Open Source Automated Printed Part Remover

Basics

• A Device to Automatically Remove Prints From a 3D Printer
• Needs More Research into the how to do this
• Used mainly for automating Print Farms , and Microfactory s for mass production via 3d printers without need for human operation (assuming there aren't print failures)

Industry Standards

• Vodoo Manufacturing utilizes a robotic arm removing the whole print bed, placing it on a conveyor, then replacing it with another "clean one"

Existing Open Source Designs

• Sondre Aksnes's Design utilizes a removable bed with modified "grip points" to allow a 1/2 (essentially a camera slider with a grabber?) axis gantry to remove the bed and place it elsewhere. Basic design, but with refinement could work
• The Youtube Channel "Make Anything" 's Design utilizez the "gcode bump" method, and a 3d Printed cover for the extruder/hotend/fan assembly to assist the bump
• [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GHoWeC9ilSc The Youtube Channel "Oro Yerta" 's design utilizez a single axis "scraper" that essentially uses the bladed 3D Print Removal Tool , and attaches it to a cnc axis (Could be easy with a single Universal Axis, and a tool mount)

Preliminary Research/Plotting

Methods

Gcode "Bump"

• Shoves the print off with the extruder/hotend/fan assmbly
• A Sheild/bumper/cover can be added to aid in this method via a simple 3d print
• Not an elegant solution, but can work with little modification of the printer
• Main Downside is that it may not work for all prints, or will damage them

Dedicated Bumper/Scraper

• Utilizes 1 or to axis (Most likely OSE method would be one "middle" or two Universal Axis and a dedicated tool holder ) to push a tool as wide as the print base to dislodge the part, and push it into a bin/chute/on to a conveyor belt
• Can be used for a better bumper, that is larger, yet does not effect the printer, or for a scraper as wide as the bed
• Most likely version will be hybid:
  • A metal scraper as long as the printbed
  • A Gap and then a Bumper to aid in pushing the part off
• This method is a good "in between" main cost is another motor, yet it is a more reliable solution than a simple gcode bump, and may work in more situations

Gantry Based Bed Removal and Replacement

• Uses a gantry (and perhaps a modified bed) to grab the print bed
• It is then moved to storage for later manual removal, or to a dedicated print removal device
• May need a seccond axis as the grabber?
• The bed may also need to have mounted "gripper points"
• More compact than the robotic arm version, although perhaps less capable, and it cant vertically scale (ie each "level" of printers requires an axis, or a vending machine style axis mover)
• Also more scalable due to longer axis
• Eliminates any issues with the removal method not working (not entirely removal, so perhaps a seperate page?)
• Can work well for single layer print farms, or for massively tall (ie x > 5 levels)

Robotic Arm Based Bed Removal and Replacement

• Uses a robotic (and perhaps a modified bed) to grab the print bed
• It is then moved to storage for later manual removal, or to a dedicated print removal device
• The bed may also need to have mounted "gripper points"
• less compact than the gantry (it sticks out further), but it can reach more levels on its own, and can move the print to another belt/device easier
• Less scalable due to adding length to the robot arm, or having to have multiple
• Eliminates any issues with the removal method not working (not entirely removal, so perhaps a seperate page?)
• Thus this device seems best for ~5 "level" print farms

Hybrid Based Bed Removal

• Same as the robotic arm method, but the arm is mounted on a large universal axis, thus allowing it's x axis to be extended
• So good for ~5 high print farms of a large scale

Basic Design

Phase O

• Gcode Bump
• OSE already does this? (there was an article on it?0

Phase 1

• Bin + Dedicated Bumper
• Grab a bin, and a spare axis/make one
• Needs a designed bumper/toolhead

BOM

Phase 1

• 1-3x Universal Axis (1-2 more likely)
  • So:
• Toolhead/Bumper
  • Filament Estimate Use (is pla fine, or abs?) Xgrams

Internal Links

• Open Source Automated Print Farm

External Links

• An Article Titled "Voodoo Manufacturing Acquired, to Be Resurrected as a 3D Printing Zombie?"