A review of the Printrbot 3D printer

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Opensource.com

If you're looking around for 3D printers that are both inexpensive and open source friendly, the Printrbot Simple Kit will probably catch your attention.

This Kit sells for close to $300, and for our team required a full-day of DIY assembly, though skilled makers might be able to put it together in four hours or so. Our team was made up of three PhDs and two R&D engineers, and it took us close to eight hours to complete the assembly, which of course included some philosophical and licensing discussions and a couple of trips to the hardware store. It was indeed a lot of fun!

Because there are multiple models, it is important to verify that you are using the appropriate set of instructions. Detailed step-by-step instructions are available on the Printrbot website.

Printrbot Simple Kit - 3D Printer - Assembled

This printer is a great device for taking your first steps into the world of 3D printing. As we assembled it, it became very clear how the printer works and that knowledge became quite valuable down the road when we were fine-tuning the printer to adjust it to specific objects.

The printer doesn't have it's own software (which is actually a good thing). The following open source programs work well with it:

  • OpenSCAD to design objects (and save them in STL files)
  • Slic3r to generate G-Code from the STL files (G-Codes define  the path in space that the printer head should follow during the print out process)
  • Repetier to load STL files, to interface to Slic3r, and to drive the printing process by connecting directly to the printer using the USB port
  • ParaView to visualize STL models and to do small retouches (for example, rotating and scaling a model)

With the Printrbot, it is important to start with very simple models and only increase complexity as you get familiar with the printer and its features. A constellation of models can be found in the open repository: Thingiverse.

Our team also found that it is important to spend the time to set up the proper parameters of the printer into the auxiliary programs (Repetier and Slic3r). In particular the bed size and the calibration of the home location for all the motors.

As we watched this printer build 3D models out of molten PLA plastic, there was no doubt that a manufacturing revolution is unfolding before our eyes. Just as the personal computer started the Information Revolution in the 1980s. The best thing we can do is put these printers in the hands of students and teachers so they can experiment and learn, unleashing a whole new world of educational creativity. We will be doing just that during this Spring semester in the Physical Computing class at SUNY Albany.

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Luis Ibáñez works as Senior Software Engineer at Google Inc in Chicago.

5 Comments

We just got a PrintrBot Jr V2. It takes a bit or reading up to get up to speed with the terminology. We got the machine pre-assembled, and it came with a sample calibration print on the bed, so there is proof that this thing can actually print and print well.

Getting started with Repetier wasn't difficult. The prints were stringy, but not too bad. Posting on printrbottalk.com was helpful in getting better prints. It reminds me of the ealry days of Linux (which is a good thing) and will certainly lead to plenty of learning by doing. More details at http://commons.sfsu.edu/joy-z-axis

Sameer

Sameer,

Thanks for sharing you experience with PrintrBot Jr V2.

It is great too see the interesting activities at SFSU Commons (http://commons.sfsu.edu/). Maybe you could write an article here at opensource.com to share more of the experiences at SFSU Commons ?
Specially talking about the impact on education.

Thanks

Luis

Hi Luis,
Would be happy to do a write up on our Commons Initiative project.

Sameer

Iv been using the printrbot siple for two months by now. It was about 5 hours assembly, and two days making proper adjustments, calibration and slicer configuration. My results are very good to a very low cost 3D printer. Im currently using rhinocerose 3d to modeling (MAc version is beta and free until the offcial release is done). I recomend the windows version, because have more capabilities and and a newer version of slicr (the program that convers STL to gcode).
I made a few "upgrades", like the Z-axis rode bridge to stability, and replace some of the plastic ties for metal wire, to better support of the rodes. I made a set of pods for stability.
I just can say im very satisfied with the performance and quality of the Simple, and looking for adquire the upgrade kit (z and x axis increased by almos twice).
if you like, visit my thingiverse profile, iv been adding a couple of thingies: http://www.thingiverse.com/chicuco/designs
Flavio

Flavio

Thanks for sharing your experience, and the tips about the upgrades.

Luis

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