Self-Replicating 3D printer (Snappy)

If you bought one 3D printer could you print parts to make more 3D printers? The Replication Rapid-Prototyper Project (RepRap) is a group of 3D printer enthusiast who explore this possibility. Dr. D-Flo decided to build one of the most extreme RepRap designs known as Snappy. Snappy is a budget printer coming in at under $300. This low cost is afforded by using a 3D printer to print out 80% of the parts. Furthermore, Snappy requires almost no fasteners because the pieces snap together. Revarbat is the creator of this ingenious design. But how well does Snappy work?

[geekeduponad]

Step 1: buy a 3d printer
Step 2: Print another 3d printer
Step 3: return the old one

[dbonk]

So 3 years down the line, printers are a little better now. do you think you could improve on 3D printed 3D printer?

[soupos]

You should make a fully automated 3d printed 3d printer farm where you use your robotic arm to assemble them!

[mr.cringekid]

My 10 step Billionaire process
Step 1: buy a 3d printer
Step 2: Print another 3d printer
Step 3: Return the old one
Step 4: Print more 3d printers
Step 5: Print a factory
Step 6: Print 50 3D printers
Step 7: Put those 50 in the factory
Step 8: Create a 3D printer brand (website, advertise, ect.)
Step 9: Print 3D printers with those 3D printers
Step 10: Sell them

[anthonytonev]

I just thought about 3d printer print a 3d printer and here it is! It's amazing how things already exist on the internet the minute you think about them... But could you print Alexis Texas?

[UnderDubz]

Step 1: Buy a 3d printer
Step 2: 3d print a 3d printer
Step 3: Return the 3d printer

[tedro]

You could actually print more of the parts. For example bearing you used with the extruder is kind of printable. You can print the fans if you can get a mini brushed motor. You can print the clips holding the glass to the heatbed. I'd also try to print the threaded rods (with higher pitch, of course). Anyways, I like the idea. The disadvantage is that too much filament is used. 3kg is a lot, I think it could be reduced to even 2kg. And yea, I love the X axis solution!

[TheMikolasZuza]

Haha that's super cool concept. I don't think I've ever seen bed move in both X and Y before. It's super addicting to watch it wobble like a dancer :)

[ASWDO.]

Scrolling for 3 seconds






all i see is the same print a 3d printer joke

[_IanOfEarth]

Would love to see you take this on with your current level of knowledge and tech

[samweedwek]

Fantastic presentation from start to finish

[bitjim]

After all this time still a cool build. I may dive into 3d printing a 3d printer, I was going to just print the extrusion rails and base it on a current simple model :)

[anniesparkle]

wow...so young and already so experienced and talented!!

[graymondgt]

maybe replace the plastic filament with an iron counterpart to print some of the wires/ other parts?

[KarmaKami]

Now that 3'd printers are getting slowly replaced by more capable 6 axis arms instead of 3d platforms I imagine the concept of a a printer printing printers is becoming both more viable and opening more complex designs.
I imagine it has to be a lot slower though.
Any plans for something similar?

btw, if the parts aren't smooth enough as you talk about with the rails in this video, I thought that was somewhat simple to smooth out with acetone?

[JSunBurns]

I'm printing the Snappy version 3 right now.

[Squirrelgamingnetwork]

Dude for 1 your freaking awesome! You are going to make it big ( bigger than me probably) ! Keep up the good work! Love your vids!

[quentincampbell]

Great experiment of the concept of self replicating printers/machines. just for that, you got my like.

[kippie]

Nicely produced and I feel eased about world domination of The Machine.

[JackLe]

Will using a 1mm nozzle make it faster and more rigid?