Letter sized Press

thingiverse

Not a direct remix of Martin Schneider's original, but heavily inspired by it. I recently discovered that you're working on an improved design, and it looks fantastic! For more tips on print making, check out the original thing here: https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:2841592 I also made use of Rushman's Customizable Rack and Pinion Library, which can be found here: https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:1227374 This design was re-created from scratch in OpenSCAD with the goal of using letter size (8.5x11") paper. The SCAD file is included so you can adapt it to your specific needs, such as using metric bolts and nuts. While cost wasn't a primary consideration during design, the total estimated cost should be around US$60. However, if you don't have all the necessary materials on hand, the price may be slightly higher since brass inserts are typically sold in bulk packs of hundreds. Due to limitations with my printer's build height, I had to cut each roll in half. To assemble the complete rolls, simply print two halves and join them using the half_rolls_connector piece along with some super glue. Next, attach two shaft_cube pieces to the non-geared roll sides, one shaft_cube piece and one shaft_cube_with_connector piece to the geared roll sides, and ensure that all connectors are properly aligned and fitted together. The design features tight tolerances of 0.2 mm, so you may need to sand the connectors to achieve a snug fit. Note that the geared roll is not completely designed in OpenScad. If you want to modify its design, you will also need to update the gears found in the "roll_gear.3mf" file (3Dbuilder can handle this task). The lower_block height can be adjusted to fine-tune the position of the cylinder gears and ensure that your 3D printer's bed remains perfectly horizontal. You may use a slightly thinner or thicker wood board than specified, but keep in mind that for thinner boards, you'll need to reduce the "geared rack" height (either edit the mesh file or sand down the original piece). To prevent damage to the upper_blocks, glue thin metallic plates on top of them. I chose brass inserts primarily to learn how to use them, but I must note that only the M4 inserts for the upper towers are under significant stress. The insert diameters I used may not be the best fit for your specific setup (the outer diameter is not standard). To optimize the insert diameter in the script, perform some testing and adjust as needed. I included a removable "extension" to keep the table horizontal when the press reaches its limit. You may or may not need this feature depending on your specific requirements. For most parts, three perimeters and 30% infill are sufficient. I used PLA for added rigidity (try using professional versions that aren't brittle and allow easier sanding). The upper_tower part is under tension, so print it flat with five perimeters and at least 50% infill to maximize stress resistance in the Z-axis. In my printer, only supports were needed for the inner rails. Printed parts include: * Two half_geared_roll pieces * Two half_non_geared_roll pieces * Two half_rolls_connector pieces * One handle_V19 piece * Four leg_V19 pieces * Two lower_block_V19 pieces * Two lower_tower_V19 pieces * Two pedestal_V19 pieces (optional) * Two plate_V19 pieces * Two rack pieces (use epoxy glue to attach them to the wood board) * Two roll_gear pieces (only if you want to redesign the geared roll) * One shaft_connector_V19 piece * Three shaft_cube_V19 pieces * One shaft_cube_with_connector_V19 piece * Eight socket head M4 bolts, 8 mm long * Eight socket head M3 bolts, 6 mm long * Eight M4 brass inserts, 6 mm in diameter * Eight M3 brass inserts, 4 mm in diameter Bill of Materials: * One Aluminum rod, 1/2" in diameter and 170 mm long * Two threaded steel rods, 5/16" in diameter and 270 mm long * Two eye bolts, 1/4" in diameter and 1 1/2" long * Four 6805 type bearings (25x37x7 mm) * Two 1/4" nuts * Eight 5/16" nuts * Eight 5/16" washers * One wood board, 288 x 217 x 11 mm in size (you can design and print your own if you prefer) * Two thin metallic plates (12 x 7 mm), such as coffee can lids