Homefactory
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HomeFactory
Initials HF, as in Have Fun or Holy Fuck, depending on how project progresses.
The idea is to have a Huge 3D printer and several systems integrated into one system. These systems having the same basic working principles integrating them into one frame together seems like a practical idea.
The basis is to upscale the Ultimaker ( http://www.ultimaker.com/ ) and fit a dremel where the extrusion head is for drilling, have a vacuum in the base and using the table heater (for 3D ABS printing) to heat plastic for vacuum forming.
- intersting read: http://gathering.tweakers.net/forum/list_messages/1556417/16
- Wood and vacuum beds are a bad combination, the inside of the machine will probably have to be lined with some fireproof material, add a lid on the front and besides fireproofing it's also soundproofing, yaay! (lets hope it doesn't burn the workshop down)
- the vacuum pump can be used to also get cold air into the frame to cool it down.
- ultimaker gets its precision mostly because of its kick-ass frame, we will need to see if the wood panels have to be etched to provide said stability.
- rods will probably be based on holow mesh tubes filled with concrete.
- positioning system will probably use accelerometers, could somebody tell us why this could be a bad Idea? as I'm not seeing anybody else use these [1]. ([2])
Build order
Tentatively, if we do this build in the right order it might help (this needs some more thought):
- first the 3D cnc machine, to drill th bottom of the cabinet with holes for the vacuum former, and the rest brackets for the heating bed.
- then...
Parts
Frame
Based on a widely available shelving system: "opbergrek Jumbo steel
- has 175kg/shelf weight capacity.
- comes with planks which can be laser etched following the Ultimaker design.
3D printing
- still have to figure out if buying an Ultimaker kit without the frame is an option.
- ebay parts
- http://reprapworld.com/?products_details&products_id=425&cPath=1591_1659
- motors might not be powerfull enough over 70-90 cm distance, or to pull the drill.
- a lot of parts like the rods, drive belts, ball bearings and motors might have to be upscaled.
- I could source some extra heavy duty precisionmade drivebelts from TigerStop BV, but not sure at what price.
3D CNC
- fix dremel on extrusion head.
- perfect for making the bits needed for vacuum forming.
- uses the vacuum to get rid of dust.
vacuum forming
- Uses the hotbead from the 3D printer to soften the plastic
- still need to figure out how to get the plastic heating bed and vacuum bed aligned/ meshed up for propper easy use.
- Probably will make the bed on a pully system so it can be risen to the top of the machine to hang the plastic unter it.
- lowering mechanism will be in the right place this way.
- vacuuming is _below_ the 3D printing bed anyways.
- we already have rails from server racks to safely move the bed up and down on a fixed trajectory.
- Probably will make the bed on a pully system so it can be risen to the top of the machine to hang the plastic unter it.
