PiBot - 3D Printer

thingiverse

As part of Francis Bitonti and Xuedi Chen's innovative studio at the renowned Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute architecture school, teams of three highly skilled engineers were entrusted with the challenge of designing a cutting-edge paste extruding 3D printer. Our talented team, led by top-notch professionals Nicholas Nord, Hiroki Sawai, and Lauren Famularo, initially took a close look at the Printrbot Simple Maker's Edition and leveraged its fundamental concepts as well as inspiring ideas from the PiMaker to create their own unique design. The star features of our impressive 3D printer, aptly named the PiBot, include an ultra-versatile dual extruder system combined with a state-of-the-art rotating polar bed. This enables us to both print a single object with a blend of materials from both extruders as well as print two identical objects simultaneously due to the intelligent rotating bed. We made several important modifications to the original firmware to bring our project to life. Our main modification involves disabling the hot end functionality. Here's a comprehensive list of essential components we needed to complete this ambitious project: • 9 powerful motors • 2 specially designed 100ml syringes for precision material delivery • 2 carefully crafted 18in smooth rods for reliable performance and low friction movement • 2 rugged 16in threaded rods providing extra strength and stability • 8 precision-crafted 257mm smooth rods to facilitate efficient material transport • 4 strong 200mm threaded rods, strategically used for optimal printer stability • 2 carefully designed end stops to ensure precise control over the printing process • 1 high-performance auto leveler to maintain ideal print surface quality • 12 expertly selected 8mm linear bearings guaranteeing a seamless and accurate movement • 4 top-notch Z-couplers securely fastening critical printer components in place • 2 precisely placed GT2 set screws delivering smooth belt alignment and precision adjustment capabilities • 2 durable 3/8” Tubes safeguarding against mechanical wear and tear • A trusty lazy susan bearing providing flexible mounting and stress-free motion control • M4 9.5mm screws confidently holding essential printer parts together with precision and durability • An assortment of useful wires enabling communication between components • Numerous handy Zip Ties expertly managing cables for enhanced aesthetic appeal