Hello All!
I'm not sure if this board is the proper one for this post, but I couldn't find a better place for this. Disclaimer: this is NOT a "which printer is best" post. I have built two repraps and have a Makerbot Replicator at work. I have a fair amount of experience with the various designs and limitations.
My first RepRap was an "Ecksbot" (Prusa i2 Variation). I spent a fair amount of money building the printer from scrap (printing my RP parts on the Replicator at work). But I was never happy with the design (too sloppy and weak/not square). Unfortunately the hotend jammed last January and the printer has been sitting on my shelf, waiting to be scrapped.
I'm thinking about scrapping the printer in December/January and building a new printer. I've been watching the RepRap evolution for the past 9-10 months and haven't really settled on a printer design. At one point I was considering the RepRap Morgan, but I don't feel SCARA printers are stable enough to invest my time/money into building.
Since March, I've been watching the MendelMax 2.0 development and am leaning towards that printer, but I haven't heard much about it. The MendelMax 1.5 still seems to be a popular design, but I really don't want to build another A-frame design. Unfortunately the Hardware kit for the MendelMax 2.0 is still $800 - quite an investment considering I will be scrapping my old printer for parts necessary to finish the MM2.
The Prusa i3 looks interesting, but it seems the design is fragmented. There is no centralized place to post questions and discuss with fellow builders. Troubleshooting problems with the design may be more challenging because of this fragemntation.
I really like the concept of the RepRap Wally, but the design is simply too new, and documentation is limted.
TL;DR - I'm looking for suggestions on a stable well designed RepRap that I can build using parts scrapped from an old Prusa i2.
I'm not sure if this board is the proper one for this post, but I couldn't find a better place for this. Disclaimer: this is NOT a "which printer is best" post. I have built two repraps and have a Makerbot Replicator at work. I have a fair amount of experience with the various designs and limitations.
My first RepRap was an "Ecksbot" (Prusa i2 Variation). I spent a fair amount of money building the printer from scrap (printing my RP parts on the Replicator at work). But I was never happy with the design (too sloppy and weak/not square). Unfortunately the hotend jammed last January and the printer has been sitting on my shelf, waiting to be scrapped.
I'm thinking about scrapping the printer in December/January and building a new printer. I've been watching the RepRap evolution for the past 9-10 months and haven't really settled on a printer design. At one point I was considering the RepRap Morgan, but I don't feel SCARA printers are stable enough to invest my time/money into building.
Since March, I've been watching the MendelMax 2.0 development and am leaning towards that printer, but I haven't heard much about it. The MendelMax 1.5 still seems to be a popular design, but I really don't want to build another A-frame design. Unfortunately the Hardware kit for the MendelMax 2.0 is still $800 - quite an investment considering I will be scrapping my old printer for parts necessary to finish the MM2.
The Prusa i3 looks interesting, but it seems the design is fragmented. There is no centralized place to post questions and discuss with fellow builders. Troubleshooting problems with the design may be more challenging because of this fragemntation.
I really like the concept of the RepRap Wally, but the design is simply too new, and documentation is limted.
TL;DR - I'm looking for suggestions on a stable well designed RepRap that I can build using parts scrapped from an old Prusa i2.