THE DESIGN OF A DUAL OPEN-SOURCE 3D PRINTER UTILIZING FDM AND MSLA PRINTING TECHNOLOGIES

The design and detailed assembly of a dual 3D printer that combines both Fused Deposition Modelling (FDM) and Masked Stereolithography Apparatus (MSLA) technologies is presented. Combining two different 3D printing modes in one machine minimizes the required desk space, offers a larger printing area, and reduces total cost as compared to owning two different 3D printers. The FDM printing section in the proposed design utilizes the Core-XY and CHT nozzle to achieve fast travel and extrusion speeds. The MSLA printing section includes a standard UV light array and a mono screen to control printing speed and stability. All the mechanical parts of the FDM printer section are positioned above or outside of the printing plate, forming the top half of the dual printer. On the other hand, all the mechanical parts for the MSLA printer section such as the UV light source, controller motherboard and resin vat are placed underneath the build plate, therefore constituting the bottom half of the dual printer. Thus, the build plates of the FDM and MSLA portions serve as the main division between the two sides. The proposed dual printer is an open-source machine to help users find replacement parts and apply upgrades easily, as well as reduce the overall cost of manufacturing. The proposed dual printer aims to utilize the best of both worlds; the utility and versatility of an FDM printer and the print quality of an MSLA printer, all in a small, cost-effective compact package.