Cubely is a project to make 3D printing easy, accessible, inexpensive using completely open hardware designs and free open source software.
Why is 3D Printing Useful?
It wasn't that long ago that desktop printers revolutionized the publishing world, anyone anywhere could print books, photos, banners. Doors were opened to all kinds of new ideas. Printing in 3D is is just as revolutionary. No matter if it's just for you, or for your small your business, you can become a manufacturer with a 3D printer. 3D printing permits anyone to bring into physical reality the ideas you have in your head.
What is a 3D Printer?
Printing in 3D involves a handful of subsystems such as an extruder/depositor which deposits the build material, a linear motion frame which moves the build base in X and Y directions, a gantry which moves the depositor in the Z (vertical) direction and electronics to drive the motion and the depositor components (motors, heaters).
Cubely v0.5 - Seabiscut
Extruder v0.8
For the seabiscuit release the extruder deposits ABS plastic. It does this by forcing ABS filament into a heater barrel and nozzle. To push the filament into the nozzle a 6-32 threaded aluminum insert is used to replace the shaft of a Nema 23 motor and directly fee through the filament. After it feeds through the motor the filament travels through 2 feet of PTFE (teflon) tubing to a heated nozzle which consists of a stainless steel luer lock mount adapter mounted to the gantry and a luer locking nozzle. Many different size nozzles are available for different applications. The standard nozzle has a 0.5mm opening.
Linear Motion Frame v0.5
80/20 is a company which produces modular aluminum frame. This frame is configured into a 2'x2'x2' cube which acts as the base. Within the base, supports and movable planes also made out of aluminum frame are moved by rack and pinion drive along steel rods and bronze sleeve bearings. This X (left to right facing the machine) and Y (front to back facing the machine) movement combined with the Z (top to bottom facing the machine) movement of the gantry
permits the extruder to deposit material at points within three dimensions. The maximum buildable object for Seabiscut is 1'x1'x8" (1152 cubic inches) however practical limitations such as ABS warping make a practical maximum size of about 750 cubic inches or any configuration of an 8" cube.
Gantry v0.5
The cubely gantry is the overhead (to the printed object) spanning beam which moves along the vertical Z axis, up and down above the build platform. A span of 1 inch 80/20 goes across the middle of the frame and rides along the vertical axis. At each end of the span there is an 80/20 ultra high density polyethylene (UHDPE) bearing pad that has a protrusion which secures it into the t-slot. The bearing pads secure to the end of the span beam with a through-hole and bolt into the end taps. Driving the motion is a 6-32 threaded rod mounted to the middle of the beam span so that it can spin freely but it tied to the span. At the top of the 6-32 threaded rod is a nema 17 motor with the normal shaft exchanged for a 6-32 aluminum insert which acts as to extend or retract the rod and consequently move the beam vertically up and down. Bolted to the beam are the extruder heads using a small plate and bolting into the t-channel.
Electronics v3.5
Cubely depends on the Makerbot electronics which consists of an ATX powersupply, an FTDI USB connected cable, a Makerbot motherboard, 3 Makerbot stepper driver controller boards and a Makerbot extruder controller board. You can acquire the parts independently and solder together the boards yourself using the instructions found here, or you can order the boards fully assembled from Makerbot here. If you see the boards in stock we suggest you order immediately as Makerbot is frequently out of stock for long periods, we are working on developing alternate sources but for now they are the only ones providing the electronics fully assembled.
