BigFDM


The large Open Source certified 3D Printer

 A large step for open source 3D Printers.

Lowering the boundaries to access big prints for everyone.

 Designed, fabricated and assembled with the aim of creating the best compromise between costs, printing area and accessibility, BigFDM is not only a powerful open source 3D Printer, but also a demonstrator of what is possible to make with Fab Labs technologies. In fact, taking advantage of what we have learned in Fab Academy, BigFDM has been developed using the standard Fab Lab equipment and digital fabrication techniques. 

Compact and interoperable design.

The design BigFDM has been influenced by several initial considerations, as an outcome of the past machine building experiences. Core of BigFDM is the frame and its dimensions, which have been designed as first element. Everything else has been then adapted to fit inside the frame, minimizing as much as possible the distance with the internal structures, in order to maximize the printing area.

The X and Y axis integrate all their components inside the top square of the frame. This configuration implements the interoperability  of the stages, with the top frame that can be completely detached from the machine, and virtually, plugged into a different machine having similar frame shape (eg a laser cutter).

 Similar interoperability has also been recursively kept for the Y axis, which can be modified/removed without changing the X axis.

Download it globally, produce it locally

BigFDM has been released as open source hardware. Evaluation of its replicability has been tested within a week-long workshop, where students of Fab Lab ENIT were able to replicate the complete machine, including the controlling electronics. Also the sourceability of the machine parts and their open source design, allows the students to self-modify, self-maintain and self-fix BigFDM over time.


BigFDM was first built in Dubai, with the help of Hashim Al Sakkaf, Fab Academy Instructor of Fab Lab UAE.



In the following link the documentation of the machine, and its open source certification.


The electronics of BigFDM builds up on open source boards made by Daniele Ingrassia:




BigFDM specifications:

Printing Area 800 x 800 x 900mm
Extruder Dual extruder with interchangeable nozzles
Filament 2.85mm
Mechanics Linear Rails, GT2 and HTD3 Belts
Motors Stepper Nema 23 and 24
Bed Heated Aluminum, 4 x 750W heaters
Electronics Satshakit and Satstep6600 locally fabricated boards
Frame 60 x 60mm Aluminum profiles
Interface Integrated Tabled for machine control
Housing Aluminum Composite 3mm and 4mm Acrylic
Power 220V, 3000W max

A new Open Source flagship : BigFDM ONE

Being under development, and designed on top the experience made with BigFDM, BigFDM One represents an overall improvement of the large scale 3D printer. Increasing the size to 1000x1000x1000mm, using inductive sensors and with a reinforced building platform, BigFDM One wants to set higher standard for the large scale open source 3D printers.