DIY flatbed printer (7'x24')

9992 Views 16 Replies 6 Participants Last post by artbot, May 25, 2012

artbot

Discussion Starter · Apr 3, 2012

i just signed up to this forum specifically for the diy/dtg threads.

i am building a very very large flatbed printer using a cnc laser etching table (has gantry, servos, , vacuum hold up/down, no y stepper, no laser) and an encad 850 (will upgrade printers after i am confident i'm not going to ruin a valuable one).

i'll be starting my build in about a month. but while i'm lurking, looking for ideas, i'd love to hear from anyone in the houston area. especially electronically savvy ones that might be for hire to assist in the wiring of this machine.

1 - 17 of 17 Posts

skip20

· #2 · Apr 3, 2012

This I've got to SEE!

artbot

Discussion Starter · #3 · Apr 4, 2012

i guess i'll start a progress report here and there. of course posting pics at this point is premature. here's the pics of the table (it's kind of hard to get a sense of scale). ...the linear guides, i also have a pair of ball screws (250lb each) that i will invert.

first step is to mount the printer to a trolly. i don't want to mount directly to the gantry because i want this table to be multipurpose. so it will be more of a pusher.

in a while i'll post some pics of the printer tear down (first doing ink/coating tests with it) after that i'll start with mounting it to the table.

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JeridHill

· #4 · Apr 4, 2012

What inks are you going to use? The standard digital textile inks will not work in the bubblejet head like the Encad has.

brewersthings

· #5 · Apr 4, 2012

What do you plan on printing with your machine ?

artbot

Discussion Starter · #6 · Apr 4, 2012

glass, stone veneer, acrylic, heavier aluminum (i have a jv3 160sp pinch roller flatbed set up using two 10' "air hockey" style feed tables), ceramic tile.

here's a slide show if what i currently do. it's a lot of high end commercial interior work.

alldredge

102557

· #7 · Apr 4, 2012 (Edited)

artbot said:
i guess i'll start a progress report here and there. of course posting pics at this point is premature. here's the pics of the table (it's kind of hard to get a sense of scale). ...the linear guides, i also have a pair of ball screws (250lb each) that i will invert.

first step is to mount the printer to a trolly. i don't want to mount directly to the gantry because i want this table to be multipurpose. so it will be more of a pusher.

in a while i'll post some pics of the printer tear down (first doing ink/coating tests with it) after that i'll start with mounting it to the table.

Is the intent to print 24ft lengths by 7 wide? is the printer software capable of this length/width? that should be the first question.. otherwise software will need to be developed/modified.. or will the standard driver achieve the above with the desired ink coverage? printing solvents/ecosolvent you will need a heat system involved aswell?

your best bet is to hire someone who knows the operation of the printer that you intend to use this will save alot of time figuring its operation out.. I dont think the mechanical end is a big deal.. the biggest concern is the drive with the width of this printer and its length prolly a dual drive each side so it travels even/ belt would be the cheapest, i dont think you will find a screw that long

P.S i wonder what the cost of ink per print on a 24ft by 7ft is

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artbot

Discussion Starter · #8 · Apr 4, 2012

i'll just run 60" wide to begin with. ...will upgrade to an 87" wide printer later. maybe a dual dx5 wit-color ultra 9000 2.2m or a konica 512 42pl of some sort. the choices in the 2.2 meter range aren't that great. but they're out there. i have separate heating systems and transportation, racks, and rotisserie tables all built to the 80" x 120" dim. you can get sintra and poly carb that wide.

the rest of the table can be used for staging and run at both ends of the print (the oce 550gt works this way) and or when doing ceramic tile projects, i'll be able to lay out the entire project, make several passes before it goes in the kiln.

the table has all the motors (two big servos) and livear drive already on both sides. looks like a 20mm rail with gear track under the table, big chunky belts.

one thing i'm needing to do is get the encad's x-axis signal which usually goes to the servo on the printer to be run through a servo controller then split between the two servos on the gantry. not sure if i'll need to leave the encad's servo "installed" as a proxy in case the firmware throws an error because of it's absence, or if the signal being hacked will cause some drain on the main board. i have no idea how to do the electronic side. i figure i'll just have to get there first.

aa

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102557

· #9 · Apr 5, 2012

artbot said:
i'll just run 60" wide to begin with. ...will upgrade to an 87" wide printer later. maybe a dual dx5 wit-color ultra 9000 2.2m or a konica 512 42pl of some sort. the choices in the 2.2 meter range aren't that great. but they're out there. i have separate heating systems and transportation, racks, and rotisserie tables all built to the 80" x 120" dim. you can get sintra and poly carb that wide.

the rest of the table can be used for staging and run at both ends of the print (the oce 550gt works this way) and or when doing ceramic tile projects, i'll be able to lay out the entire project, make several passes before it goes in the kiln.

the table has all the motors (two big servos) and livear drive already on both sides. looks like a 20mm rail with gear track under the table, big chunky belts.

one thing i'm needing to do is get the encad's x-axis signal which usually goes to the servo on the printer to be run through a servo controller then split between the two servos on the gantry. not sure if i'll need to leave the encad's servo "installed" as a proxy in case the firmware throws an error because of it's absence, or if the signal being hacked will cause some drain on the main board. i have no idea how to do the electronic side. i figure i'll just have to get there first.

aa

Very interesting project, i will be sure to follow your progress.. I spent alot of time on r&d on our recent printer project which is a small format and i have been prototyping small formats for just over two years.. I cant imagine the time and r&d required going in blind... It will be something to see for sure.. seems like a very unique printing niche you have

selanac

· #10 · Apr 5, 2012

Maybe you'll be the first to do a All Over Print on a 10 XL t-shirt. Lol.

I'm sure this thread will be the largest thread in TSF history by the time you're done.

artbot

Discussion Starter · #11 · Apr 5, 2012

there's a huge demand for a large format (48" and up) cheap flatbed. lots of sign shops. even if you could get a t-shirt printer to just have a heated platen and run eco-solvent ink, i'm sure you could sell a decent amount of them to sign shops.

i am super green on the flatbed side, but as far as printer mods' go, i am very experienced. but it's time to get serious. this will be my fourth large format flatbed (roland fj50, encad 505, mimaki jv3160sp, presently encad 850).

as far as builds, the encads are dirt cheap. also there is latex ink for encad coming out of brazil presently. so the combination is there to build cheaply. i'm not going to show off on this one. i am a results kind of engineer. so don't expect something pretty. but then i've looked at the diy dtg's and i'm inspired, definitely.

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artbot

Discussion Starter · #12 · Apr 5, 2012

also, here's a link to a colleague of mine that recently finished his mutoh pinch roller flatbed with z-up gantry.

VID 20120403 172924 - YouTube

102557

· #13 · Apr 5, 2012

artbot said:
also, here's a link to a colleague of mine that recently finished his mutoh pinch roller flatbed with z-up gantry.

VID 20120403 172924 - YouTube

Some very interesting projects.. you seem to have the experience behind the printers your working with so this should go smooth for ya.. I will have a new toy to show not to far in the future aswell

Cant wait to see your creation.. I love this stuff

artbot

Discussion Starter · #14 · Apr 5, 2012

one catch is all my equipment is loaded into my house (long story). i have 3 acres with 3phase power on my street, yet, i wake up to equipment everywhere. the printer build is going to be done in a large tent (hansen weatherport) behind my house. so while doing meticulous mods and busting knuckles, i'll be swatting mosquitoes in 100% humidity (texas near the coast). also, along with the build i have to deal with geckos and mud daubers building a home in the nether parts as well. the budget for the whole thing is around $10,000. i stole the table for $3k on ebay. shipping and rigging cost almost as much. so i've got about $4-5k left for machining parts, electricians, servo controller, vac pump, massive data chain, replacing the lasered to death aluminum top.

102557

· #15 · Apr 5, 2012

artbot said:
one catch is all my equipment is loaded into my house (long story). i have 3 acres with 3phase power on my street, yet, i wake up to equipment everywhere. the printer build is going to be done in a large tent (hansen weatherport) behind my house. so while doing meticulous mods and busting knuckles, i'll be swatting mosquitoes in 100% humidity (texas near the coast). also, along with the build i have to deal with geckos and mud daubers building a home in the nether parts as well. the budget for the whole thing is around $10,000. i stole the table for $3k on ebay. shipping and rigging cost almost as much. so i've got about $4-5k left for machining parts, electricians, servo controller, vac pump, massive data chain, replacing the lasered to death aluminum top.

Swamp cooler?

you can dump some serious $ prototyping for sure.. I would hate to add up what i have in this total

I have built alot of stuff but for some reason the printers have hypnotized me..lol I think its the challenge and then other challenges present themselves or maybe its the utter pursuit of design perfection? you know what im saying wake up at 2am with a thought and run to the basement with your micrometer

whatever it is its fun.. I look forward to reading about your project as its developed..

artbot

Discussion Starter · #16 · Apr 5, 2012

i hear ya. i engineer coatings and curing schedules and file prep regiments and machines all day long. then in my sleep i keep going. sometimes surreal bizarre inventions (once a lightning catcher that started causing all the squirrels to start acting like humans), other times usable work arounds.

it's fun but exhausting having this fast motion design studio clicking in your head non-stop.

i really appreciate the welcome-ness on this forum. it's not t-shirts but it is the same general idea. i have so much respect for the ground up motion builds you guys do. very impressive.

off to get ready for bed for me i'm covered degreaser and xylol and black from polishing aluminum. only my dog wants to be near me. look like i've been at war.

artbot

Discussion Starter · #17 · May 25, 2012

DIY flatbed printer (7'x24') update

well, i've been slaving away. having a troublesome/slow spring season. i have had the good luck of picking up a pair of z-ups from a guy in sweden that is parting out a mimaki jf1631 for $1000/ouch (an insurance company has requested it's being put to sleep. jf1631's are known to be lemons anyway).

here's some pics of the z-ups. i hope to get some slides that are compatible to mate the devices to the table then i'll build a bridge across the two. currently i've got the encad. but i've run across a company in china that can build me any 2.2m printer that i can dream up. imagine, no more looking at pdf brochures for the perfect printer specs? just define the printer and have it built!

attached are a bunch of pics. the z ups and some better shots of the printer table.

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