd love a picture if you do end up making something similar!Cheers

I've got 3 letterpresses in my garage the biggest is a c&p 8x12 and the smallest is even smaller than the one you have made... Is a "L letterpress" But yours is really really cool.... Plus it's easier to use than any of mine... Might add a typan and frisket though to help with alignment ( YouTube for directions) REALLY COOL!!

Jfriend, Thanks a lot! I've always wanted to experiment with much larger presses. P.S. I'm fairly new to press terminology, what is a typan and frisket?

For some reason I'm just now getting your message?!? Tympan and frisket is like a frame for the paper to sit into so it hits the type/plate exactly the same place each and every time... https://printinghistory.org/chesapeake-chapter-140419/ 5th or 6th one down

Oh instructables, you so silly XDThanks for the info! Seems like it wouldn't be too hard to add a tympan and frisket along the platter to hold the index card in place... Might be worth checking out!Cheers (hopefully this message won't take a year to deliver!)

If you're near the Boston area Harvard has a letterpress class that teaches you the different presses via their business extension school. At the end of the class you're considered trained and can use the presses outside of class during open press nights at Harvard! :)

that sounds awesome! I live in New England so that definitely may be worth checking out :) thanks for sharing!

this very cool and great... i like this...

thanks billbillt!

Very cool. Nice work.

thanks Blaise_Gauba!

here is an image of my printing press:i made this for a "renaissance fair" project that is on Thursday Jan.15th. i also have a tri fold which has information on technology in the Renaissance

that looks awesome! renaissance technology is a great topic :D

ugh... 'Renaissance technologies' needs to be a great set of learnables on google...not a hedge fund. :( https://www.google.com/search?q=renaissance%20technologies&rct=j

I'm thinking big and looking for an actual printing press that I can make myself! I need to know would the type be sturdy enough to make a book or do I need to find something else?

nicholas,For the purposes of a book, I think that this press should be sufficient! Of course, you'd have to scale all of the dimensions up to conform to the size of your pages, and I recommend that you increase the wood thickness of the side plates, as well as mount the nut under the top plate for increased strength. (I only glued mine on top because the thread of my bolt ended short of where I needed it to) Other than that, I can see no reason why this wouldn't work.Cheers

Thank you for that! I also need to know how big the type is?

The type I used was around 1/2 inch tall letters, however you can really use whatever type you want. If you have a laser cutter, you could cut your own letters in any font or size, or you could potentially buy small wooden letters in a craft store, whatever works really

How long does it take to make this machine? My group needs at simple machine that have to be done within a week. Can we do that?

you could probably finish the press within a day or two, depending on what materials you have on hand, tools, experience, etc. Once you have all of the supplies, and tools, it shouldn't take more than a day.Hope this helps

what if u go to home depot to cut your wood?

Home Depot should be able to cut out the basic shapes with the correct wood and dimensions given, (Sides, Base, Platen, Plate, Middle and Top Blocks), however, for the detail work cutaways on the sides) and drill holes you might need to look outside of Home Depot. A coping saw is a good investment for around $15 or so, and as for the drilling, you can drill the holes in the wood with a hand drill but you may be out of luck without a power drill to drill the steal bolt. Maybe borrow a drill or take it to a machine shop?Hope this helpsCheers

i wrote that comment 2 days before i started; when i went to home depot, the guy there said the smallest cut they could do was 6 inches. my dad and i cut the wood with a hand saw at home and we bought a drill. i finished the printing press last night. looks good. hopefully you have more good ideas!?thanks MU5IC4N

GhaithA, Glad to hear you built it! It would be awesome if you uploaded a picture of it using the "I Made It!" Button. A drill is a great tool- next to my Hand saw and sandpaper, it's the tool I find myself using the most often. You can check out my other instructables by clicking on my profile name- I don't have too many as of yet, but I have a few projects I'm hoping to finish up soon!Cheers,MU5ICI4N

hey! I'm also on a FIRST robotics team! (well two actually) way to go!

thanks! team 3958 Boston here :D

Can I use this desktop printing press using silk screeN? Im using silk printing manually. I am thingking If there is a device to help me do it.

Amado, I dont have any experience with silk screen, however you should be fairly confident that iif downward pressure is required, this will do the job!

so in essence, you built a big old stamp? looks fun to build! =D

Yup, it's a stamp! An awesome, awesome stamp.

This has inspired inspired me I might make my own design. if I do I will message you thanks for the quality instructable

Marvelous creative summer project!

Thank you!

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MU5ICI4N101

Bio: I'm a College Freshman interested in Mechanical Engineering, and Product Design. I love to play guitar, go on hikes, and make things out of ...

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