The printer that makes itself

Reprap 3D printer

Technical data:

What was needed: A 3D printer that can produce its own essential parts quickly and accurately
Requirements: High precision and working speed, no vibration, low weight, lubrication-free, low friction
Products used: drylin® linear guide, dryspin® spindle drives and flange trapezoidal thread nuts, stepper motor
Success for the customer: With the xBot, Benjamin Krux is targeting demanding private users as well as schools, universities and industry: "The printer is not only fast and precise, but also high-quality and durable. It can process various materials - from compostable PLA and the standard ABS material to flexible materials such as nylon and rubber-like plastic. The construction is solid and all the main components are manufactured in Austria or Germany."

3D printing with precision and high speed - and with igus®-linear guide

Reprap xBot: The printer that makes itself
The xBot from Reprap Austria is a 3D printer that can not only produce essential parts of itself. It prints very precisely and quickly according to the principle of "Fused Deposition Modelling" (FDM). Components from the igus® modular drive system make an important contribution to this.

The Reprap brand has a special reputation in the rapidly growing 3D printer market. This is because Reprap is not a manufacturer or a company, but - if you like - an "open source" project or a basic design that is freely available on the Internet and is intended to be used by as many users as possible.

The idea came from the English professor Adrian Bowyer. In 2006, he developed a 3D printer that can produce the plastic parts required for its construction itself: the self-replicating printer or "Replicating Rapid Prototyper", RepRap for short. He published the design data and drawings on the Internet. His aim was to get as many users as possible to build the 3D printer and develop it further.

This unusual concept has been a success and continues to spread. As a result, although the RepRaps in different countries use the same basic construction, their characteristics are quite different.

xBot from Reprap Austria: Fast and highly precise
The second generation of the xBot developed by Benjamin Krux/Reprap Austria impresses at first glance with its solid aluminium housing with a perfect finish. More important, however, are the precision and working speed, and both are remarkable, as the developer explains: "The xBot prints with an accuracy of up to 2/100 mm. In practice, however, a build-up of 1/10 mm thick layers is usually sufficient. And because we have minimised the weight of the moving parts, the printer achieves a very high speed without vibrations."

In addition to the low weight of the print head, this is also due to the high-quality drive technology and the stable, high-precision guidance of the print head and print bed. igus® linear guides are used in the X- and Y-axis, and two parallel spindle drives from the igus® drylin® programme, which are driven by stepper motors, ensure precise positioning of the print bed in the Z-axis.

Drive components from the igus® modular system
Benjamin Krux chose drylin® JFRM flange trapezoidal thread nuts with a 10 x 2 mm trapezoidal spindle. The trapezoidal thread nuts are made from the high-performance polymer iglidur® J, which has excellent sliding properties with minimal friction thanks to its "built-in" lubricant. This drive concept provides the best conditions for vibration-free, fast movement and precise positioning.

At the four corner points of the printing bed, non-driven guidance is mounted, and drive elements from the igus® modular system are also used in the hidden areas: The vertical guides for the heating bed move via drylin® R linear plain bearings of type RJUM-01, in which a closed anodised aluminium adapter, whose dimensions correspond to the standard for recirculating ball bushings, is combined with a sliding film made of iglidur® J.

With the xBot, Benjamin Krux is targeting demanding private users as well as schools, universities and industry: "The printer is not only fast and precise, but also high-quality and durable. It can process various materials - from compostable PLA and the standard material ABS to flexible materials such as nylon and rubber-like plastic. The construction is solid and all the main components are manufactured in Austria or Germany."

Despite these high quality standards, Reprap is committed to offering affordable 3D printers: After all, many users should benefit from the advantages of additive manufacturing. This is another reason for Benjamin Krux to use igus® components and other cost-effective standard supplier parts. Incidentally, he got to know the company almost on site, at the "Automation" trade show in Linz. The headquarters of RepRap Austria are located just 30 kilometres away, in Neuhofen/ Krems.

"3D printers will be used in the same way as PCs."
With the design and positioning of the xBot as a high-quality and solid, yet cost-effective 3D printer, Benjamin Krux is meeting with lively demand. Currently, for example, he has equipped an "open technology lab", which several schools in Vorchdorf/Austria have set up, with eight xBots. He is convinced: "In a few years, 3D printers will be used in the same way as PCs are today."

A relatively new business segment of igus® will then also benefit from this: The high-performance polymers from the iglidur® range are available as filaments that can be processed by 3D printers such as the xBot into construction elements in customised shapes.

Products used

Lead screw

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Flange lead screw nut

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Stepper motor

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Linear plain bearings

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Further 3D printing applications

Cleanroom 3D printer

What was needed? A precise and reliable cleanroom 3D printer for processing thermoplastics
Requirements: Absolutely lubrication and maintenance-free, long service life, suitable for clean rooms, no abrasion, cost-efficient
Success for the customer: Design freedom was gained on all linear guides by using the drylin®® -bearing with exchangeable sliding foils. This has significantly accelerated the design process. The sliding foils prevent unwanted particle release and at the same time offer process stability. There were other advantages from using suitable rail and shaft guides for system implementation.<br /><br />

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Portable 3D printer

What was needed? A 3D printer that is compact and portable, but can still produce detailed 3D parts
Requirements: Best performance even in tight installation spaces, no maintenance, 100 % lubrication-free, low wear and friction, smooth dry operation, vibration- and noise-free, no adhesion of dust and dirt
Success for the customer: In developing countries and emergency areas, a portable device with high precision is very helpful. It is a radical advance for dental and medical care. The igus® products in the 3D printer ensure a long service life, clean printing conditions, and dry operation without vibration or noise.

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Fabforge Innovations 3D printer

What was needed? A precise and quiet 3D printer that fulfils the requirements for "Made in India"
Requirements: 100 % lubrication and maintenance-free, precise, quiet and vibration-free running, smooth dry operation

Success for the customer: Fabforge Innovations is a manufacturer of 3D printers based in South India and operates nationwide. It used to use linear rails from other manufacturers, but to meet the "Make in India" conditions, Fabforge Innovations changed the design and used igus® products.

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3D printed lead screw nut

What was needed? An alternative to metal ball screw nuts that can be manufactured independently using 3D printing
Requirements: 100 % lubrication and maintenance-free, quiet running, simple manufacture, smooth running, clearance-free
Success for the customer: With the design, there was no other way to achieve the set goal. The parameters were prescribed, and the final product had to work. Optimising the contact area was crucial to reducing friction. Thread surface hardening reduced it further. After several printing attempts, the print quality improved.

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Mini 3D printer

What was needed? A compact and cost-effective mini 3D printer
Requirements: During printing, a tray must perform extremely precise vertical movements in order to achieve a high print resolution of 50 micrometres. In addition, the smallest possible components had to be found for the compact 3D printer.

Success for the customer: With the help of drylin® components, the Lumi Pocket is a 3D printer that combines an extremely compact design with outstanding print quality and an unbeatable price.

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3D printer office

What was needed? A large-format and precise 3D printer that is suitable for use in offices or workshops
Requirements: Maintenance-free, easy installation, high accuracy, 100 % lubrication-free, no dust and dirt adhesion, quiet and vibration-free due to office use
Success for the customer: The engineers use linear guides, slides, threaded spindles and lead screw nuts of the type dryspin® for the linear movements of all three axes. The lead screws allow travel speeds of up to 120mm/s. All components help to minimise maintenance of the 3D printer. The right 3D printer in the office.

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Do you have questions about drylin® lead screw technology?
Our expert Thorben Hendricks will answer all your questions about drylin® lead screw technology. Simply fill in the contact form and we will take care of your enquiry. We look forward to hearing from you!

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The printer that makes itself

Reprap 3D printer

3D printing with precision and high speed - and with igus®-linear guide

Products used

Lead screw

Flange lead screw nut

Stepper motor

Linear plain bearings

Further 3D printing applications

Cleanroom 3D printer

Portable 3D printer

Fabforge Innovations 3D printer

3D printed lead screw nut

Mini 3D printer

3D printer office

Order online:

Configure lead screw drive:

Improve technology ... reduce costs:

Consulting

I look forward to answering your questions

Shipping and consultation