Mcprint
1
Hello, I am currently designing a 3d printer and I plan on using leadscrews throughout, 2 for z axis, 2 for x axis and one for y axis, Has anyone got a printer with similar set up? What challanges did you face with this? Is there anything special that I need to consider that I might overlook?
Mirth
2
Check the reprap forum and thingiverse.
Youll get more stable dimensional accuracy and resolution but also way more wear, prints will take forever and it could end up really expensive.
if price isn’t an issue get ballscrews instead of leadsvrews. But really, there’s a good reason belts are used for XY.
Yes, don’t use lead screws for a 3D printer, just for the slow moving axis (like the Z axis), lead screws are not able handle to fast motion and direction change required by 3D printing process, unless u sacrifices speed and acceleration. Also their accuracy is not better compered to good quality belts.
You can use ball screws for better performance with a much higher prize, but this will dramatically increase the moving mass in the XY axis = stonger frame and motors with the same result provided in the end as belts.
As 3D printing is additive manufacture process there are no forces applied to the XY axis during print process just the gravity, and fight with inertia so no need to have a mechanics with high force output, unless you want to use it also as a CNC mill.
T.
The Trinus 3D Printer is something to look into.
if you make sure to use 0 backlash on the skrew drives it works perfect.
Over engineered solution which will not result in any significant quality improvement - will make your printer very expensive and if you wish to sell commercially outside the accepted price point for a PRUSA clone. Belts work, are reliable - easy to adjust and cheap to replace - they can give the acceleration/deceleration and the accuracy required for an FDM printer.
Hello,
I have designed, built and run both Lead Screw (LS) and Belted 3D Printers. Regardless of the debate, it will work, and it will work well if setup correctly. Both systems have their own Pros and Cons, your particular needs will mandate which one “YOU” prefer…and that’s what’s important. I liked both, and with some effort and proper setup I got similar results from both. I have however ditched the LS version in favor of belts on X&Y. The only issue I had with it was the lack of free motion of the print bed. If you run lead-screws you have to drive the print bed with the controller, it is not impossible, but very difficult to move it by hand. I fond this completely unacceptable, it is however my opinion…again, design the printer “YOU” want. not the one we tell you that you want 
Is the lead screw going to float on 1 side. Getting the alignment of that and your guide rails can cause binding if you don’t get everything perfectly aligned. Also, have you calculated the positional accuracy for the normal resolution of a stepper and the thread count per inch? I know it is good enough for the Z axis…
I have seen some i3 designs with one lead screw for x and one for y
t3ranx
10
Using leadscrews for the z-axis is a good idea and results in better prints, but I’m not sure if they would make a significant improvement if used in the other axises.
what you should really be looking at is zero-backlash ball screws (as mentioned earlier)
no speed issues there: High Speed Ball Screw Life Testing - YouTube
This will be heavy and expensive but extremely accurate. We are currently developing a printer using these on all axes to be used in harsh environments. The goal is to eliminate ball bearings and belts as much as possible. Yes, the ball-screw will have bearings but these will be fully encased.
Nice 
But as a side note please also mention that this speed only can be achieved with a closed loop servo motor, steppers will bearly able to handle this kind of motion, also the prize of the servo system is way too high on a hobby level.
That video is extreme. A Stepper can handle 1/4 that speed, more than adequate for 3D printing.
