# A Scrappy Belt Printer **URL:** \ **Category:** Showcase\ **Created:** [January 8, 2021, 12:35am UTC](https://forum.grid.space/t/a-scrappy-belt-printer/229 "2021-01-08T00:35:42Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![stewart](https://forum.grid.space/user_avatar/forum.grid.space/stewart/32/21_2.png) [@stewart](https://forum.grid.space/u/stewart)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2021, 12:35am UTC](https://forum.grid.space/t/a-scrappy-belt-printer/229/1 "2021-01-08T00:35:42Z")
In need of hardware to test belt printing code, I hacked this together over the last 72 hours from mostly spare parts and some quickly mocked up printed parts. Works better than expected. The belt is an unknown plastic I purchased for laser cutting held together with kapton tape over a 300x300 heated bed. The rollers and gearing for it are 3d printed. The rest is direct drive via lead screws. It also has a geared direct extruder with e3d v6 hot end. [![](https://forum.grid.space/uploads/default/original/2X/4/4436defc52c159b99b159702114d7b3d7b9cf285.jpeg "A Scrappy Belt Printer") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wcTUb5_TqQs) ---
**Author:** ![ferschke](https://forum.grid.space/user_avatar/forum.grid.space/ferschke/32/29_2.png) [@ferschke](https://forum.grid.space/u/ferschke)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2021, 4:10am UTC](https://forum.grid.space/t/a-scrappy-belt-printer/229/2 "2021-01-13T04:10:58Z")
Love it. Great proof of concept. ---
**Author:** ![stewart](https://forum.grid.space/user_avatar/forum.grid.space/stewart/32/21_2.png) [@stewart](https://forum.grid.space/u/stewart)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2021, 4:15am UTC](https://forum.grid.space/t/a-scrappy-belt-printer/229/3 "2021-01-13T04:15:20Z")
I’m in the process of upgrading it. Will post more details and a CAD model within the week. ---
**Author:** ![zoytek](https://forum.grid.space/user_avatar/forum.grid.space/zoytek/32/460_2.png) [@zoytek](https://forum.grid.space/u/zoytek)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2021, 9:53am UTC](https://forum.grid.space/t/a-scrappy-belt-printer/229/4 "2021-01-20T09:53:44Z")
Wow… very good! My motto: Hack first, refine second! ---
**Author:** ![jeffeb3](https://forum.grid.space/user_avatar/forum.grid.space/jeffeb3/32/7_2.png) [@jeffeb3](https://forum.grid.space/u/jeffeb3)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2021, 4:45pm UTC](https://forum.grid.space/t/a-scrappy-belt-printer/229/5 "2021-02-12T16:45:11Z")
How is this going? I am curious about the belt moving action. I am also surprised you didn’t use a belt driven X axis. Looks very interesting. I am curious how you would rate the “fiddlyness” of it compared to a more conventional printer. I am tempted to try to turn an older prusa i3 style printer into a belt printer as an experiment. I would be using a 200mm bed, hoping to get about 200x200++x150mm out of it. I think would be fun, even if I just used for a while and passed it to a friend or something. I probably have all the parts already. ---
**Author:** ![stewart](https://forum.grid.space/user_avatar/forum.grid.space/stewart/32/21_2.png) [@stewart](https://forum.grid.space/u/stewart)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2021, 5:15pm UTC](https://forum.grid.space/t/a-scrappy-belt-printer/229/6 "2021-02-12T17:15:06Z")
I upgraded it to CoreXY. The only problem I’m having is getting sufficient belt tension with the plastic belt. So I’m redesigning the roller / tension system. Any ideas for other belts / belt materials I can try out? ![scrappy-belt-v2](https://forum.grid.space/uploads/default/original/1X/9a813c9c2f4dc877fedf5064f088c206f0e4dc67.jpeg) ---
**Author:** ![stewart](https://forum.grid.space/user_avatar/forum.grid.space/stewart/32/21_2.png) [@stewart](https://forum.grid.space/u/stewart)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2021, 10:51pm UTC](https://forum.grid.space/t/a-scrappy-belt-printer/229/7 "2021-02-12T22:51:02Z")
mostly solved adhesion by scuffing the surface with sand paper [![](https://forum.grid.space/uploads/default/original/1X/d645bf5fcd1a544342bc258c760fc95f06aec032.jpeg "Scrappy updated to CoreXY and new head layout") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WHhEi_DXrek) [![](https://forum.grid.space/uploads/default/original/1X/d645bf5fcd1a544342bc258c760fc95f06aec032.jpeg "Updated Scrappy to CoreXY with new head") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_qjARlYH5Ik) ---
**Author:** ![jeffeb3](https://forum.grid.space/user_avatar/forum.grid.space/jeffeb3/32/7_2.png) [@jeffeb3](https://forum.grid.space/u/jeffeb3)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2021, 11:54pm UTC](https://forum.grid.space/t/a-scrappy-belt-printer/229/8 "2021-02-12T23:54:02Z")
That looks pretty nice. I wonder how long before the chinese sites fill up choices of belts. I saw a tiny belt printer on make today that used the belt from a belt sander (it looked inside out). I imagine something like fiber reinforced gt2 belt would be great. But I have no good ideas. I’ll let you know if I think of something. I’ve also seen someone add a “skirt” just ahead of the part for extra adhesion. ---
**Author:** ![stewart](https://forum.grid.space/user_avatar/forum.grid.space/stewart/32/21_2.png) [@stewart](https://forum.grid.space/u/stewart)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2021, 11:58pm UTC](https://forum.grid.space/t/a-scrappy-belt-printer/229/9 "2021-02-12T23:58:28Z")
Kiri already supports an “anchor” (a leading skirt) as well as side “brims” that can better hold a part to the belt. There are lifting forces in some circumstances. Combatting that will take another parameter or two to slow Y+ movements when the layer doesn’t touch the bed which creates a lever-arm.