Development of a Low Cost 3D Printer Indicated to Prototyping Objects

Abstract

The industry 4.0 is increasingly changing the productive chain, and, therefore, the sustainable technological development. In this context, 3D printers are among the trends which ought to promote opportunities of new businesses, as producing customized and not always available products etc. In countries similar to Brazil, commercial 3D printers still present a high cost. Thus, this study aimed to develop a low cost 3D printer - using the self-replicating method RepRap -; to test; calibrate; and print an object in order to compare the printer built to a similar certified commercial one. A printer similar to the model Prusa i3 has been built with the firmware Marlin, used to control its components and software Repetier intended to configuration and control. The first result was the development of a 3D printer configured and calibrated, enabling a meaningful comparison between the printing processes of a low cost 3D printer and a certificated commercial printer. The research concluded that it is possible to develop a low cost RepRap 3D printer, when it is compared to a certified commercial printer, presenting identical characteristics, especially regarding the final quality of the printing process.