Most 3D printers have comparatively small construct volumes for 2 causes. First, standard designs require that the body be bigger than the construct quantity, so that you want a large machine to get a large construct quantity. Second, 3D printing is gradual and print occasions are instantly correlated with half dimension on FDM/FFF machines — with the square-cube legislation in full impact. However Emily the Engineer has by no means let practicality cease her earlier than, so she determined to construct a 10-foot-tall 3D printer to churn out towering components.
Even a really quick 3D printer would take an absurd period of time to print one thing that tall utilizing typical settings. However it’s doable to shorten that point to one thing extra cheap utilizing two strategies. Printing in vase mode solely lays down a single outer perimeter per layer, which signifies that a single layer can end as rapidly because the printer can circle round. That retains the layer time down. To cut back the variety of layers, Emily geared up the printer with a large 1mm nozzle that extrudes 0.5mm thick strains. The usual is a 0.4mm nozzle with 0.2mm layers, so this setup cuts the variety of layers down by 60%.
This mission began as a joke and Emily did not wish to put a giant finances behind it, so she began with an previous Creality Ender-3. She then changed the 2 upright items of aluminum extrusion with a lot, a lot taller items. The brand new items had a special profile, so she needed to design and print new rollers to suit.
Emily supposed to drive the Z axis with threaded rods as lead screws, however rapidly came upon that they have been far too unstable at that size. So she transformed the Ender-3 to a belt-driven Z Axis utilizing KevinAkaSam’s design. With a firmware replace to alter the printer dimensions, Emily was prepared for a check run.
This tallboy 3D printer labored. Although, predictably, the half wobbled perpendicular to the Z axis and that induced high quality points. Wider components have been extra secure, which mitigated that drawback. With that in thoughts, Emily determined the printer wanted a bigger mattress that will enable for wider components. So she rebuilt the printer to realize that.
The outcomes are fairly spectacular, particularly for a bed-slinger. This printer can, certainly, produce respectable super-tall components. However there are massive drawbacks: the components must be very vast and printing in vase mode signifies that they’re fragile. Nevertheless, that did not cease Emily from printing a large Amongst Us character for laughs.