Introduction: Building a 3D Printer Under 200$

Hello everyone

In this instructable I will show you how to make a 3d printer under 200$.

This 3D printer -Tower Simple XL, Maybe I should call it 3D printer of Sauron, lol.

This 3D printer have 6* 6* 6 Inches build volum and you can build it without any 3Dprint part.(*Laser cutting needed*)

If you like this instructable, comment and share this project with your friends who might like this instructable.

Thanks very much.

Step 1: Mechanical Parts List

I buy these things on Alibaba, these things will be more expensive on ebay.

This is the reason why I can build 3D printer under 200$.

M3 10mm screws *29

M3 16mm screws *48

M3 nuts *42

M4 16mm screws *4

M4 nuts *4

M4 shim *4

624 bearing *4

T8 Leadscrew 285mm *1

Leadscrew nuts *1

M3 spring 8mm *5

M5 spring 20mm *1

Coupler 5mm to 8mm *1

M3 pillars 16mm *5

M3 pillars 60mm *1

MXL 20T pulley *2

MXL belt *2

Cylinder Liner Rail Linear 8-215MM *4

Cylinder Liner Rail Linear 8-340MM *2

End stop *3

Nema 17 *4

Step 2: Lasercut Parts

Download lasercut files from this thingiverse link:

http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:797666

Step 3: Laser Cut Wood

Laser cutting by 6 mm wood board

Step 4: Laser Cut Acrylic

Laser cutting by 6 mm acrylic

Step 5: Fixed Stepper Motors and 624 Bearings to Acrylic

Use m3 *10mm screws attach the nema 17 stepper motor to the acrylic piece

Step 6: Build the Main Body

Install acrylic part into main body

in this step we need to use the laser cut parts that i point out highlight

- Laser cut parts 1 &4 &5 &12 &16

Step 7: Mount the Leadscrew Nut

Mount the leadscrew nut into nut holder piece

in this step we need to use the laser cut part that i point out highlight

- Laser cut parts 8 &10

Step 8:

- First attach parts 9 and 11

- Then fit the two onto part 13

- Third attach previous assembly to the end of part 14

- Then add part 3 to the other end as depicted

- Fifth attach part 2 to the previously assembled parts

Step 9:

1:

- Zip tie bearings on to base plate as demonstrated

- Make sure to put the nub of the zip ties as shown

- Place smooth rods through the bearings to ensure alignment as zip ties are tightened

- Use pliers to tighten zip-ties as much as possible but be aware of the fragility of the wood

2:

- Zip-tie the bearings onto acrylic part as depicted

- Place smooth rods though bearings while zip-tying to ensure they are straight and parallel

- Tighten zip-ties using pliers

Step 10:

- Insert smooth rods into bearings

- Secure the previously assembled piece to smooth rods with a zip-tie on each end

- Make sure the zip-tie nobs are on the outer side of the assembly (otherwise they will obstruct y-axis movement)

Step 11:

- Insert smooth rods into LM8UU bearings

- Attach part 7 to rest of assembly by zip-tying it onto smooth rods- Make sure the nubs of the zip-ties are on the outer side of the print platform

- Make sure the M3 16mm screw is on the left side of the print platform

-Attach X axis MXL belt to wood part 7

Step 12:

-Attach the nema 17 stepper motor to wood part 4

-Attach Z axis endstop to wood part 4 with wood part 15

Step 13:

-Attach X axis endstop to wood part 4 on left side

-Attach M3*16 pillars to wood part 7

-Attach M3*16 screw with two M3 nuts to wood part 7

Step 14:

-Attach Y axis endstop to acrylic part on left side

-Insert the M3*16 screw through the wood part 8

-Then insert M3*60 pillar and M3 spring 8mm to the screw (to hit the Z endstop)

Step 15:

-Then insert M3*16 screw and M3 spring 8mm to the M3*16 pillars on wood part 6

And now we have successfully assembled a Tower Simple XL mechanical parts.

Next time i will publish the updated firmware and electronic parts assembly guide.

Step 16: Electronic Parts List

1. LCD 2004 *1

2. Arduino Mega 2560 *1

3. Ramps 1.4 *1

4. A4988 StepStick Stepper Motor Driver *4

5. 12V 40W Heating pipe *1

6. NTC Thermistor 100k

Step 17: Upload Firmware to Arduino Mega2560

1.Connecting Arduino Mega 2560 to computer.

2.Click install custom firmware.

3.Choose "TowerSimpleXL-2004" to upload (Ignore Warnings).

Download hex file from this thingiverse link:

http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:797666/#files

Step 18:

1. Attach A4988 StepStick Stepper Motor Driver to Ramps 1.4 motherboard.

2. Attach LCD 2004 to Ramps 1.4 motherboard.

3. Attach Ramps 1.4 motherboard to Arduino Mega 2560.

Step 19:

Connect the power, more than 6 amps of 12v power supply.

I also designed a control box to install the control panel.

Download control box file from this thingiverse link:

http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:797666/#files

Step 20: The Most Important Step

This is the most important step, I know you can't understand schematics, so, i hope you can understand the picture that i made.

Wiki of Ramps: http://www.reprap.org/wiki/Ramps

Step 21: Light It Up and Print Something

Finally completed.

Test, I print a xiaomi yi camera mount to replace the previous version and it works well. so meme.

Download xiaomi yi carera files from this thingiverse link:

http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:799224

Step 22: Place for Filament Roll

1. M4 shim *4

2. M4 16mm screws *4

3. M4 nuts *4

4. 624 bearing *4

5. Pipes 90mm diameter 13mm *2

This pipe can fit 624 bearing very well.

Step 23:

Attach M4 screws, M4 shims, 624 bearing and M4 nuts on mainbody.

It is convenient to roll filament.

If you like this instructable, please vote me on "3D Printing Contest" , comment and share this project with your friends who might like this instructable.

Thanks for watch.