Dec 28, 2016 | By Benedict
Aldric Negrier, a Portuguese 3D printer builder and owner of RepRap Algarve, has just unveiled his latest model: the RooBee One, an SLA/DLP 3D printer with an aluminum frame. The maker has put together an Instructables tutorial which shows how to build the 3D printer from scratch.
Named the RooBee One because of its deep red color, Aldric Negrier’s latest creation could turn out to be a real gem amongst resin 3D printers. Inspired by (and in some areas derived from) the Cristelia SLA 3D printer and Negrier’s own Vulcanus MAX, the Portuguese builder’s newest machine features an adjustable print bed, ACER DLP projector, and Arduino Mega, and is—of course—entirely open source.
All credit to Negrier for building an SLA 3D printer that isn’t orange, but there’s much more to the new machine than its ruby hues. For example, the printer’s Z axis is modeled upon that of the open-source Cristelia, with the addition of a few tweaks for improved performance. The linear guide system for the Z axis is composed of two 12mm smooth rods and two linear LMK12UU bearings, which are housed inside 3D printed casings. The transmission system consists of a NEMA 17 stepper motor and an 8mm trapezoidal lead screw and nut.
The Z axis arm of the RooBee One has been designed from scratch, since the arm of the Cristelia was too big to fit inside the new printer’s housing. The new arm consists of a 3D printed casing, two LMK12UU bearings, and a trapezoidal nut, with the bearings and nut housed inside the holes of the 3D printed part. The massive 3D printed section of the arm is a single piece, and thus requires a printer with a large build volume.
Things get interesting when it comes to making the resin vat for the RooBee One, where builders need to acquire five plexiglass panels, four red (this is a must) and one crystal, as well as acrylic glue. To make the vat extra watertight, Negrier also used FEP (fluorinated ethylene propylene) film, a non-stick insulating material that is resistant to chemicals and solvents.
The aluminum print bed of the RooBee One SLA 3D printer is made from 5mm aluminum sheet, which should be sanded to improve layer adhesion. To get the build plate in line with the base of the vat, builders can manually calibrate the system by a process of unscrewing, tilting, and re-screwing.
The RooBee One’s electronics revolve around an Arduino MEGA, a RAMPS 1.4 shield, a micro stepping driver, a NEMA 17 stepper motor, an endstop, and a 12V transformer. Negrier has opted for Repetier firmware, a feature common to the maker’s large collection of homemade 3D printers, and uses Creation Workshop to slice models before 3D printing on the machine. Prints can be stopped and started, and users are given a rough estimate of the time a print job will take to complete.
Negrier has had success on the RooBee One using the Standard Blend Resin from FunToDo Resins, though many are compatible with the RepRap SLA machine.
Build your own RooBee One here.
Posted in 3D Printer
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