Parametric Build Plate Support for Delta Printer

thingiverse

I needed a customized build plate support system for my Delta printer and created this one after trying out various alternatives. Changing settings is easy; most necessary adjustments can be found at the top of the program, which makes customization hassle-free. As I am still undecided on my Delta's size, I included STL files for three sizes - 310mm OD, 220mm OD, and 406mm OD - allowing for easier size changes. This design may change since it is unclear whether the heat bed & glass will directly attach to this bracket or require an additional support system. The 310mm OD & 220mm OD are popular choices, but this design may change as I'm unsure about attaching the heat bed & glass. To fit my print bed, I used six 60-degree wings for the large 406mm OD model; it might have worked with three 120-degree wings if the internal diameter was larger. You can select from 30, 60, 90, or 120-degree wings, although 90 may not be ideal for a Delta printer. If any of these settings don't work as expected, let me know so I can look into it. The included OpenSCAD files are for the wing and bracket parts. Make sure to keep the hole sizes and offsets consistent in both the main file and the brackets used. M3 bolts and 12mm locknuts will fit well in this design, but be aware that longer bolts may stick out beyond the locknut due to space limitations. The default hole size is 3.5mm for M3 bolts on my machine, which worked fine for me. Originally, I used M4 bolts, but it seemed unnecessary. You can use either a circular or smaller oval brackets for the center supports. I suggest printing 1-2 wings with the bracket before making all the parts to test the design's stability. You may need to adjust the STL files provided according to your specific needs; feel free to do so using customizers, OpenSCAD, or machine-specific tools. This part has a slight flexibility in it, but a Delta printer's weight distribution should mainly be at the 3 outer points on this build plate support. In my opinion, 120-degree wings are an ideal choice for this design. One of the photos I included shows it connected at the top of my delta, as it was easier to capture; for the horizontal supports in my design, I'm using 3/4-inch electrical conduit (EMT). My printed parts were done with 40% infill and a 0.2mm layer height. The ParametricBuildPlateWings_rev22 SCAD file is customized according to these settings for the 310mm OD and 300mm hole pattern; I recommend playing with the variables until you get your preferred design.