1) What is ‘Voron’?
Precise information can be found here.
From my perspective, it’s a 3D printer for people who like to:
- print more requiring materials (from ABS up to what you specify your printer for)
- understand what is going on inside - open source concept
- tinkering and 3D puzzles
When I started my first build (07.2022) we had no alternatives between Prusa MK3 and expensive (half?) professional 3D printers. I’m not saying Vorons are cheap (it depend how much are you willing to spend) but between 1200-2000+$ is realistic budget for Voron 2.4.
First, printing but not fully enclosed (’tape for the win’) version was finished 11.2022 (around 4000 confirmed machines was build at the time). When I finally decided to mark a milestone with getting serial number - 09.2023 - I received ID over 6000.
Currently, if someone does not like fixing/tuning machine, I would advise to think about Bamboo Labs printers. But keep in mind company policy concerning lack of contribution to the community and privacy concerns.
2) My Setup
My build is based on kit from Formbot and Voron PIF parts (I’ve chosen blue accent color instead of standard red)
- 300 mm variant
- hotend: Phaetus Dragon
- board: BTT Octopus
- Moons stepper motors
- SSR OMRON (and inductive probe - replaced by Voron TAP)
- Toolhead: Stealthburner
- Extruder: Clockwork 2
- Raspberry Pi 2B
Addons/changes:
- Voron TAP - nozzle-based z-probe, the entire toolhead moves to trigger an optical switch
- Nevermore - air filtering/circulation inside chamber with activated carbon filter
- VEFACH - air exhaust with additional HEPA and activated carbon
- auto nozzle cleaning
- toolless plexiglass mounting system
- sturdy handles
- LEDs (Neopixels)
- Drybox Eibos Cyklopes
3) Tips
- start with kit, it’s easier and probably cheaper
- check exactly what do you want in the kit - Stealthburner was in beta when my kit was send, it resulted in additional costs (fans, stepper motors, gears)
- take higher flow hotend - it seems anything better than E3D V6 is enough but reality strike when you want to go ‘Fast’
- do you need screen - I had my in the kit but realistically I use only webUI
- think about smaller size - I wanted to a have bigger printer but it’s size is rarely used, heating for ABS is taking much longer than on 250 mm or V0
- start with Stealthburner and Voron TAP - think about this at the same time, right now you can even buy CNC parts for that (I had to print mine)
- 300mm is not 300mm in Z - it’s not intuitive but chain/belt/filament needs some space
- think about air and pollution - quality of life improvement (especially if you don’t have dedicated room for printing)
- it’s never over - request serial number quicker than me, you don’t need those fancy LEDs effects
Right now Voron 0.2 is a ‘cool child’ so who knows, maybe I would build one for myself…
Marek Pawlak