Mendelmin 1.0

]] Feel free to use parts from this as you please, but if you want a lightweight extrusion printer you should build the flexMendel by dkennel instead. [[

After a long hiatus, this is the fully functional and tested Mendelmin 1.0. This is a solid upgrade for someone still using a Prusa i2 with a MakerGear Plastruder, who has access to a laser cutter. This printer has 230mm of vertical Z height, and thanks to an aluminum extrusion frame with steel bracing brackets, it is very rigid and strong.

It currently uses a combination of lasercut and 3d printed parts. The original design used only 3d printed parts, but I was unable to get the precision and strength I wanted from the 3D printed Z and X carriages, which ended up being over-constrained. This problem has been solved with laser cutting. Pieces are cut from 1/4" acrylic plastic, which can be done on a fairly low-power laser engraver (I used a Trotec 100).

Lasercut pieces slot together and are bonded with acrylic solvent.