Anet A8 Mostly Scrap Metal Steel Frame Build

thingiverse

The Anet A8 is both one of the most loved and hated 3D printers out there. The capabilities of this little inexpensive printer are endless while the printers acrylic frame is a crime against mankind. There are kits out there that replace the acrylic frame of the Anet A8 with aluminum extrusions, but they go for around $100. When I bought my A8 new I paid $129, so the idea of sinking another hundred bucks in to it is less than appealing, but at the same time, it's a great printer that would be AWESOME if only it had a rigid frame. I've seen at least one other welded frame design floating about on Thingiverse, and even a frame made from steel pipes. Basically, anything you can do to make the Anet A8 solid is an improvement. I decided that for me, the best solution would be to use what materials I have on hand for the task rather than purchasing a costly kit, or more materials. I just happen to have an old steel bedframe in the garage taking up space, so using it would be a zero cost solution that would serve also to clear out a small part of my garage. Most of the printable parts here were designed specifically for this project, while a few are remixed or otherwise borrowed from my previous projects. I did up using pheneeny's Z motor mounts from his AM8 upgrade. The only change I made to pheneeny's mounts was to shave the material that would fit into the grooves of the aluminum extrusions.