Low-Cost 3D Printing Machine: Design, Implementation, Calibration, and Testing

Due to the high demand for high precision small-scale parts in many industries, the global market for small-scale machine tools has grown noticeably. Fabricating small-scale parts using small machine tools can certainly provide both flexibility and efficiency in manufacturing. In this paper, a 3D printing machine is designed, implemented, calibrated, and tested. The proposed printing system can produce parts with a satisfactory quality in a relatively short period of time with a high precision and the lowest cost. The developed prototype can be utilized for educational purposes and as a production tool for business. It is, in fact, an ideal platform for Mechatronics education where students can learn many concepts of the mechanical design, CAD, sensing, actuation, control, and programming.