I finally did it, I designed and built my own 3D printer. This is in no way “the best 3D printer”. Instead, this was an epic and nightmare project that exercised my ability to engineer and build my own CNC machine. Along the way, I figured out what I did well and what I did badly, mistakes were made and sometimes fixed, even ignored.
This 3D printer is named Haphaestus. This wasn’t some kit that I purchased and put together, this wasn’t some tutorial I downloaded and followed. I designed almost everything about this printer and built it with tools I own and a waterjet cutting service. The only application specific parts I didn’t design are the Duet controller circuit and the E3D Titan parts.
NOTE: This is not an open source project where I will let you download a few files so you can build one yourself, trust me… you don’t want to. It’ll be a logistical nightmare to just organize the files and BOM to the point where it is useful to anybody else.
This page will be dedicated to recording my experiences and analysis of the first 3D printer I have ever designed and built all by myself.
Features and Performance
- Print size: about 190mm x 170mm, borosilicate glass. Build height: 288 mm
- 24V electrical system, 200W silicone heated bed, 65W hotend heater
- Custom extruder that is flexible shaft driven and worm gear reduced. Uses Bondtech geared hobbed wheels
- All metal hotend, E3D heatsink (aluminum) + heatbreak (steel) + heatblock (copper). 3D Solex nozzles (Matchless Race). PT100 sensor
- Duet WiFi control circuit running a flavor of RepRapFirmware. 32 bit microcontroller and Trinamic stepper motor drivers. PanelDue 5i used for control panel with easily accessible USB port and SD card slot
- Printhead moves in Cartesian X-Y by belts (Gates® PowerGrip™ brand, two belts per axis). Bed moves up and down in Z axis with two leadscrews
- 3 point bed leveling without sensors, ultra stiff springs for stability and large knobs for easy adjustments
- Adjustable constant voltage (flicker-free) LED lighting system
- All silicone insulated power wiring
- Custom MOSFET heater circuit rated for 200A bursts, opto-isolated from main control circuit, protected by an army of flyback, TVS, and Zener diodes
- Uses shielded cabling with unused signals for future add-on accessories
Read more: HEPHAESTUS – A FULLY DIY 3D PRINTER
About The Author
Ibrar Ayyub
I am an experienced technical writer holding a Master's degree in computer science from BZU Multan, Pakistan University. With a background spanning various industries, particularly in home automation and engineering, I have honed my skills in crafting clear and concise content. Proficient in leveraging infographics and diagrams, I strive to simplify complex concepts for readers. My strength lies in thorough research and presenting information in a structured and logical format.
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