For the past year, I've been working on a briefcase-sized 3D printer with a 16"x10"x15" build volume. The design is based on the open-source Prusa i3 design, but it's twice as wide because of the bigger build volume. To fit it all in a briefcase, the print bed had to move like in an Ultimaker-style printer. The enclosure will be made out of polycarbonate plastic so that if anything goes wrong during transport or while printing at night (with lights), there won't be any damage to electronics or other components inside my machine when things are moving around too much.
For the past year, I've been working on a briefcase-sized 3D printer with a 16"x10"x15" build volume. The design is based on Prusa i3 and uses the same gantry system as the full-size Prusa i3 MK2. It's designed to be modular, expandable, portable, and removable of its enclosure.
The printer can be broken down into two main parts: print head assembly and base/enclosure. The print head assembly consists of three motors that move both X and Y axes, as well as two linear motion guides for each axis (one for printing PLA and one for printing ABS). These three motors are mounted between two printed mounts on top of each other - one has all four threaded rods going through it; the other has only two threaded rods going through it but has holes drilled into it so that you can bolt things like your spool holder into place.
The Camera Monitor design is based on the open-source Prusa i3 design, but it's twice as wide because of the bigger build volume. The Prusa i3 uses a gantry system with threaded rod for its frame, which can be difficult to assemble. Because of this, many makers have modified their 3D printer designs to use linear rods instead of threaded rod.
To fit it all in a briefcase, the print bed had to move like in an Ultimaker-style printer. That way, you can't lose any parts during transport. Plus, it has a removable enclosure that'll snap on from below the printer to catch any failed prints.
As a designer, one of the most important things to think about when making a product is how it will be used. In the case of this briefcase printer, that means making sure that all the parts can be packed up and transported safely.
To achieve this, we needed to make sure that no part can fall out during transport. If you are transporting something with moving parts, especially something small like screws or clips, they are easily lost or damaged when not secured properly. Additionally, if any part falls out while transporting it becomes difficult to reassemble once you get where you're going so there’s nothing worse than having to spend time putting things back together after printing!
The Arduino Mega is a microcontroller, which means it's a small computer that can be programmed to do various tasks. Microcontrollers are used in many small electronics devices, such as alarm clocks, watches and other appliances.
Arduino is a popular brand of microcontroller that comes in several models and sizes. The Arduino Mega (shown below) has more RAM than the smaller ones and is used for projects requiring more processing power or memory storage space.
The enclosure snaps on from below, so you can easily remove it to access the hot end. It will be made from polycarbonate or acrylic for durability and heat resistance, with a window cut out so you can see your print as it progresses.
You'll need to run 12V DC at around 20A. There will be both fans (which will be run through mosfets) and LED lights for night printing.
I'm going to build a really awesome portable 3D printer that's going to make you jealous of me very soon! It's based on the open-source Prusa i3 design, but it's twice as wide because of the bigger build volume.
I've been wanting my own 3D printer for some time now, but I couldn’t find one that met all of my criteria: small enough to carry around (or even fit in my backpack), quick enough to be useful, cheap and easy to assemble.
I'm really excited about this project! It's been a lot of fun so far, and I can't wait to get it out there in the world. If you want to keep up with progress on this build or see more pictures of my other projects, check out my blog