Facing down the #SpeedBoatRace challenge, German designer Matthäus Szturc didn’t just attempt to print a Benchy as quickly as possible – he built a 3D printer to do it. Now, he’s released a bill of materials, build instructions, and STLs for the printer’s frame — which are available to download for free on Github.
The 100 is a fully open-source desktop 3D printer with a 3D printed frame that is capable of printing at a velocity of 400 mm/s with 100,000 mm/s2 acceleration. At the time of this writing, The 100 ranks 27th on the #SpeedBoatRace leaderboard. Szturc claims the printer can produce a Benchy in under six minutes, and finish high-quality prints in one-tenth of the time needed by a Creality Ender-3.
But, for Szturc, The 100 is about more than speed.
“The speedboat challenge is something like destructive testing,” Szturc told All3DP. “Yes, the Benchy produced is not a beauty, but it’s a perfect piece to learn from. It’s a bit like testing cars with crash-test dummies. In these extreme moments, you learn where the weakest point of your construction is. [Eventually], you are able to print quality parts much faster and more reliably than before, because you solved bottlenecks that were not visible, but that influenced your prints, such as small, ringing artefacts or minimal layer shifts.”
High-quality printing at The 100’s speeds requires effective cooling. So, Matt designed a 48-mm-wide tool head that is optimized for maximum airflow and integrates two part cooling fans and a hotend fan, enabling it to print impressive overhangs of 80 degrees at 50% fan speed.
The 100 also boasts a CHC Pro Volcano Hotend, which can melt 43 mm3 of PLA at 240 C° without skipping, and an Ender-2 Pro heat bed. To print the machine’s frame – the size of which can be customized and expanded with printable frame connectors – you’ll need a 3D printer with print bed of at least 230 x 230 mm.
In all, The 100 can be built for around $350, according to the printer’s bill of materials. Time-wise, according to Szturc, would-be builders are looking at around 20 hours of setup – and another 10 hours dedicated to troubleshooting and minor modifications.
“It was important to me that the printer is freely accessible and that it will remain so in the future,” Szturc said. “Therefore, I’ve gone the open-source way. But that also means that the further development of the project is only possible if the community supports us.”
As for what that further development entails, Szturc is currently working to test linear rods and LM8UU linear ball bearings – an effort to determine which works best with The 100. To remain independent and ensure objectivity, he’s purchased all the components himself and set up a Patreon in hopes of supporting the printer’s continued improvement.
Those looking to start printing with The 100 can check out the GitHub page for full instructions and all necessary STL files. Happy printing – and see you at the finish line.
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License: The text of "This DIY 3D Printer is Lightning-Fast, and Holds a Top Spot on the #SpeedBoatRace Leaderboards" by All3DP is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.