Robotic 3D Printer

This is a very simple yet effective way of printing 3D materials for under £50. Using a USB Robotic Arm Kit, a Chocolate fountain and a load of programming I have put together this amazing 3D printer!

To complete this you will need:
A USB Robotic Arm
Servo motor and tracks or wheels
A Pump (Or chocolate fountain)
A Heat Source
A Metal Piping funnel
Tubing
Advanced Visual Basic and Robotic Programming Knowledge
Tubing 
Good soldering skills

1.The Arm
To Build the Arm It is simply a case of following the instructions provided.

2.The Pump
Since I did not have a pump I decided to make My own from scratch using an old chocolate fountain. Since this also provided a heat source this was perfect. I put together the chocolate fountain and placed a funnel on top so the funnel will fill with malten plastic and flow into the tubing.

3.The Robotic Base
For this I picked up a cheap Servo Motor and combined it with some lego parts. The servo was then wired into the grabber port (M1) as you do not need that. I took the servo out of the grabber and used it there instead. A lot of soldering took place!

4.The tubing
Simply wire the tube from the funnel of the chocolate fountain into the little metal piping end on the robotic arm. Stick it all down with a glue gun.

5.Programming
I didn't go as far as to make this bluetooth however USB seems to be working just fine. Using Visual Basic I created a calculator to work out the degrees the motor needed to turn. I did this by analysing the pixel RGB colour of an image I prepared earlier using 2D  
Design V2. Each colour represented a different hight. Then using the software that comes with the robotic arm all you have to do is program in the instructions that my VB program gives you.

6.Operating
Turn everything on and press go!

Comments

[robochick]

That's sooo awesome! I have the same robotic arm. I've never plugged it up to a computer though. Is the programming effective on it?

[Michael_Bell]

can you upload your program source code, and any other files you have?

[Zoraster]

You mentioned some visual basic programming. Are you going to make that available?

[Ben Dunicliff]

The program or the Source?

[ride on toy dude]

Video?

[Ben Dunicliff]

Not yet got a video camera. I will as soon as I get one. Im trying to borrow one

[Krayzi99]

I have the same arm, This must be a sign to fix it! this is PERFECT for me. i dont haz near the money for a 3d printer, so thankyouthankyouthankyouthankyouthankyouthankyouthankyouthankyouthankyouthankyouthankyouthankyouthankyouthankyouthankyouthankyouthankyouthankyouthankyouthankyou

[Ben Dunicliff]

You are welcome. Please be aware that this takes along time as each layer needs time to dry before the next one is printed. if you manage to finish it... Well done. let me know if you find a more efficient way. Good luck. (;

[ride on toy dude]

A pc fans helps quite a lot in situations like that.

[knexpert1700]

I have the same robotic arm ready and put together but it's not USB. I don't think they would make a robotic arm that's USB and one that's not USB but if they did, I don't think mine would work as well. My robotic arm is controlled by a remote, not USB.

[jduffy54]

I got the same one in a surplus box, and it will not work, as that model uses DC motors, not servos, and thus (if I'm not mistaken about presence/lack of position sensing) will not have the control resolution needed for this.

[Ben Dunicliff]

A lot of the newer robotic arms come with a USB pack, but if not ( like mine ) you will have to perchace a seperate pack.

[tom10122]

If you use a Bowden hotend for plastics, this could be the future of 3d printing, no more size limits!

[lyoko12]

Could you tell me the brand of the robot arm?

[Ben Dunicliff]

I have no idea but most robotic sites like maplin or active-robots will sell them cheap.

[PS118]

Have you actually tried it? Do have any prints to show off??

[Ben Dunicliff]

Yup... I will post some samples soon. I use it mainly for cake decorating.