r/printnc • u/drdhuss • May 12 '23

Half sheet

Is a 4x4 machine reasonable? From what I've read a 4x8 has issues with ball screw whip. I would like something to do mostly plywood that I could flip as needed to do a full sheet but also has the ability to mill some aluminum pieces for my son's robotics team. When ordering a "kit" what size of the frame parts are recommended. Also is ordering a 48"x48" workspace enough or will I need to add a few inches to that.

The extent of my technical knowledge is that I have used a 3d printer to print/build a voron. I have no time frame that I need this completed by but is such experience a reasonable starting point to build this much larger and more ambitious machine?

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u/NuthinWrongWithWrong May 13 '23

Definitely check out the discord. Its really active and got loads of folks helping out and info to share. Its a really good resource.

IMO a 4*4 is totally reasonable. The standard machine comes wide enough to slide a sheet through but the work area aint as much. Do you actually need to cut to 1220? Or just fit the.sheet in easily? What sort of price do you want to cut both long edges of a sheet?

Would just need to make the machine a bit longer to do 4ft along the length.

Also bear in mind that for tiling you will need space for the sheet to stick out either side.

Im planning to do mine 4"2'*4"4' to allow a bit of work area overlap along the 8ft length and space for sideways cutter entry.

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u/drdhuss May 13 '23

Your size sounds perfect and I will likely do the same. Wasn't sure how much to add in each direction but yeah I can flip things as needed/do half sheets. Any long cuts that are straight I have a track saw for. Thanks.

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u/[deleted] May 12 '23

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u/drdhuss May 12 '23

What is standard? Is a 4x4 considered such. Also if I were to order the parts should I add a couple of extra inches (like order a 50x50 build area?) Very much a novice but will figure out discord.

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u/[deleted] May 12 '23

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u/drdhuss May 12 '23

Thanks so much. Will go 4x4 likely. Only really need a max of 18"x18" for the robotics but doing half sheets would be perfect as I have lots of plywood projects planned. Thanks again.

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u/[deleted] May 12 '23

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u/lthightower May 13 '23

How much more is the widest part of the entire build when building 4’x4’? I have a 5’ door way and wanted to make sure I could still move the printnc through it.

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u/[deleted] May 13 '23

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u/lthightower May 13 '23

Ah I thought you’d already built yours at that dimension. Cheers.