I’ve decided to get into the 3d printing space and decided to build a reprap Prusa i3. Based on community feedback it seems like a good solid printer for a first timer as well as relatively accessible in terms of acquring parts. I’ve spent a fair bit of time trawling ebay and aliexpress in order to pick up all the parts. Hopefully I can keep the total sub $500.

This post will be my list of parts I’ve bought, how much they cost me in $AUD, not necessarily a complete BOM. I will try and keep it up to date and strike out things I haven’t used.

Rods

  • 2x Smooth rod Ø8x320 mm - Purchased as a kit from Fabricature $30
  • 2x Smooth rod Ø8x350 mm
  • 2x Smooth rod Ø8x370 mm
  • 2x Threaded rod M5x300 mm- Purchased as a kit from Fabricature $17
  • 4x Threaded rod M10x210 mm
  • 2x Threaded rod M10x380 mm
    section cost: $37

Movement

Heatbed

Electronics

  • 1x RAMPS 1.4 + 1x Arduino mega + 4x pololu drivers - Aliexpress ~$26
  • 3x Endstops - Aliexpress ~$5
  • RAMPS LCD - Aliexpress ~$15 (I had a dispute with the seller of the one I bought cause he didn’t include the “smart adapter + cables”, knocked price down to about $7.50 after refund. The link is to a different seller)
  • RAMPS LCD “smart adapter” - Aliexpress ~$5 (not necessary if you buy as a kit)
  • 1x Power Supply (12V) - thought I had one and turns out it was 24V 10A which isn’t quite suitable Went with the 30A one from aliexpress ~$35
    section cost: $81

Hardware

I bought a lot, probably too much. I definitely doubled up on some stuff which I’ve left off the total.

Washers

  • 30 x M3 washers (6 for Z motor mounts 2 for Y belt mount, 8 for bed mount to PCB) - Aliexpress ~$2.50
  • 10 x M8 washers (X and Y idlers) - ebay ~$1.50
  • 40 x M10 washers (y frame) - ebay ~$4
  • 20 x M4 flat washers - Masters $2

Nuts

  • 4 x M3 nyloc nuts (bed mount to PCB) - aliexpress ~$2
  • 20 x M5 nuts (Z axis drive nuts) - Bunnings ~$3
  • 10 x M8 nyloc nuts (X and Y idlers) - Bunnings ~$3
  • 40 x M10 nuts (y frame) - Bunnings ~$13.50
  • 10 x M4 nuts (for extruder) - aliexpress ~$1.50
  • 50 x M3 nuts - aliexpress ~$2.50

Bolts

  • 20 x M3 x 8mm socket cap bolts (6 for Z motor mounts, 2 for Y motor mounts) - ebay ~$1.50
  • 20 x M3 x 10mm socket cap bolts ( 2 for Y belt mount, 10 for Z rod holder to i3 frame ) - ebay ~$1.50
  • 20 x M3 x 20mm bolts (bed mount to PCB) - ebay ~$2
  • 50 x M3 x 14mm socket cap bolts - aliexpress $4
  • 5 x M8 x 30mm bolts ( X and Y idlers) - ebay ~$5
  • 2 x M4 x 50mm bolts + nuts (extruder, couldn’t find socket cap bolts. Hope it’s ok) - Masters $2
  • 10 x M4 20mm bolts - Ebay ~$1.50
  • 10 x m3 60mm socket cap bolt - aliexpress $13

Other hardware

  • 4 x M3 8mm standoffs (bed spacer above Y carriage to bed) - ebay ~$3
  • 4 x M3 8mm grub screw - aliexpress ~$1.50
  • 2 x M8 grub screw (for extruder + a spare for good measure) - aliexpress ~$1.50
    section cost: $72

Definitely should have considered a kit instead of hardware individually. That said now I have plenty of spare stuff to use for other stuff, not a complete waste.

Core parts

  • Hotend - Aliexpress ~$12 (Will be buying a much better non-clone hotend in the very near future)
  • Frame - sourced locally $??
  • Printed parts (prusa i3 rework + extruder) - Ebay ~$55 on special
  • Extruder - included in printed parts
    section cost: $67

Other

  • Hobbed bolt - Aliexpress ~$3
  • springs for anti-backlash z axis mod - Aliexpress ~$2.50
  • 2x 40mm fan - Ebay ~$3
  • bed springs - Ebay ~$4
  • Hotend bracket - Ebay ~$3
  • E-stop switch - Ebay ~$2
  • 2x spare pololu drivers - Aliexpress ~$3
  • Timing belt tensioners - Aliexpress ~$5 (not necessary but I want to experiment)
  • Wiring kit - AliExpress ~$7
  • Cable ties - Have plenty on hand varying sizes is good, more colours is better.
  • Cable management - ebay ~$2
    section: $35.50

Grand total: $432 before frame

Conclusion

There definitely needs to be room in the budget for another hotend and potentially in the future nicer smooth rods. I think with the parts I’ve purchased I should have a better (and cheaper) prusa i3 than any of the kits available in Australia or any of the international kits + postage.

Acknowledgements

http://reprap.org/wiki/JBFromOZ#JBFromOZ.27s_recommended_i3_Build

https://www.reddit.com/r/shittykickstarters/comments/2xctsf/35k_for_a_3d_printer_no_you_dont_get_the_printer/cozlwix