3D Printer Build

Instructable on how to build a budget 3D printer kit

Step 1: Sort Out All of the Parts

First, you want to sort out all of your parts and make sure you have all the parts necessary to build your 3D printer.

Step 2: Assemble the Main Frame

Next, You want to put the main frame of the printer together by using the provided "L" brackets and the little black set screws. Be sure everything is nice and square so that parts are easier to install later on.

Step 3: Install the Beam Brackets

Use T nuts and screws to install the 4 beam brackets. Put 2 on each end of the frame across from each other. Make sure you put them on the right side where the 395mm beam will fit. If you install these on the wrong way, the beams will be too long.

Step 4: Install Belt Guide Brackets

Next using the the same style of nuts and bolts, install the brackets for the belt guide. This is where your belt will loop around, so get it as close to the middle of the frame as possible.

Step 5: Install Y Axis Motor Mount

Next, install the motor mount for the Y axis motor. Get it as close to the middle as possible as well. You can adjust this later when you connect the belts and secure the motors.

Step 6: Install the Bed Rails and Bearings

Next, slide the 395mm rod through the beam brackets you previously installed. Put one bearing on the left beam and 2 bearings on the right beam, as shown in the picture.

Step 7: Install Metal Bed Plate

Next, use the 3D printed bed plate bearing holders to install the metal bed plate. Fasten the holders to the bottom of the bed plate and use zip ties to secure the bearings to the holders. You may have to use some force to pop them into place so they fit nice. The bed should slide easily after the bearing are all fastened securely

Step 8: Solder Wires to Heated Bed

Next, use a soldering iron to solder the positive and negative wires onto the heated bed. The red wire should be soldered to contact #1 and the black wire should be soldered to contacts #2 and #3. If you do not make contact with both, only half of the bed will be heated. Use the Kapton Tape to stick the wires to the bottom of the bed so they are not loose. Tape the thermistor into the hole in the middle of the bed so that it is flush with the other side.

Step 9: Install Heated Bed Onto Metal Bed

Next, using springs, thumb screws, and nuts install the heated bed onto the metal bed. It does not have to be tightened down yet as you will adjust it later to get it perfectly level.

Step 10: Install Motors and Mounts

Next, you are going to want to install the Z axis motor mounts. There should be 2 mounts on each corner of the top of the printer. After the mounts are installed, you can install the motors onto them as well. Notice which way the plug ins for the wires are facing for cable management later.

Step 11: Install X Axis Motor Mount

Next, take the 2 3D printed X axis and push 2 bearing into the mounts. Zip tie the bearing holder with the bearings to the two 365mm rods. Push the 2 ends of the rods into the X axis mounts.

Step 12: Connect Belt to X Axis

Take the belt and wrap it around the motor and through the plastic motor mounts. Use the notches on the bearing holder/extruder holder to keep the belt tight.

Step 13: Attach the Extruder to the X Axis

Using long screws, attach the extruder to the X axis slider you just assembled.

Step 14: Attach the Power Supply to the Frame

Using T-Nuts, attach the power supply to the inner side of the right vertical beam of the frame, facing the fan outside.

Step 15: Attach the Acrylic Electronics Mount to the Frame

Using screws and T-Nuts, attach the acrylic electronics mount to the frame right above the power supply.

Step 16: Install the Stepper Drivers to the Mega Board

Next, take the heat sinks and place them on the chips of the stepper drivers so they do not overheat. Put the drivers in the board so that the potentiometer on them are facing to the opposite side of the main power inputs of the board.

Step 17: Attach the Wires From Motors to the Mega Board

Next, route your wires from the axis motors to the X, Y, Z, and the extruder plug ins on the Mega Board. You may want to cut and re solder these wires for better cable management, as they are very long.

Step 18: Hook Up Heat Bed and Extruder

Next, take the wires from your heat bed and put the black wire in the terminal (HBED -) and the red wire in the terminal (HBED +). Take the wires from your extruder and strip off a small amount of wire and connect them to the terminals (E0 +) and (E0 -).

Step 19: Mount Limit Switches

Next, use the 3D printed limit switch holders and clamp one onto each of the X, Y, and Z rods. Use a small bolt and nut to attach the limit switches to the holders. Turn or flip the holders as needed so that something on each of the axis' can touch the limit switch to tell it when to stop. Run the limit switch cables to each of the axis plugins on the left hand side of the Mega Board. They are labeled (X, Y, and Z).

Step 20: Attach the Filament Holder

Using the "L" bracket you had on the left side of the printer, slide the 140mm beam onto it and use a couple set screw to mount it towards the top of the printer. Add another "L" bracket to the 140mm beam to hold your filament on so that it doesn't slide off of the end.

Step 21: Cable Management

Use zip ties to neatly run the cables to the Mega Board. The kit comes with some black spiral wire covering to keep the wires from the extruder tight together and neat.

Step 22: Plug Into Computer

Finally, you have completed your 3D printer. Now, you can install a 3D printing software and begin calibrating and printing with it. We used Repetier Host to start using our 3D printers with Slic3r. Look up YouTube tutorials to find more software and ways to calibrated your 3D printer to its fullest potential.