Intro
The reprap world moves pretty fast, so it's likely that anything I write here will be outdated before I even have it up on my website. If you want to keep on the cutting-edge of information, the best way is to hang out in #reprap on IRC freenode.
Sourcing Parts
- $100-ish Rods, Nuts, Bolts - Mcmaster-Carr is a reliable source but probably not the cheapest.
- $75 Hot End - There's many good options for hot ends. No one goes wrong with a Makergear. Get the .50mm nozzle for 3mm filament to begin, if you're not sure.
- $9/ea Motors! - You'll need five. These are the ones I actually use. Bonus: the gear that is on them is perfect to use on the reprap - but only on two of the five. The other three, you'll need a nut splitter to remove.
- $200 Electronics - While $200 may seem spendy for the pre-assembled RAMPS complete kit, it truly is the current cadillac of Reprap motherboards.
If you want to go cheaper, Printrboard seems like a nice alternative.
- $20 Timing Belts and Pulleys - sdp-si.
You may find cheaper, but this is the source I use that's perfectly reliable.
For the timing belts, you should prefer part number A 6R51MC060 which is GT2 that is 6mm wide. You need 2 meters, at a minimum. Bonus: If you get the motors I mention above, the pulleys fit it perfectly. If not, you can find pulleys at SDP-SI to match your belt; look for GT2, 2mm pitch, with a shaft that fits your motor (probably 5mm, 4mm for the motors above) and a low number of teeth, e.g. A 6D51M015DF0605.
- $3 608 bearings - Just a random link here - you can find these very cheaply all over, as they're the same bearings used in rollerblades. Having nice ones is not important for your build, so go cheap.
- $5 Springs - no link here. You don't really need any springs to be successful, but I have always gotten the 8mm inner diameter springs cheaply and easily by heading down to my local ACE with a M8 bolt in hand, and just putzing through the spring selection 'till I find one that fits well. You can do the same with an M3 bolt to find springs for your extruder; again, optional.
- $priceless - the plastic parts! Well, actually, they vary a lot in price and quality, but the best way is to get them from a friend who can help you when you have questions, too. It's the spirit of reprap!
Tools you can use
- If you are cutting your own rods, a hacksaw will do, but you'll hate yourself. An angle grinder you can buy for $50 at the hardware store will be a far better choice, and a tool you may get many other uses out of. Or, alternatively, a metal cut-off tool, which will cost just a bit more than the angle grinder, and make much neater cuts, but possibly be less useful for anything else.
- A high-temperature hot glue gun with high-temerature glue. This stuff has a million uses, and while the most recent reprap plans don't have any glued parts, it's still useful for emergencies. Also, I use glue for my couplers, instead of vinyl tubing...
- Soldering iron, maybe a crimping tool - even if you buy your electronics and hot end preassembled, you're going to need these at some point.
- wrenches, pliers, screwdriver - obvious!
Everyting else
...eventually!
Mail me but I much prefer to be hit up on IRC.