Welcome to the SeeMeCNC Community

Hi all. I really love this forum, and finally decided to register.

My goal is to build a delta machine, and I want to buy a kit but I have no funds for it currently.

In the search of parts on the cheap, I have come up with a source for old scanners. My university surplus sale sells them sometimes for a dollar apiece. I am trying to get three of the same model and then scaling the Rostock build to complete the project. I bought an Arduino mega/ramps1.4/5 stepper combo.

I think I can build everything with some help from the local school's 3d printer for less than $100. If I do, I will post the build here.

Meanwhile, I have 2 scanners and I REALLY want to build a delta X-Y platform for a laser cutter. I can build it now, but I don't know how to drive it with software. If anyone wants to talk about this with me, I will be very grateful.

Thanks for reading.

Craig Bossard

What steppers are in the scanners? NEMA 17's are the "standard" for delta machines like a Rostock. I've heard that you can get away with 11's though. Check out MPJA.com for <$10 steppers on occasion.

If you're looking for a budget electronics board, check out the SanguinoLolu. The Chinese knockoffs can be had on Ebay for $40ish shipped and are pretty complete. A friend of mine got his to run Repetier firmware for a printer, and on another project he even made a Sanguino board think is was a GRBL shield for a ShapeOko project!

I wouldn't skimp on the hot-end or the extruder motor. Buy the "real" ones of those and you won't bang your head into the wall later

Good luck, Craig!

Wow! That website is awesome. $2 for a 24v Nematode 17. Is that a standard motor that I can plug in to ramps1.4? I'm going to buy a dozen if it is.

The steppers I have are 10PU-M. I have a stripped pair of scanners HP scanjet 5470c. They have a single linear rail that is about 15" long. My hope was to use the rail, motor, drive, and slide assembly. I don't mind if it is slow as dirt, I am more interested in learning how to build these things.

My background is in heavy manufacturing process and CNC. Also I am a hobbyist electrical engineer.

I am a little hampered right now. My laptop to drive the Arduino is dead, but maybe I can fix it today. Either way, I need to do some shopping for the rest of my machine.

If you're looking at the one I think you are, that motor is unipolar only (5 wire interface is a giveaway -- the common ground between coils will prevent bipolar operation). The drivers typically used with ramps are intended to drive bipolar motors. Do some reading about stepper motors if you don't know what I'm talking about. Some of the other specs may be of issue as well, but that depends on what you require the motors to do and what power supply you want to use.

I will read up on those steppers (UNI vs bi). Thanks for the replies.

Any suggested reading on the firmware that is out there?