Graphics Reference
In-Depth Information
3. Assembly Assistance for the Printrbot Simple
If you don't own a 3D printer but are in the market for one, you may be wondering
about the pros and cons of purchasing a kit versus a preassembled printer. I've
built two 3D printers, and I can tell you that it was fun putting all the parts together,
tightening the bolts, attaching the motors, and wiring up the electronics. But I'm
comfortable doing those kinds of things. You may not be.
There is nothing wrong with purchasing a 3D printer that comes ready to use, right
out of the box. I'm not comfortable doing my own taxes or dealing with plumbing
issues. I know my comfort level with many things, and taxes and plumbing are on
the HIRE SOMEONE list.
Most 3D printers come with excellent documentation. Questions you may have
can usually be answered with a phone call or email to the company, but many 3D
printer hobbyists out there are also quite friendly and helpful to novices who post
questions on a forum. Many 3D printer kits may look complicated as you stare at
all those bags of loose components, but I know a number of nontechnical folks
who have successfully put together a 3D printer by moving slowly and steadily
through the process.
To give you a better idea of what's involved with a 3D printer assembly, I provide
some commentary that goes hand in hand with the assembly instructions for the
Printrbot Simple. The Printrbot company has great instructions on its website, and
I'm not going to re-create the entire assembly document it has already created. In-
stead, I include some photos of my Simple's assembly and use the various stages
of completion to provide you with some more details and discussion about 3D
printers and areas of assembly that might give you pause or concern.
Before you start this chapter, however, you might want to open a web browser and
point it to the following address:
http://printrbot.com/shop/printrbot-simple/
This is the Simple's home page, where you can find the online and up-to-date
building instructions provided by Printrbot. Because Printrbot occasionally makes
improvements to its kits, you should check the official website for the most accur-
ate assembly instructions. If you're feeling ambitious, feel free to read along with
my assembly discussion while you view the official Printrbot assembly instruc-
tions online.
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