Introduction: Vulcanus V1 Reprap 3D-Printer 300€
Hello,
In this instruction I will show you, how to make a very professionel 3D printer with a low Bugdet of less than 300€.
I'm 16 Years old and I made everything by myself. The "Vulcanus V1"-3D-Printer is based on CoreXY. Which stands for high precisious movement.
Specs:
- Dimensions: 44cm x 44cm x 60cm
- Build Volume: 20cm x 20cm X 26cm
-Travel Speed: 300mm/s tested but you can also try higher values
- Resolution: up to 0.05mm
- Electronic: Ramps 1.4 with TMC2100 1/256 microstep Motordriver
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Update: for those who want to build the Vulacnus Max. I published reworked parts for a better and professionel look/fit.
http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:1130016
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Update: I published reworked parts for the Vulcanus V1. Please have a look at step 16:
Step 1: Parts: Mechanics
AluminiumExtrusions:
-16x 40cm Aluminium Extrusions 20x20mm smt-montagetechnik
-4x 60cm Aluminium Extrusions 20x20mm
-2x 29,5cm Aluminium Extrusions 20x20mm
-2x 28cm Aluminium Extrusions 20x20mm
In Total: 31.64€
Nuts and Bolts:
-160x M5 Extrusions Nuts which you can made out of a normal Hex-Nut( see pictures) kleinteileversand
-120x M5x10mm Bolts kleinteileversand
-30x M5x12mm Bolts kleinteileversand
-8x M5x25mm Bolts kleinteileversand
-2x M8x 31,5cm threaded rod kleinteileversand
- some M4 Hex Nuts from your local hardware store
-100pcs M4 square Nuts from your local hardware store
-100pcs M4x 6mm Bolts from your local hardware store
In Total: 14.78€ the things from the internet + 8€ from your local hardware store
22.78€
Linear Motions:
2x 33cm 8mm smooth rods kleinteileversand
2x 34,7cm 8mm smooth rods
4x 36cm 8mm smooth rods
16x LM8UU Bearings Aliexpress
17x 624 Bearings Aliexpress
2x GT2 Pulley + 2m GT2 Belt Aliexpress
2x Axis coupler 5mm to 8mm Aliexpress
Mk7 Drive Gear Aliexpress
In Total: 38.94€
All in all: 93.36€
Optional:
Some Aluminium plates, which I found on the scrapyard
Step 2: Parts: Electronic
- 5x Nema 17 Steppermotor Aliexpress
- 1x Arduino Mega 2560
-1x Ramps 1.4 Aliexpress
-1x Mk2b Heatbed Aliexpress
-1x E3D V6 Hotend 1.75mm Aliexpress
-2x A4988 Motordriver Aliexpress
-2x TMC2100 MotorDriver watterott
-1x Thermistor 100k Aliexpress
-1x 2004 LCD Aliexpress
-1x Rotary Encoder Aliexpress
-3x 40mm Fans Aliexpress
-2x 80mm Fan Aliexpress
-3x Endstops Aliexpress
- ATX- PSU- with 16A or more
-Wires + Resistors
In Total: 152.24€
Optional:
Led Strips
Raspberry Pi for Octoprint
Step 3: Parts: Printed Parts
You can download the 3D printed parts from Thingiverse
1x "belt tensioner"
44x "Corner Bracket 2020"
1x "Direct Drive hotend Clamp"
1x "Direct Drive"
1x "Hotend Fan"
1x "Idler with Endstop"
1x "Idler" (mirrored)
2x"Motor" (1x normal, 1x mirrored)
1x "X-Carriage"
2x "X-end Bolt"
2x"X-end Nut"
4x "Z-Axis LM8UU Bolt"
4x " Z-Axis LM8UU Nut"
2x "Z Axis M8 Nut"
2x " Z Motor"
8x "Z-Rodclamp"
8x "Z-Rodholder"
Step 4: Assemble the First Stage : Basis for the Other Stages
What you need:
-4x 40cm Aluminium Extrusions
-12x Printed Part "Corner bracket 2020"
-24x M5x10 Srews
-24x M5- T-Slot-Nut
What you make:
You put everthing together to a square and tighten everything down.
You need to repeat this steps four times, because this printer has four "Stages"
Step 5: Assemble the Second Stage Stage: Z-Motor
What you need:
-The Basis Stage from Step 4
+
-10x M5x10mm Srews
-8x M5x12mm Srews
-16x M5 T-Slot Nut
-8x M4x20mm Srews
-8x M4 Hex Nuts
-8x M3x 10mm Screws
-4x Printed Part "Z-Rodholder"
-4x Printed Part "Z-Rodclamp"
-2x Printed Part "Z Motor"
- 2x Nema 17 Steppermotor
If you have some Aluminium plates you also need:
-20x M4x6mm Srews
-20x M4 Square Nuts
What you make:
-You screw the "Z-Rodholder" and the "Z-Rodclamp" together. Then you mount them on the Stage
with some M5x12mm screws and tighten everything down.
- You screw the Nema 17 Steppermotor with some M3x10mm screws in the "Z-Motor". After that you mount them on the Stage with some M5x10mm screws and thigten everthing down.
Step 6: Assemble the Extruder
What you need:
Printed Parts:
- 1x The Spring Block from Thingiverse Thingiverse
- 1x Printed part "Direct Drive"
- 1x Printed part "Direct Drive Hotend Clamp"
- 1x Printed part "Hotend Fan"
- 1x Printed part "X-Carriage"
Mechanics:
-1x E3d V6 Hotend
-1x Micro switch
-3x 40mm Fan
-4x LM8UU
-Some M4 and M3 Srews+Nuts
-3x 40mm Fan
What you make:
1. You put the LM8UU into the "X-Carriage"
2. Then you insert two M4 Hex-Nuts in the "X-Carriage"
3. After that you screw the micro Switch on the "X-Carriage"
4. You srew the Motor on the "Direct Drive" printed Part (2x M3x10 screws)
5. You also need to fix the Spring Block from Thingiverse with two M3 srews (M3x16mm)
6. After that you connect the Hotend with the "Direct Drive Hotend Clamp" Printed part to the "Direct Drive "
7. At last you screw the 3 fans on the "Hotend Fan2 Printed Part (12x M3x10mm screws)
Step 7: Assemble the Third Stage: CoreXY-Movement
What you need:
Printed Parts:
- 1x "Belt tensioner"
- 1x "Idler"
-1x "Idler with endstop"
-2x "Motor"
-2x "X-End Bolt"
-2x "X-End Nut"
-4x "Z-Rodclamp"
-4x "Z-Rodholder"
Mechanics;
-2x Nema 17 Motors
-2x GT2 pulley
-1x GT2 belt
-4x LM8UU
- 2x 33cm (mm smoothrods (X-Axis)
-2x 34,7cm 8mm smoothrods (Y-Axis)
-16x 624zz Bearings
-20x M3x 20 Srews
-20x M3 Hex-Nuts
-16x M5x12mm Screws
-6x M5x10mm Screws
-some M4 Srews (the lenght for the Screws i cut individual from 45mm M4 Screws)
-some M4 Nuts
Electronic:
1x Microswitch
What you make:
1.You Screw the "X-End Bolt" + "X-End Nut" with some M3x20mm Screws and M3 nuts together. After that take the smooth rods in it. Then you connect the Extruder to the X-axis.
2.Now you put the Y-Axis smooth rods in the X-Ends and connect them with the printed parts "Motor" and "Idler".
3.Tighten the "Motor" with some M5x 12mm screws down, the "Idler" with some M5x10mm screws
4.Then you make the Idlers (see pictures) and tighten them down
5.Put the Nema 17 Motors in the "Motor" and tighten them with some M3x 10mm screws down.
6. Connect the belt (Help: CoreXY)
Step 8: Assemble the Last Stage: LED-Light
You just take the step from step-4 and insert the LED-strips in the extrusions.
Step 9: Build the Z-Table
What you need:
2x Aluminium Extrusions
2x Aluminium Extrusions
2x "Corner Bracked" Printed Part
1x PCB Heatbed MK2b or MK2a
1x 100k Thermistor
1x Aluminium Plate
What you make:
You connet the extrusions with the "Corner Brackets" with some M5x10mm screws and T-slot nuts.
Then you put the Aluminium plate on it and tighten it with some M4x6mm screws down. After that you cut a M3
thread in the plate for the heatbed.
For the Heatbed: You stick the termistor with some Kapton Tape on the Heatbed
Step 10: Put the Stages Together
What you need:
-4x 60cm Aluminium Extrusions 2020
- Printed Part " Z-Axis LM8UU Bolt"
-Printed Part "Z-Axis LM8UU NUT"
-Printed Part "Z Axis M8 Nut"
-8x LM8UU
-16x M3x20mm Screw + Nuts
-4x 36cm smooth rods
-32x M5x10mm
-32x M5 T-slot Nut
-2x Axis-Coupler 5mm to 8mm
-M8 Threated Rod
What you make:
1. You screw the first Stage with 8 M5x10mm Screws to the 60cm extrusions together.
2. Then the Z-Axis Stage
3. After that you put two LM8UU Bearings in the "Z-Axis LM8UU Bolt + Nut" and screw them with 4 M3x20mm srews down. Repeat this Step four times
4. Then you connect "Z-Axis LM8UU Bolt+Nut" to the Z- Table
5. Now you screw the CoreXY Mechanics to the Frame and insert the 8mm 36cm smooth rods
6. Now you put the Z-table on the Z-smooth rods
Step 11: Electronic: Wiring
What you need:
-1x Ramps 1.4
-1x Arduino mega 2560
- 2x A4988 Stepstick (For Z-Axis and Extruder)
-2x TMC2100 (X & Y Axis)
What you make:
You connect the electronic like in the schematic picture
Then you solder the TMC2100. To take them into stealthChop Mode 1/16 Microstepping with Interpolation to 1/256 you need to solder them like on the pictures.
Step 12: Modify a ATX-PSU
To use a normal ATX-PSU you just need to connect the green with a black wire.
Then you take two black and two yellow wires out. Connect them to your Ramps.
Yellow = +
Black = Ground
Step 13: Firmware
Update 28.02.2016:
Here is the latest Firmware for the Vulcanus V1.
This time I'am using Repetier Firmware.
I enabled Eeprom and Firmware Retraction.
Also I modifed it that my custom Display work
What you need to do:
- Upload the pre-configurated firmware to your arduino mega 2560
- Enable Firmware Retraction in Slic3r. (see screenshot)
Where can I adjust the parameters?
- If you have some basic parameters to change (steps per mm, retract, feedrate, acceleration...), open your Repetierhost, and go to Configuration --> Eeprom
- For other more advanced settings, please visit the Online Config Tool from Repetier
Attachments
Step 14: Hook Up the LCD
What you need:
-1x 2004 LCD
-1x Rotary Encoder
-some Wires
What you make:
You connect the lcd like on the schematic. Then you connect the pins from the Display/Encoder to the Ramps.
LCD-Pins-----Ramps 1.4
RS --> 16
E --> 17
D4 --> 23
D5 --> 25
D6 --> 27
D7 --> 29
Encoder Pins:
Direction Pins --> 31 & 33
Button Pin --> 35
After you connect the Display to Ramps you go into the Marlin configuration File and comment out under lcd:
//#define REPRAP_DISCOUNT_SMART_CONTROLLER
to
#define REPRAP_DISCOUNT_SMART_CONTROLLER
Than everything should work
Step 15: Pictures From Print
1. 3D-Benchy from Thingiverse in a resolution of 0.1mm and a print-speed of 90mm/s - sliced in Cura
2. Gear Bearing from Thingiverse in a resolution of 0.2mm and a print-speed of 180mm/s - sliced in Cura
3. Bayonet from Thingverse in a resolution of 0.1mm and a print-speed of 70mm/s - sliced in Slic3r
Step 16: Vulcanus V1 Rework 2016
(If you can't see the interactive 3D model above, its probably because you're not using a WebGL-enabled browser, or you're using the Instructables Mobile app)
Here is the new Vulcanus V1 Rework 2016 edition. I improved allmost every single part of this printer for a more profesionell look. Also the belts are not rub to eachother. You can tension every belt individually.
Features
- the belts don't rub to eachother
- you can tension the belts individually
- the maximal print size in X&Y is now 25x25cm ! by a footprint of 44x44cm
- the extrusion sizes are the same as in the Vulcanus V1, so you can easily change to the new files
Additionell parts for the conversion:
- longer smooth rods in X/Y: 2x [8x350mm] & 2x [8x365mm]
- 16x F624zz Bearings Aliexpress
- Longer GT2 Belt as in the Vulcanus V1 2x [2m GT2 Belt] Aliexpress
- Some screws M3 ; M4
Here you can download all required files for the Vulcanus V1 Rework 2016:
.f3d is for Fusion360
.step is for other CAD programms

Runner Up in the
3D Printing Contest
10 People Made This Project!
- Moto100 made it!
- hayttle made it!
- vettetek made it!
- matrixmechanics made it!
- Rus5 made it!
- jessem47 made it!
- mgoodfel made it!
- aldricnegrier made it!
- pako10000 made it!
See 1 More
336 Comments
Question 4 years ago
elimde 4 adet drv8825 var bunları nasıl tmc2100 ve a4988 in yerine uyarlamak için ne gerekiyor.
Birde mk8 ekstruderi nasıl uyarlarım. Repetier için
Question 4 years ago
One question the aluminum extrusions are the same as the v1 and the rework??? answer please
4 years ago
Done! Will update soon
4 years ago
Hi,
I would recommend Vulcanus v1 Rework 2016, because with the rework edition, I get better prints and it has an bigger print volume.
5 years ago
That makes some really good quality prints! Great instructable :)
5 years ago
Hi, and thank you so much for this tutorial,
This is my first 3D printer and I am a bit lot about the belt fixation (Vulcanus V1) on both sides of the extruder. Would it be possible to get pictures of these parts ? Thanks a lot !
Reply 5 years ago
Hi,
please take a look at my DIY-SLS-3D-Printer. The X-Y Garenty is nearly the same as on the Vulcanus V1.
5 years ago
Hi Vulcanus,
Your printer is great and I am trying to build it as my first printer. So far, everything is alrignt, but I have no idea of how you fix the belt on the two sides of the extruder. Would it be possible to get a picture of the two sides please (from anyone :) ) It would help me a lot.
Thank you !
5 years ago
Linear Motions for rework 2016 version:
X/Y [ 2x 35cm, 2x 36,5cm] 8mm smooth rods
What about Z axis? 4x 36cm or 4x 40cm 8mm smooth rods?
Tks
5 years ago
Hi guys, I'm planning to build Vulcanus v1 Rework 2016 and I'd like to know:
Are Aluminium Extrusions the same of v1?
Besides prints parts, the only conversion is:
longer smooth rods in X/Y: 2x [8x350mm] & 2x [8x365mm], z the same and
16x F624zz Bearings
Tks,
5 years ago
i have a vulcanus v1 working and now im making the reworked version. I cant just figure out how to assemble the pulley - belt system of X and Y axis. I cant find photos on internet
6 years ago
very good design, i am building it, and i am not a expert, learning day by day. but i have geetech board
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/3D-Printer-Control...
Can anyone tell me what firmware should i use for this printer...
Thanks
Reply 6 years ago
you can use marlin or repetier, marlin firmware already in thingiverse file. you shuld download pure marlin and you change folder in thingiverse file.
Reply 5 years ago
I didn't see the marlin firmware. I did see a config h file on thingivere but isn't that just part of the firmware? Wouldn't I need the entire code?
Reply 6 years ago
Thanks for reply.
5 years ago
For anyone who is having extrusion issues:
You can remedy that by ziptie-ing something stiff that is ~8cm long to where the bowden tube meets the direct-drive extruder. You want to have the stiff object and the bowden tube ziptied to the bundle of wires coming out of the cooling fans, hotend, etc. What this does is it makes the last ~8cm of filament not move too much when the carriage is moving, so the filament is always entering the extruder as close to vertical as possible.
Reply 5 years ago
You should also try to have the bowden tube approach the extruder as vertically as possible, you don't want the filament to approach the extruder horizontally, then make a 90 degree turn once it reaches the extruder, that leads to extrusion issues.
Reply 5 years ago
Do you have a picture of this? It would help me out a lot. Thank you.
6 years ago
Where is the 3d printer mount for the Z end stop holder? It's in one of the final pictures when the printer is done, but there are no prints or instructions about it? Nothing even on what size bolts it needs. Or even where it plugs into the board? Does anyone have the print for the z end stop holder?
Reply 5 years ago
This is what I use:
http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:84211
I just use the build platform to trigger the endstop, but I recommend one of the ones that uses a screw and nut to let you adjust the endstop more easily and accurately.
You'll have to design that yourself though, I've tried finding something that will work with 2020 extrusions, and came up empty handed. It should be pretty easy to design something in 123D or Tinkercad