Servo - 201306

FIGURE 2.

In addition, the printer may only be available in kit form. The Rostock Max falls into this category.

I used to build model airplanes back in the day. I can remember hours of enjoyment constructing each craft, and building 3D printers can be just as enjoyable if you take your time and follow the instructions. Taking time to assemble things right will reward you with a 3D printer that creates better “prints.” It isn't a race, so take your time. While assembling your printer, if you encounter a problem don't be afraid to ask questions on the manufacturer's forums. That's why they are there.

PrintrBot Jr.

Assembly Highlights

Let's take a look at some of the pictures I took as I assembled the Printrbot Jr. and the Rostock Max 3D printers. There are three reasons why you may want to assemble a 3D printer from a kit:

1. Savings. On average, you can save up to $100 by assembling the printer yourself.

2. Fun. You enjoy building things.

3. Knowledge. You want to learn and understand the interworkings of your 3D printer.

FIGURE 3.

I ordered the PrintrBot Jr. this January 28th and it arrived 12 days later. The parts (shown in Figure 2) were well packed.

The PrintrBot Jr. is normally shipped with a laptop AC adapter, but they were out of stock and sent me an ATX power supply which is a required upgrade if you want to add a heated bed to your printer. They later shipped me the laptop AC adapter when it was in stock. In addition, the main extruder gear was warped so they had to send me a replacement, along with some missing lock nuts.

The printer frame is made from 1/4" five-ply birch plywood as shown in Figure 3. The parts are laser-cut and fairly easy to remove from the sheets. They contain small tabs to hold them in place, so some cleanup of the parts will be needed.

You will need only basic tools like the ones shown in Figure 4. While you can get by with a Phillips screw driver, a power drill will make the assembly go faster. The file and razor knife are used for part cleanup.

You can find instructions for building the Printrbot Jr. at http://printrbot.com/support/instructions-guides. You can also view the online document as a PDF. This will allow you to download it to your computer.