BIQ 3D Printer – Huxley Seedling
The BIQ Huxley Seedling is a new 3D-printer that can print objects out of thermoplastics like ABS and PLA. It can be provided as ready built or as a flat-pack self assembly kit including mechanics and electronics. The frame is available in Acrylic/Perspex and MDF finishes.
The 3D printing process
The BIQ Huxley Seedling is based on the A-Frame design of a Mendel, with a horizontally and vertically moveable print head and a horizontal movable build table, providing the XYZ movement.
The heated print head will deposit a layer of molten plastic on the build table. The extruder is elevated along the z-axis as each layer is printed until the overall height is reached.
The PLA and ABS comes in many different colours. The BIQ Huxley Seedling current extruder is designed to print with 1.75 mm ABS or PLA.
Electronics
The X, Y and Z movement is performed by three stepper motors that are controlled by an RepRap based (RAMPS 1.2) board. A fourth stepper motor for the extruder makes sure the right amount of plastic filament is delivered at the nozzle of the printhead at the right time.
The Arduino firmware will accept and execute commands to drive the steppers and print the layers. The latest stable firmware is available free.
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BIQ Huxley Seedling v1 – 3D Printer – Tech Spec |
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| Technology | FFF (Fused Filament Fabrication)/ Thermoplastic extrusion |
| Frame size (Width x Depth x Height) |
~ 46 x 34 x 29 cm / ~ 18″ x 14″ x 11.5″ (excluding feeder)~ 52 x 34 x 29 cm / ~ 20.5″ x 14″ x 11.5″ (including feeder) |
| Weight | ~ 7 kg |
| Build materials |
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| Materials used | Acrylic Perspex, stainless steel bar & screw rods, aluminium spacers & tube, linear ball bearings, fixit blocks, nuts & screws, synchroflex belts (steel reinforced) |
| Speed | Max. head travel speed ~ 400mm/s. |
| Electronics | RepRap based (RAMPS 1.2) or Sanguilino 1.3a. Up to 4 stepper drivers. 4 axis by default. 0.9 degree steppers (x & y-axis= 400 steps, z-axis=200 steps) |
| Temperature | 255 – 260° C |
| Build volume (X,Y,Z) |
~ 170 x 170 x 70 mm, under 10 liters (single tool mode) /6.6″ x 6.6″ x 2.75″ |
| Print Materials | ABS 1.75 mm (1kg reel) |
User Documentation
The following links contain documentation for the BIQ Huxley Seedling 3D Printer in both Word & PDF format. These guides provide a technical overview of the printer, firmware and software with how to guides for installing and setting up the printer.
Setup & Installation Guide (Word)
Setup & Installation Guide (PDF)
Firmware Downloads
Download and install Arduino and BIQ Firmware to setup the 3D Printer with the BIQ Firmware. This step is only required if setting up a printer for the first time or upgrading firmware on the printer. Please follow the instruction in the provided documentation for using and installing the firmware.
PC Printing Software Downloads
Once the firmware is uploaded and installed on the printer your are now ready to download and install the 3D printing software to a laptop or PC, If setting up for the first time, first download and install Python, Skeinforge and Java followed by the installation and running of ReplicatorG. Please follow the instructions for installation and setup in the provided documentation.
Recommendations & Future Updates
The BIQ printer has only been tested with the above firmware and software hence it is recommended that only this software is used with the BIQ Huxley Seedling at this time.
In the future we may release future versions and upgrades which will be posted on this page. Please contact us if you wish to be added to our mailing list and to be notified of future products or software upgrades.
Disclaimer
The BIQ Software is provided to you “AS IS” and we make no express or implied warranties whatsoever with respect to its functionality, operability, or use, including without limitation, any implied warranties for merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, or infringement. We expressly disclaim liability whatsoever for any direct, indirect, consequential, incidental or special damages, including without limitation, lost revenues, lost profits, losses resulting from business interruption or loss of data, regardless of the form of action or legal theory under which the liability may be asserted, even if advised of the possibility or likelihood of such damages.
Installing and using this software implies that you agree with these terms.
Credits
The BIQ Huxley Seedling was developed by: Bodgeit (Dave Chamberlin)
Special thanks to:
Fablab Manchester for their support and access to laser cutting services
Reprap Wiki for providing useful 3D Printer development information and support
BIQ Huxley Seedling is covered by GNU General Public License (GPL)
Are the design files for the frame somewhere available? I would love to cut it myself.
When the final designs are complete the drawings will be published on here and the reprap forum. Will post an announcement when they are available.