I’ve already pontificated on the idea that if you’ve purchased a MakerBot Cupcake CNC Deluxe kit, you basically get a second MakerBot for half off. (Spoiler: it’s because you can print a ton of the most expensive parts that go into building a new one). I don’t know why, but the idea of replacing wooden parts on my ‘bot with printed parts just fascinates me. 1
So, let’s have a list of potentially (and actually!) printable parts:
- Electronics spacers
- 3 large pulleys, 1 small pulley
- Y stage, the entire thing, as a single print
- X stage, in three large prints (there would be no need for the end caps if the three pieces were designed properly)
- Insulating retainer ring
- Printruder
- Dinos
- X stage end caps
- Z stage captive nut guides
- Z axis rod bearing brackets
Having more printed components for the MakerBot would reduce a lot of work in it’s assembly. There’s a lot of tiny fiddly bits in the X and Y stages that would become obsolete.
Heck, it might even be possible to replace some of the bolts with some kind of printable fastener system.
- Cue Johnny Cash singin’ One Piece At A Time [↩]