02 - Frame

Post date: Oct 6, 2015 3:13:28 AM

The frame of the SLA printer is constructed of Rexroth-Bosch 45mm x 45mm extruded Aluminum left over from a friend's CNC machine build. Rexroth-Bosch has 3d models of the extruded aluminum as well as connecting hardware (gussets, brackets etc.) available online. Gussets were printed with PLA as an experiment to see if they would really hold the frame together. The experiment was a success (the frame held together with a 200-ish pound guy standing on it).

Here is a photo of the frame with gussets and other brackets printed with PLA. The hardware is 5/16" carriage bolts (the square part of the bolt locks well into the channel of the aluminum).

The frame was purposefully made tall in order to accommodate the projector under the vat platform. However, initial focus testing revealed it wasn't quite high enough. The solution was to make adjustable leg extenders (FFF printer to the rescue). They are the black things at the bottom of the legs in the pic below. This had the added benefit of allowing leveling of the device.