Ike:Core - 3D printer based on CoreXY

Let me introduce you to Ike:Core, a core{X,Y} based 3D printer.
Ike:Core is the result of over of year or design and R&D. A year you say? Yes, in February 2013, I decided I was going to learn how 3D printers worked, and the best way to learn it, would be to create my own 3D printer. I am no fabricator or maker. I am a programmer who has built computers in the past. But still, this was a monumental undertaking.

I read many blog posts and the few books about 3D printing. Then, I fell in love with this video http://vimeo.com/40914530 and that was it, I knew what I was going to build. Last time I had soldered something, I was in high school, so, I had to relearn everything, and fill in a few more toolboxes of things I didn'?t have in the process, like cable crimpers and what not.

My goal designing this printer was to use as many off the shelf parts as I could, while retaining the original design of core{X,Y}. So, I used parts such as SK12 linear supports, SC12LUU linear blocks and 12mm chromed hardened steel rods.

I used reliable and trusted components from hotends.com (hotends), panucatt.com (printer board), qu-bd.com (heatbed heater) and openbuilds.com (motor, pulleys, and fasteners)

I found the remaining parts on eBay or aliexpress, namely, crimps, metric screws, cabling, cable sleeves, LEDs, switches and power sockets. Living in a metric country (Canada), I found it very frustrating not having a store nearby that carried metric fasteners. I had to import every single fastener!

The build started at the end of July 2013 and finished yesterday, April 26th 2014. Why so long, well, having a kid is no small task and with my job, it simply meant about 2-3 hours per week of free time. I learned a boat load or things, tried many of them, made mistakes and fixed them. The printer you see here is the result of all my efforts.

Last night I made my first real print. You can see it in the pictures attached. I saved it as black & white, it is easier to see the details. I am quite happy with the results, and there is no doubt I will continue to refine the printer, but initial results are more than promising.
I'd like to thank the folks that worked on core{X,Y}, both for the physical implementation and its support in the Marlin firmware. And also John D. who has helped me along the way.

When I have the time, I'?ll try to post a video of the printer printing a torture test. Until then, here is my latest work.

Jeff