Brenda RepRap 3D Printer

thingiverse

I was thoroughly dissatisfied with my Wanhao i3. Every couple hundred hours, I'd find myself replacing parts, and it was getting tiresome. I began searching for alternative designs that boasted superior strength, as my print requirements aren't overly demanding. However, I've always detested the idea of things breaking. Thus far, approximately 300 hours in, this new printer has been an absolute delight. The igus "bearings" are a game-changer – they're incredibly reliable and well-designed. I also sought out a design that was easily scalable, as my current printer can print up to 240x245x200. To be honest, I believe it's entirely possible to increase the dimensions to 40x40 without making too many significant changes. One notable omission is the lack of a print cooling fan on the carriage – but since I exclusively print with ABS, this hasn't been an issue for me. If there's genuine interest, I'd be more than happy to design something custom. You can reach out to me directly if you're interested; I don't yet have a comprehensive list of materials or a detailed build manual (though the latter is less pressing). Unfortunately, my time is somewhat limited, and writing in English doesn't come easily for me. However, should I manage to carve out some extra time, I'll strive to provide more thorough documentation. The total cost of this printer comes in between 800 and 1200 euros – it ultimately depends on the specific motors and electronics used. For my money, this is an exceptional value; my Wanhao i3 eventually ended up costing me a similar amount, and that printer consistently struggled with printing square objects with crisp 90-degree corners. Thankfully, this new printer has no such issues. Modifying the Y axis to be larger is relatively straightforward (though I couldn't do so myself due to space constraints – my printer resides in an enclosed server cabinet). Similarly, making Z larger is also quite easy; it's only the X axis that presents a bit more of a challenge, but even that's still within reach. The entire design is constructed using OpenSCAD, and while the associated files are currently a bit disorganized, I intend to tidy them up before sharing. If you're local to Belgium, I'd be more than happy to assist with setting everything up or printing any necessary parts for you. To give you a better idea of how this printer performs, I've included a video on YouTube: https://youtu.be/WWbVHgDhoY8