3D printer with multiple X arms
This is just an idea at the moment and would like to hear your thoughts on this.
Instead of a toolchanger that goes to a designated spot, releases a hotend and picks up another one, would it be feasible to have two independently moving X rails? I mean two sliders on the Y axis that each have their own independent toolhead mounted on it.
To 3D print using two materials you could have rail 1 move out of the way so that rail 2 can move to the object and resume printing. I suppose this could be done with a pause command followed by executing gcode with different stepper motors.
This obviously only makes sense on a 3D printer that is large enough. I would say rails of at least 500mm in X and Y direction and a bed that supports that.
Does this make any sense over a dedicated toolchanger? I suppose the complexity is much lower and it's less likely to fail.
I also believe there is a benefit for printing multiple objects simultaneously but at some point it might as well be two separate printers.
4 replies
The ZideX printer isn't quite what you're talking about, but it kinda has the same idea.
Here's a video about how to build one that will give you more of an idea what it looks like and how it works.
look up IDEX configuration
There are already printers with dual extruders but on the same gantry. They can even print simultaneous in some cases or switch quickly by one head moving out of the way e.g. to print two different colors or to print supports in a different material.
The Raise printer does this, either use both extruders with different filaments on one model, or print two models at once on the same build plate https://www.raise3d.com/e3/