DIY Kossel XL RepRap 3D Printer Build

Kossel XL 2020 RepRap

I used my first RepRap Mendel Prusa 2 to print my Kossel Mini. The Kossel Mini has been a wonderful printer but I wanted something a tad bigger so I embarked on a journey to build a big Kossel RepRap 3D printer. As of writing this post there is a significant lack of affordable kits for large Kossel printers out there so I found some inspiration online and started building my own Kossel XL 3D printer. I am very proud of the results, its gorgeous and prints great!

If you don’t know already, RepRap printers are open source, no one owns them, you do! The community has a lot of information on building your own self replicating 3D printer, http://reprap.org/wiki/RepRap

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Greg’s Accessible Extruder Assembly for Kossel Mini

I started out with Airtripper’s direct drive extruder on my 3D printer and while I liked it a lot I found out that normal stepper motors will not work. You need a hefty stepper motor and even at that I doubt the ramps stepper drivers can handle it. It is suggested to use a gear reduced stepper with something like a 4:1 step down, these are fairly expensive so I opted to build a Greg’s extruder which has the approximant 4:1 step down that I needed.

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Kossel Mini 3D Printer Vertical Movement Tutorial

Vertical Rail Options

kossel movementThere are several options available for the vertical movement carriage of the Kossel Mini.  The thing is some options cost a LOT more money. I will show some options along with prices as of 1/1/2014.

 

 

$(KGrHqMOKooFIM4k2M6PBSJpoi,Gwg~~60_31. Use MR12 MGN12C HIWIN rail and truck currently about $140.00 after shipping…

 

 

 

 

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2. Use an additional printed carriage with Dual 623 V rollers currently around $80.00 after shipping…

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How to Build a Kossel Mini Tutorial, Frame

Why I am building a Kossel Mini

My first 3D printer was a Prusa Mendel V2 Reprap, after seeing the speed and precision of my bosse’s Rostock Max and drooling over his Kossel mini I decided it was time to make another printer. (You can find my Prusa Mendel V2 Reprap post here) I have found that half the fun of 3D printing is building the machine… especially if you are the type that enjoys tinkering and fiddling with gadgets. I have also found that 3D printing is absolutely a hobby, though, I am to cheap to try some of the more out of the box printers that are developing nowadays. I am not sure if the urge to build things or my cut-rate pocket-book drive my DIY printing hobby more…

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