Re: 3D printing, powder spreading

--- In CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO@yahoogroups.com, "laserted007" <thyde@...> wrote:

>
> Graham -

> then streamed to the printer....the end of travel triggers paper out
> and then the Z-increment functionality and powder reset. Why someone
> hadn't put this type of control to market is beyond me - it would
> essentially make an RP printer (despite how messy the powder gets) for
> every desktop, probably for less than $1000...instead of $18,000....
>

I'm very serious about building a 3D printer, I have already been
through a few inkjets to find a suitable one. The Epson I had did far
too much dancing about when it booted and also had fancy paper
detection in the print head. The budget HP I've picked up seems
perfect, not much dancing and has a single paper sensor, it also
stops almost as soon as the paper is out unlike the epson. I also
like the easily replaceable jets and I can just keep them moist in a
far anyway.

I'd be really interested in seeing your homemade efforts (same goes
for the rest of the group). What are you using as your juice? How
have you built the powder system?

And how do you get the gantry to return to the start position? I'm
thinking of using the door open sensor to pause the printer while I
take over control of the DC paper feed motor, the other idea was to
take control of the paper feed encoder and paper detect signals and
let it try and load paper with the encoder signals reversed until
getting back home.

More details PLEASE!

Graham