Category Archives: 3d printing

The photos show a 3d print made on my updated dlp based 3d printer. The lines on the print represent well defined 0.1 mm layers.  The layers stand out because I printed the part at an angle to minimize large … Continue reading →

It started the way these things usually start, you decide to upgrade a part and then one thing leads to another which leads to another which leads to another…  In this case I wanted to have a vat that was easier … Continue reading →

One thing I have come to realize about this type of 3d printer is that what counts is that the build “face” (the layer that is being exposed), the vat floor and the projected layer image have a particular relationship … Continue reading →

Probably the most interesting part of this printer is the tilt assembly so that’s where I will start.  The basic requirements of the vat tilt assembly is that it tilts with enough force that it is able to peel the … Continue reading →

Please Note: I am no longer using this control setup, I have switched to using Marlin firmware and ramps 1.4 with an arduino mega 2560. I will post an article on this setup sometime during the week of 11/28/16 Any … Continue reading →

Close Focusing A DLP Projector: I have noticed that sometimes people building dlp 3d printers have difficulty making their dlp projectors focus close enough to create a small image on the vat floor. One of the method I have seen … Continue reading →

My 3d printers Sylgard 184 vat floor coating had fogged and needed to be replaced. I believe it fogged due to having made some long base layer exposures. When I originally coated the vat floor I needed to let the … Continue reading →

The printer hardware consists of only a few assemblies the build plate/z axis assembly, the vat/tilt assembly, the projector mount, the housing and a light baffle (sucks up stray light when printing) all connected to a single vertical aluminum extrusion. … Continue reading →

Building a 3d printer had been one of those things that had been rattling around in the back of my mind for a while before I actually decided to build one. I considered just adding a fdm print head to … Continue reading →

Finished my DLP 3D printer. Got a good print on the second run! Short Video: All dressed up and ready to go: On the first print run I heard the vat snapping away from the corian build plate on the … Continue reading →

It’s been a little while since I posted about my 3d printer build (summer has that effect) but that does not mean I haven’t been working on it.   CLICK HERE FOR VIDEO Some quick info: First, things are looking pretty … Continue reading →

Here are a few new photos. The tapered light pipe seems to work pretty well for a quick prototype. I think I can squeeze a little more efficiency out of it by chemically “silvering” the light pipe (it will probably … Continue reading →

Note: photos below. I think I may have a uv lamp configuration that will be usable with almost any dlp projector, it also does not involve using optics. Let me bore you for a second, when I was 10 years … Continue reading →

some notes for those who may be wanting to do this mod: When disassembling the projector you have two types of flat cables, push in and connectors that have a latch. The latched connector have what looks like a black … Continue reading →

First test with uv led in position. Even without having optimized the light path optics a lot of uv is being projected. This photo was taken in a well lit room, when I took the photo my camera immediately “stopped … Continue reading →

I think that the casio xj-a140 (purchased cheap without the blue leds and heatsink) may be one of the better dlp projectors for dlp based 3d printers IF you plan to modify it for use with a high output uv … Continue reading →

I received the 20 watt uv led today and thought I would post some images of the red led assembly from the casio dlp projector and the uv led (only the blue led block was missing from the projector). I … Continue reading →

The DLP projector I am using for the 3d printer I’m building is a casio xj-a140 LED based projector. I am using this projector for a number of reasons: When purchased without the blue led array they can be purchased … Continue reading →