Custom 4-tool 3D Printer, unique kinematics, any suggestions?

S13DG3HAMM3R

Hey everyone!

I am brand new to making custom 3D Printers, and I am learning as I go. I am designing a cartesian-based printer that could maybe be classified as an IDEXY printer?

I say IDEXY because there are 2 carriages that each have 2 tools and have both independent X and Y carriages, basically, the heated print bed is stationary, the z-axis moves the entire assembly on threaded rods, then there are 2 individual x-axis carriages and on each of those carriages is an individual y carriage. On each carriage, I want to have 2 tools. One carriage will have one Bowden and one direct drive, good for TPU and flexibles, and one will have one Bowden and one LASER CUTTER. Because I would love the capability of laser cutting and engraving as well.

So in total, the whole printer will have 4 different tools. I'm thinking a Duet 2 wifi coupled with a Duex 5 should cover having 10 different stepper motors, 3 extruders, one laser cutter, 3 cooling fans for the tools, one enclosure heater, and a heated bed should cut it, does everyone think a Duet 2 with a Duex 5 should be enough to handle all of this, and also to anyone who knows, does RepRap firmware allow for this sort of setup or does anyone have better suggestions for me. Thank you so much for taking the time to read all of this, let alone respond!

dc42

@s13dg3hamm3r I suggest you use a configuration based on Duet 3 Mini (or Duet 3 MB6HC if you will be using high current stepper motors) and Duet 3 expansion boards (possibly a second Duet 3 Mini). The reason is that the next major version of RepRapFirmware (3.5) is planned to be able to drive two heads of an IDEXY machine asynchronously, but only on Duet 3 hardware.

S13DG3HAMM3R

@dc42 My apologies for the delayed response, hadn't logged in for a while! Thanks for the info, good to know about the 3.5 update. I always thought it would be cool to have basically 2 independent printers in one, so the asynchronous capability (hopefully) on the Duet 3 would be ideal for sure! The Duet 3 Mini is also cheaper and easier to get here in Canada than the Duet 2 Wifi, so that's nice too.

Thanks again, cheers!