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Sculptura

sculptura ☆.ᐟ

sculptura is a wip fully open-source and customized budget 3d printer made by @anne from scratch for slow printing smooth and precise models to be used as decorative pieces :D

planning

⋆ overview

  • build volume: ~220x220x250mm
  • multi-color & silent operation
  • doesn’t start on fire
  • costs <250$ excluding costs of filament (im working with a bambu lab a1 mini)
  • designed for printing functional decorative pieces over the industrial applications

⋆ desired specifications

  • rigid braced aluminum frame + improved stability (wrt ender3 v3se)
  • higher print resolution (0.1mm layer height capability)
  • prints pla (silk, matte, wood, marble, metal-infused), transparent petg, tpu
  • cartesian (since we need precise extrusion control and cooling rather than raw speed)
  • smooth motion system + linear rails (if budget permits)
  • runs klipper

bill of materials

im currently researching stuff to make a comprehensive bom with everything i would require to make my printer come to life

daily log

⋆ day one - initial research (time taken - 3 hours + ½ hour for readme)

started my journey by researching different 3D printer motion systems. the main types i considered were corexy, cartesian, and delta. after watching multiple comparison videos and reading user reviews, i decided on corexy and explored some popular diy corexy builds to understand potential designs:

⋆ day two - frame & motion system (time taken - 3 hours)

to ensure stability while keeping costs low, i chose 2040 aluminum extrusions for the frame, offering a solid balance between rigidity and weight. for motion, i debated between linear rails (provide high precision and smooth movement but expensive) and pom wheels (budget-friendly and simpler to install but wear down over time).

after reviewing multiple builds and cost analyses, i decided to start with pom wheels, knowing i can upgrade to linear rails later if needed.

helpful video: pom wheels vs. linear rails

⋆ day three - extruder & hotend (time taken - 2 hours)

choosing the right extruder and hotend was crucial for handling various filament types, especially for multicolor printing. i considered the bmg clone (affordable, reliable, and widely used) and orbiter 2.0 (higher filament grip and better retraction control, reducing stringing) extruders and opted for orbiter 2.0 for its improved grip and lightweight design.

for the hotend, i needed something all-metal to handle a range of filaments (pla, petg, tpu, etc.). i chose the e3d v6 clone, as it provides good heat dissipation and consistent extrusion without ptfe degradation.