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Book Description

Do you find yourself wondering what the fuss is about a delta 3D printer? Perhaps you’ve decided to buy one but all of your 3D printing friends are busily perfecting their Cartesian printers. Maybe you find yourself stymied by the fact that your delta printer has very different needs for setup, configuration, calibration, and maintenance than Cartesian printers.

3D Printing with Delta Printers contains detailed descriptions of the innovative delta design including unique hardware, software, and maintenance requirements. The book also covers tips for building your own delta printer as well as examples of common enhancements.

This book will enable you to build, configure, and enhance your delta printer. The topics covered will reveal the often-mysterious nuances of the delta design that will enable your printer to compete with the best of what your 3D printer friends can build.

Table of Contents

  1. Cover
  2. Title
  3. Copyright
  4. Dedication
  5. Contents at a Glance
  6. Contents
  7. About the Author
  8. About the Technical Reviewer
  9. Acknowledgments
  10. Introduction
  11. Chapter 1: Introduction to Delta 3D Printers
    1. Getting Started
    2. What Is 3D Printing?
      1. The 3D Printing Process
      2. How an Object Is Printed
      3. 3D Printing Consumables
    3. Cartesian vs. Delta Printers
    4. Getting a Delta Printer
      1. Categories of 3D Printers
      2. Build or Buy?
      3. Buying a Used 3D Printer
    5. Summary
  12. Chapter 2: Delta Printer Hardware
    1. Anatomy of a Delta Printer
      1. Axes
    2. Hardware Components
      1. Extruder
      2. Hot End
      3. Axis Movement
      4. Delta Arms
      5. Stepper Motors
      6. Build Plate
      7. Electronics
      8. Frame
    3. Design Variants
      1. SeeMeCNC Rostock Max v2
      2. Kossel Pro
      3. Mini Kossel
      4. Which Is Best?
    4. Summary
  13. Chapter 3: Delta Printer Software
    1. Computer-Aided Design
      1. CAD Software Choices
      2. Blender
      3. OpenSCAD
    2. Computer-Aided Manufacturing
      1. Using CAM Software
      2. CAM Software Choices
      3. Repetier-Host
      4. MatterControl
      5. Simplify3D
      6. How Do They Compare?
    3. Firmware
      1. Configuring Firmware
      2. Marlin
      3. Repetier-Firmware
    4. Remote Printing Solutions
      1. OctoPi: OctoPrint Running on a Raspberry Pi
      2. MatterControl Touch
      3. Which Is Best?
    5. Object Repositories
      1. Thingiverse
      2. YouMagine
    6. Summary
  14. Chapter 4: Tips for Building a Delta Printer
    1. Tools and Skills Required
      1. A Word About Tool Quality
      2. Required Tools
      3. Recommended Tools
      4. Optional Tools
      5. Skills
    2. Delta Printer Build Tips
      1. General Notes
      2. Frame Components
      3. The Moving Parts
      4. Electronics
      5. Other Considerations
    3. Summary
  15. Chapter 5: Calibrating the Printer
    1. Getting Started
      1. Check the Frame
      2. Set the Initial Position of the Endstops
      3. Calibrate the Stepper Drivers
      4. Confirm the Delta Kinematics
      5. Determine the Print Surface Radius
      6. Examine Axis Mechanisms
    2. Configuring and Loading the Firmware
      1. Using the Arduino IDE
      2. Working with Marlin
      3. Working with Repetier-Firmware
    3. Preflight Checks
      1. Smoke Test
      2. Connect Your Controller Software
      3. Check the Endstop Status
      4. Recheck Axis Movement
      5. Home the Printer
      6. Check Heaters
      7. Test Extrusion
    4. Calibrating the Hardware
      1. Calibrate the Towers
      2. Set the Z-Height
      3. Extruder
      4. Filament
      5. Temperature
    5. Delta Movement Calibrations
      1. Confirm Delta Kinematics
      2. Z-Probe
      3. Check the Print Scale (Object Size)
    6. Summary
  16. Chapter 6: Delta Printer Troubleshooting
    1. Troubleshooting Techniques
      1. Create a Baseline
      2. Observe and Record
      3. Consider the Possible Causes
      4. Determine the Cause and Implement a Strategy to Correct It
      5. Record the Solution
    2. Hardware Problems
      1. Filament
      2. Extruder and Hot End
      3. Adhesion
      4. Axes and Chassis
      5. Electrical
      6. Wiring
    3. Software Problems
      1. First-Layer Adhesion
      2. Layer Adhesion
      3. Scaling
      4. Orientation
      5. Filament and Extrusion
    4. Firmware Problems
    5. Summary
  17. Chapter 7: Delta Printer Maintenance
    1. Getting Started
      1. Keep Your Area Clean and Free of Clutter
      2. Organize Your Tools for Quick Access
      3. Unplug Your Printer
      4. Take Your Time
      5. Record Your Observations
    2. Basic Tasks
      1. Inspection Tasks
      2. Adjustment Tasks
    3. Preventive Tasks
      1. Cleaning the Printer
      2. Lubricating Moving Parts
      3. Replacing Worn Parts
      4. Gather Spare Parts
    4. Corrective Tasks
      1. Clearing a Clogged Nozzle
      2. Replacing Belts
      3. Delta Arms and Joints
      4. Bearings, Bushings, and Rods
      5. Replacing Filament Cleaner
      6. Firmware Updates
    5. Summary
  18. Chapter 8: Delta Printer Enhancements
    1. Getting Started with Upgrades and Enhancements
      1. Do Your Research: Finding Upgrades
      2. Set Your Goals and Expectations
      3. Check Your Calibration
      4. One Upgrade at a Time
    2. Types of Enhancements and Upgrades
      1. Quality Upgrades
      2. Feature Upgrades
    3. Example Upgrades and Enhancements
      1. Heated Print Bed
      2. Print Cooling Fan
      3. Spool Holder
      4. LCD Panels and Mounts
      5. Remote Printing Capabilities
      6. Lighting
      7. Alternative Effectors for Accessory Hot Ends
      8. Alternative Delta Arm Attachment
      9. Delta Arm Vibration Dampers
      10. Nema 17 Dampers
      11. Electronics Enclosure
      12. Other Considerations
    4. Making Your Own Enhancements
    5. Summary
  19. Appendix: Common Problems and Solutions
    1. Adhesion Problems
    2. Extrusion Problems
    3. Print Quality Problems
    4. Mechanical or Electrical Problems
  20. Index
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