Large Scale 3D Printers
Introducing the Workhorse and Workhorse XL 3D Printer
- OPEN SOURCE
- LARGE BUILD VOLUME
- ADVANCED LEAD SCREW MOTION
- MODULAR MACHINE DESIGN
- CUSTOM MODS
- CUSTOM BUILDS
- ENCLOSURE
- HEATED BED
WorkHorse 3D Printer
The Workhorse Printer is a open source large 3d printer released by 3D Distributed in 2018. The unique printer is a modular machine platform that uses lead screw driven motion to allow for an extended range of applications.
Lead Screw Driven Motion
While most 3d printers use belt driven motion in the x and y axis to increase print speed but a belt driven motion system may lose quality when more weight is applied to the gantry or carriage. The Workhorse utilizes Igus lead screw on the X and Y-Axis. The high helix pitch includes a twelve start thread to allow increased print speeds while maintaining the quality of a ball printer. The robust and rigid motion system is particularly useful in applications that add more weight to the gantry or carriage. Materials such as clay, chocolate, plastic pellet extrusion or other foods can increase weight that is moved around which results decreased quality or print speeds. We originally designed the fdm 3d printers to be driven by ball screws but quickly switched to multi-start lead screw to increase travel speed. If your looking for a belt driven configuration check out our new corexy kit.
The Workhorse Printer is available for purchase in:
- Machined Component Kit
- Complete Kit
- Assembled
Build Area
- Print size millimeters (xyz): 650 x 350 x 350 mm
- Print size inches (xyz): 25.6 x 13.7 x 13.7 inches
Imagine having the print volume to 3d print the large objects that you’ve always dreamed of printing with room to add on additional print heads and an optional pellet extruder.
Fixed Bed
While most large format printers use a moving bed that moves along the Z-Axis, the Workhorse’s fixed bed and moving gantry design is more ideal for the large scale 3d printing process.
Custom Mods & Upgrades
The Workhorse 3d printer is available with custom mods and upgrades. We’ve several custom designed machines for many of our customers. If there is a specific size or requirement you just give us a shout. Additive manufacturing has many applications and we designed this modular platform to be adaptable and scalable for your industrial printing needs.
The Workhorse Printer’s C-Carriage design is a compact solution for lead screw driven motion that uses linear rails and 20×40 or 20×20 aluminum extrusions.
Workhorse Specifications
- Technology: FFF FDM
- Type: Material extrusion
- Year: 2018
- Assembly or DIY Kit
- Mechanical arrangement: Cartesian-XYZ-Head
- Manufacturer: 3D Distributed
- Manufacturer country: USA
Materials
- Filament diameter:1.75 mm, 3mm
- Compatible with 3rd party filaments?Yes an open material system
- Printable material(s):ABS, CPE, HIPS, Nylon, PETG, PLA
3D Printer And Printing Properties
- Layer height: 100 – 300 Microns
- Feeder system: Bowden
- Feeder system: Direct
- Extruder type: Single or Dual Extruder
- Nozzle size: 0.4 mm
- Max extruder temperature: 662 °F / 350 °C
- Frame: Aluminum
- Closed print chamber: No, an open structure
- Temperature controlled print chamber:No
- Bed leveling: Manual (assisted)
- Print bed details: Non-heated, non-removable .5 Inch thick aluminum plate
- Display: Not included
- Firmware: Open-source
- Board: Duet Wi-Fi
- Connectivity: SD, Wi-Fi
- Built in camera for monitoring: No
- Print recovery: Yes
- Filament sensor: No
Requirements
- Slicing: Cura
- Simplify3D
Dimensions and Weight
- Outer dimensions inches (xyz): 37.2 x 24.0 x 22.2 inches
- Outer dimensions millimeters (xyz): 945 x 610 x 565 mm
- Weight lb: 101 pounds
- Weight kg: 45.8 kg
Electronics
We recommend the Duet 3 by Duet3D.
Hello Dear All,
Can you share the firmware code for teenager developers ? I appreciate. Thank you for your work and help.
Yes, you can find the firmware files on this page. https://3ddistributed.com/duet-wifi/ and there’s some also some electronics and firmware videos on this page https://3ddistributed.com/3d-printer-assembly-instructions/.
Looking at the Workhorse printer it would be very well suited to my needs. The BOM is mostly easy to follow say for the actual dimensions and pitch of the Z axis leadscrews. Also the Igus part numbers don’t exactly line up. I’m just trying to make a cost list and make sure I gather the correct components.
The Igus part numbers don’t line up? They must of changed the part numbers or something. I’ll look into this. Let me know if you have any questions.
madiabby123 please share your BOM research, I’m investigating a build as well. If you have completed the build, would like to hear about your experience.
This printer is something I have been searching for a while, with my intention of building a printer for exotic materials that requires a heated chamber. However, the Thingiverse page of the Workhorse states that it is still WIP, and I believe there isn’t a model of the printer fully assembled there, just models of individual separate parts there. The best model I’ve found is one of the frame assembled, but not including the bed and other things.
As I’m not that versed on the mechanical side of designing (although I can make and modify simple things), I find it difficult to modify these files for something more like what I need (a printer with 250mm×250mm×300mm print volume). Could you update Thingiverse with a file of a model of the fully assembled Workhorse? That would help me immensely. Thank you for your time.
Yeah I’ll check it out….. There should be a step file of the complete assembly. I always keep the WIP because I feel that there’s always room for improvement and I;m never finished with the design process. To be honest, everytime we make a batch of parts there’s always some type of change. Usually small changes that make it easier to assemble or manufacture, or even reduce the chance of something being assemble wrong.
Shane, the latest files are from 2018, any new updates or learnings you would share?
Great work people. I was also thinking to make similar printer. But I couldn’t figure out the length of Acme Leadscrew Mcmaster Carr (Z Axis) in BOM.
Thanks for sharing such a good design.
Can you explain how you fixed the linear guide rails on the aluminium extrusions.