MakeNub Builder

thingiverse

Originally, the "MakeNub Builder" was designed for a large build volume of 12" x 12" x 12", which is over three times that of an Ultimaker, five times that of a RepRap, and thirty times larger than a Thing-O-Matic. The machine aimed to be strong and versatile, with the ability to accommodate various toolheads up to 4.25" in diameter while still retaining its full build area. It also featured CNC capabilities and was designed to be more affordable compared to traditional CNC machines. The primary structural component of MakeNub Builder is 1" TSLOT, which preliminary calculations showed could support toolheads weighing between 4-14 lbs without flexing beyond 0.001". The X and Y movements were planned to be driven by belts, while the Z movement would use threaded rod with two stepper motors. An alternative option was provided for swapping out belts with #25 chain at minimal part changes and additional cost. The estimated full machine cost, including electronics, power supply, stepper motors, TSLOT, nuts, and bolts, was around $759. With RP parts, shipping costs, and a couple of pounds of RP material, the total cost was projected to be between $800-$850. All TSLOT pieces were custom cut to length by a local distributor with 0.01" cutting tolerance, while acrylic sheets were ordered from Ponoko, and RP parts were designed for 0.01" tolerances. The MakeNub Builder required 98 RP (3D printed) parts, some of which were large and needed considerable support material during printing. The color-coding system in the pictures represented yellow for RP, green for TSLOT, red for aluminum, black for nuts, bolts, etc., blue for acrylic, and so on. The creator also mentioned plans for a website named "MakeNub" focused on OSHW (Open Source Hardware) development process tracking, publishing, and selling. They encouraged anyone interested in contributing or starting a hackerspace in Ogden, UT to get in touch. The zip files, "MakeNub Builder.zip" and "Build Files.zip," contained all the necessary files for the project, including STLs and SVGs. However, after making the machine, the creator found it to be of poor quality and disappointing. They advised against building it, as it mostly sucked.