[Closed] Prusa We need a larger 3d Printer  

Re: Prusa We need a larger 3d Printer

I am with everyone else here in favor of a larger print size;. I have a Tevo Tornado - same size as CR-10, and it needs endless tweaks; parts take forever (like months) from China, no support except from other users (who are great).

The Tevo issues are why I bought the Prusa which has been fantastic. Still the build volume is a big issue for the prints I want to do.

Re: Prusa We need a larger 3d Printer

Couldn't agree more - delighted with my Prusa, but almost all manufacturers seem to now have an XL version.

I'm loathe to go with a different firm for my next printer, but it'd be good to know what Prusa are working on to understand if I should hold fire or just look elsewhere.

Appears to be zero communication on the mk3s/4 thread land a few murmurings about how sla is the focus at the moment so I guess I'm not holding my breath.

Is there any sort of structure to Prusa's release cycles or is it just random ? (Ie do they update to their customer every six months or at annual events ?)

Re: Prusa We need a larger 3d Printer

new products seem to be launched at larger maker fairs...

firm ware updates appear sporradically

Joan

Re: Prusa We need a larger 3d Printer

I'd be willing to design/build my own if the firmware didn't absolutely limit size. A larger bed could be built -- and a larger frame, longer worm gears, longer rails, belts, etc. But with all that, you'd still be firmware limited on bed size.

Re: Prusa We need a larger 3d Printer

I'd be willing to design/build my own if the firmware didn't absolutely limit size. A larger bed could be built -- and a larger frame, longer worm gears, longer rails, belts, etc. But with all that, you'd still be firmware limited on bed size.

You could adjust the size in stable firmware releases, compile it and offer it as-well 😉

RE: Prusa We need a larger 3d Printer

I would DEFINITELY buy a larger Prusa to sit next to my 3S.  I have been so happy with my 3S since buying it.... its like night and day from my first 3d printer (HICTOP) I would pay top dollar for one that is about 50 to 100% larger. Would be nice to print large parts in the larger Prusa, and the smaller parts to go with it on the smaller Prusa.

RE: Prusa We need a larger 3d Printer

It would be great to have possibility to enlarge printer only in one of X-Y axis, print bed 200x400 (400x200)  will by suitable for most of us with not so big impact on whole construction of I3 printer.

RE: Prusa We need a larger 3d Printer

Now that the MMU2s is eating a chunk of my bed, I am finding it is a bit too small.  A larger bed would make it more efficient to use many colors.

RE: Prusa We need a larger 3d Printer

Posted by: CybrSage

Now that the MMU2s is eating a chunk of my bed, I am finding it is a bit too small.  A larger bed would make it more efficient to use many colors.

Heck, just a purge bucket instead of a tower would already help in that regard....

RE: Prusa We need a larger 3d Printer

I thing the size its just OK. If not the costs could be really increased. 

But: Maybe the option of a bigger heating bed, or better an expandable and modular heating bed: You could only change the steel sheet, and under the steel sheet, you add heating modules to personalize your bigger heating bed. 

@Prusa, you can name it the "Carou" solution XD. 

Greetings!

Nahuel 🙂

RE: Prusa We need a larger 3d Printer

I agree - I'm a mechanical engineer with a heavy dose of CAD experience, and I'd be willing to put in the work to create/design a 310x310 to 400x400 print area bed. Prusa came from RepRap and open source! Let's innovate!

I love the PINDA, mesh bed leveling, and calibration of my Prusa, but we all came to this subforum because we want a bigger print bed! I understand adapting the firmware, but what about using lead screws for all 3 axis for better resolution/accuracy?

I am clueless when it comes to programming and electronics - who of you will help me!? Are you with me!? Fusion 360 is free for startups and non commerical users! Let's put our brains together and collaborate!!!!!

RE: Prusa We need a larger 3d Printer

surely if we use a leadscrew for X and Y movement we will be adding complexity,  currently one turn of the X motor (200 FULL steps) causes the belt to move about 30mm (estimation)
a lead screw will require the motor to make about 4 turns to achieve the same distance. 

if we take into account microsteps, there would still be about 4 times as many steps
with the current 8bit processor, this may be over stretching the processor speed/ power...
and would probably slow down maximum travers speed!.taking into account the desire for larger build area,the last thing we need is Z axis speed on the X and Y axis.

Also the Z axis used gravity to take out backlash, gravity does not help on X or Y, so we would have to mitigate backlash...   

Just a couple of things to consider....     keep bringing the ideas, you never know when they will gel into an upgrade / revision 🙂

faster 32 bit controllers are now available!

Joan

RE: Prusa We need a larger 3d Printer

That's fair - so we leave the belt drive - with the limited resolution possible using FDM printing anyways, the Prusa is very high quality as it is.

What say you all to innovating a larger print are Prusa together??

RE: Prusa We need a larger 3d Printer

You could easily have one laser cut or water jet cut. It may cost >$100USD, but it'd be easy to have done.

RE: Prusa We need a larger 3d Printer

@birdman2010

My first printer was a CR-10s. 300 x 300 x 400mm. I have never printed anything that tall, but I don't think I could live without the 300mm X and 300mm Y.

RE: Prusa We need a larger 3d Printer

I think it is interesting (and unfortunate) that Prusa has not chimed in on this discussion.

RE: Prusa We need a larger 3d Printer

It would be fun to print a life size Stark Suit or some monster for Halloween set ups.  So whatever the bed size and build volume is (50cm x 50cm x 50cm would be great) the extruder has to be a super-volcano (100w minimum) or larger to handle 1.0+ mm nozzles and 3 mm filament on 5kg spools.

RE: Prusa We need a larger 3d Printer

@Joan, What about this? : https://blackbelt-3d.com/

RE: Prusa We need a larger 3d Printer

Posted by: @tim-m30

It would be fun to print a life size Stark Suit or some monster for Halloween set ups. 

With 100% infill!

So whatever the bed size and build volume is (50cm x 50cm x 50cm would be great)

Perfect for R2-D2!

the extruder has to be a super-volcano (100w minimum) or larger to handle 1.0+ mm nozzles and 3 mm filament on 5kg spools.

4 of 'em!

RE: Prusa We need a larger 3d Printer

If I would buy/build a bigger printer, I would go for CoreXY printer style. Moving big, heavy bed in Y-direction with a tall part on it is a huge disadvantage. You have to go very slow which is something you should try to avoid at all costs with bigger prints.

Means once you go big, you're losing all the convenience what you have on a smaller scale. Big, bulky printer. Not easy to move, requires perfect calibration. Should be as reliable as possible. Otherwise you will lose a lot of money on failed prints. I still think that it's only worth for minority of the people. It would be much more inexpensive to let the couple big items make instead of having such a machine.

But as usual, having it and make it work can be a fun part and then thinking the whole day what kind of stuff could I print ... and is my wife ok with it?