BeTrue3D – Smallbot
Starting a new series of posts about the new small printer I’ve been obsessing about lately. I’m calling it Smallbot (for now), as it’s rather small compared to all the large machines popping up all over.
Front left. Showing PSU and watercooling radiator and pump compartment. 
Front Right. Showing Z-stage, on/off power switch and a Duet board.
I’ve never really printed very big things, nor do I normally print stuff just to print stuff, so generally my xBot (20x20x22cm or so) is larger than I really need, so decided to design a new one.
Design goals:
- Small print area 10-15cm on all axes. Maybe larger on Z axis.
- Small printer
- Super rigid
- Enclosed machine
- Easy to move around
- Rails on all axes
- CoreXY
- Hidden belts
- Watercooled hotend
- Custom designed or cut over Chimera+
- AC heated bed
- With Resettable Thermal fuse
- Build in everything:
- PSU
- Controller – Duet3D something.
- Waterpump and radiator.
- RPI Zero or normal
- For Raspberry Pi Camera and other functions
Timeline
I’ve drawn most of it in Fusion 360 and I’m close to be able to send files to manufacturing – Meaning to have the plates cut and trying to find someone to CNC the custom watercooled heatsink for the hotend.
Wow, that’s fast and stuff.. but wait! I’ve ordered some rails and they wont get here untill some time in late november or some time december.. and I can’t really starting having plates cut to size untill I get the rails home and have a chance to do real world measuring, to make sure my design fits them.
Look and design
Everything is subject to change and there are still things needed to be done, but the following will give you an idea.
Video in and around the machine without most panels.
Most panels in place and more details and changes in place.
Nice job, looks like the DICE printer which is a good project, I already designed and manufactured a similar one (full laser cutted stainless steel and machined parts) with my own designed water cooled Extruder (Nema14 motor direct drive) and tested it for nearly a year now, so far so good, i don’t know yet if i will keep the Duet board as i tested even with Smoothieboard and had better printing results.
I went through a lot of problem as mine is 300x220x210 printing area and the frame can suffer from resonance and chatter at high speed.
did you have a working prototype already? If you need help just contact me, happy to share what i experienced with you.
All the best and good luck.