How to Build a 3D Printer (The Ultimate Guide)

Everything you need to know about building a 3D printer, including topics on extruders, motors, linear rail, and so much more!

Supplies & Equipment:

Description:
Welcome to the one stop guide for designing and building a 3D printer from open sourced parts. The 3D printer is the ultimate DIYer’s tool to quickly make his or her idea a reality. All the concepts and parts that go into building a 3D printer can be overwhelming. Dr. D-Flo breaks down the fundamentals behind fused filament fabrication (FFF) into bite size and digestible topics, including linear rail, carriages, stepper motors, extruders, stepper drivers, control boards, and more. Dr. D-Flo’s tips will help you choose the correct parts that fit your custom design.

Related 3D Printer Links:

Table of Contents:
00:00 - Preview
04:33 - Linear Rail
07:57 - Linear Rods
11:45 - Carriages
15:21 - Transmission
28:22 - Stepper Motors
42:32 - 3D Printer Assembly
54:15 - Extruder
1:05:32 - Print Bed
1:10:02 - Limit Switches
1:17:16 - Motherboards
1:23:47 - Stepper Drivers
1:30:24 - Microstepping
1:36:29 - Power Supply
1:39:30 - Wiring
1:46:28 - Firmwares
2:00:51 - Calibration
2:12:59 - Dual Extrusion

[bysmty]

I'm a mechanical engineering student and I love your videos. They are so accurate and helpful. But what I love most is that it's one of the few english speaking channels, which uses the metric system instead of footballs per chicken nugget or stuff like that

[DrDFlo]

Thank you for taking the time to watch the video that marks my return to YouTube. I spent the better part of 2019 creating this content and revamping my website. My plan for 2020 is to continue to focus on quality over quantity, so subscribe to this channel to make sure that you don’t miss the small batch of videos that will be released this year.

[StephenCia]

Hi David,
Zidex original creator here :) Thank you for your kind word and acknowledgment. I can't believe there's anyone crazy enough to attempt this build and then you even hit homerun with your documentation. Well done! Hope you enjoy never have to deal with Z offset between the two toolheads ever :)
- Stephen

[gjforeman]

As a total 3D noob, {my Ender 3 Pro arrives tomorrow), I want to thank you for a fascinating deep dive into 3D printing. I've been doing woodworking, wood turning, CNC woodworking and laser cutting for a while, and I see 3D printing as a whole new world of stuff to keep my old brain engaged. Will be checking out all your YouTube Content. Thank you.

[FLABrowncoat]

This is the best, most thorough n00b-but-not-stupid level education in 3D printers that I've ever seen.

[perrygolden]

I have been a 3d printing and CAD autodidact since 2013, absorbing as much information as I can about the craft. This is by far the most comprehensive, educational and well thought out presentation of how a FFF system works I have ever seen. Great job.

[darrenc]

Absolutely fantastic video for newbies like myself. Thank you for taking the time to create it. I watched from beginning to the end and I feel so much more comfortable and confident about what to buy and how to build my first 3d printer.

[sander]

What an honor to listen to someone who knows something as detailed (and yet still explainable) as he is.

[johnmcn]

Great tutorial! The perfect overview on anyone who is looking to build or upgrade a printer. Helped answer a few of my questions that no one else seemed to answer.

[andrewstallard]

Where have you been all of my countless number of videos that were always half informative. Excellent job! I know you spent a ton of time to put together a video like this... Thank you for that. I really have a much better understanding about how the 3d printer works. Forever grateful, Andy Happy printing!

[ervinm.]

I'm currently going toward the end of a course in 3D printing and composite materials. As Internship I have to design a whole 3D printer form the beginning with a friend of mine. He's an expert, I'm a noob and I'm trying to keep up with him by learning something new every day. Thanks to this video I learned almost everything I needed to be useful too in this project. Good job.

[It-b-Blair]

🙏🙏🙏 I haven’t begun the hobby, but definitely want to. This is amazing for so many reasons.
By giving straight information about parameters, and solutions, you’ve helped reduce my sense of overwhelming when I considered how many threads I would have to comb through, or short videos hyping products.
I also feel like I have a better grasp of what to look for in my first printer, to then make a printer…
The PVA tip solves so many design challenges!
I’m so excited to start producing professional grade products it’s hard to eat humble pie and spend a while with a prebuilt. This definitely outlines why the experience is so vital.
Cheers!

[radicalxedward]

Really glad this wasn’t just a “how to assemble this BOM”. Learned a lot.

[heron]

Thanks for the great video, I'm 50 min in, and will continue it in the weekend. I have a AM8, and find it great that you explained how to select timing belts well enough, that I feel like I can order some new ones, and know at least a bit what I should be looking for. Also looking forward to a interesting weekend seminar, thanks man!

[wingbats]

It was clear a lot of time and effort went into putting this together. Nice work, anyone starting out into the world of 3D printers, or general linear motion control for that matter, will find this extremely useful.

[vijayvjn]

thanks for taking the time in making this video, i spent 2 days and saw the whole thing and couldn't help but be humbled by the effort you put in, have a great day and thank you for your time

[Luis-tydq]

This has been one of the most informative and well-structured videos that I have seen on 3D printing. I'm definitely subscribing and can't wait to see your future projects. Please keep making such high-quality and easy to understand content. Thank you!

[rhudithomas]

Hi David,
I just came across this clip while exploring 3-D printing on a make your own search. Very seldom do I ever watch an entire video, however this time was an exception. My background has been managing maintenance in a large furniture manufacturing facility for 20 years. At that time we were one of the first companies in that field to purchase CNC routers. After my management years I started my own company installing, training, and repairing CNC router centers in the industrial woodworking industry. I am now retired and decided to finally build my own CNC router or printer, thus the search through YouTube. I am not a fan of stepper motors only because of the machines that I have worked with over the past 40 years. The router spindles that I am used to on the CNC's were 15HP water cooled with tool change, but now because of size and power I have decided to "scale down" and get into the "stepper world".
I wanted to tell you that, IMO, have put together a very well made video cover this topic. It is very well broken down and explained so that people without a background in CNC can follow and absorb the entire process.
I have just noticed while looking through your home page the different videos that you have since made, and am looking forward to checking them out.
Great job, and thank you for all the time that you have put into making this.

[OpenBuilds]

Nice job Dr.D! This is a great resource for 3D printer building on all levels. The effort put into this really shows. Thank you and your team for sharing.

[ButtMan]

This really IS the Ultimate Guide. I've designed and built my own printer. But the detail in this video is great. Even those experienced in 3D printer building will pickup (as I did) helpful, if not essential, information. This will be my go-to video on my next build.