Project Page

The V-Core 3 is a premium DIY kit for a CoreXY 3D Printer with no compromises. Learn everything about the V-Core 3 on the dedicated project page: v-core.ratrig.com.

Looking for a configurable kit?

If you want some choice on the components that go into your machine, you should probably be looking at the V-Core 3 Configurable Kit.

Standard configuration

This "Standard Kit" is meant for users who are unsure about which configuration options to choose, and are above all else interested in acquiring a kit as complete as possible, including all necessary electronics, and with proper documentation to guide them from beginning to end. If you're not feeling particularly adventurous, this is the V-Core 3 "walled garden" - this is where we recommend you should stay if you're just starting out and need someone to hold your hand and show you the way! ;)

For full transparency, this is our favourite machine configuration and the one we use on our own print farm.

The default configuration only lets you choose your desired build volume. For each build volume, this is what you are buying when you add this item to your cart:

Warning for users in countries which use 120V Mains

CAUTION: if your country uses 120V mains, please be aware that the Power Supply included in this kit contains a switch which allows it to operate at either 115V or 230V. By default, all units will ship with the switch positioned at 230V, so you will need to flip this switch before using the Power Supply.

Not included

Enclosure Kit

Learn more about the V-Core Enclosure Kit on the dedicated product page.

Precision

The V-Core 3 uses 3 lead screws to drive the Z axis of the machine. They move the bed down in small increments, at the end of each complete layer. The Z axis moves very slowly, so speed is not the priority - precision and resolution are. The V-Core 3 uses TR8X4mm lead screws instead of the TR8x8mm used in previous machines, effectively halving the pitch of the lead screw - this means that each rotation of the motor, now moves the bed half as much. This both doubles the Z resolution of your layers and multiplies the holding torque - always helpful when you're moving such a heavy bed, especially on the larger variants.

Robustness

While previous V-Core versions, like many other printers on the market, relied solely on 20 Series profiles, the V-Core 3 is fully built on a 30 Series aluminium frame. From screws and nuts to brackets and plates, everything is bigger, stronger and tougher.

•    Frame made with 30x30mm T-Slot aluminium with a beautiful black anodization
•    4mm thick anodized aluminium plates
•    9mm Belts
•    Weight of Z drivetrain and bed is distributed across the Z motor mounts - not on the motors themselves

Customization

•    Available both as a complete kit and a configurable kit (for those who want to select their own electronics)
•    Configurable options include LDO motors, Keenovo Heat pads, and multiple controller board options (from Duet3D, SKR, etc)
•    4 build volumes available as standard option: 200, 300, 400 and 500 mm3

•    Full End Stop solutions
•    EVA 3 Carriage System provides mounts for most popular extruder and hot end choices on the market
•    Shipping with EVA 3.0.2

EVA 3 is the next iteration of the EVA platform with which V-Core 3 is fully compatible.

Read more about EVA on: octicons-octoface-16: EVA 3 Documentation

Support

•    Fully comprehensive step-by-step build guide (Both static and video)
•    Fully comprehensive wiring and electronics guide for multiple controller boards
•    Support configuration files for several firmware choices (Reprap, Klipper)
•    Join our Facebook 3D Printer Community to connect with other V-Core users, share builds, knowledge, mods, and stay posted on all V-Core 3 developments.

Safety

•    Wiring design includes multiple cable management parts, for cable clamping, guiding and strain relief
•    Custom Keenovo Heat Pad with pre-wired 157ºC Thermal Fuse for extra safety (Optional). The wiring comes out of the pad slightly off-center, so it's neatly guided to the back of the machine without interfering with the bed mounting point at the back.

•    For 120/220V Heat pad users, grounding point at the bed and fully isolated bed from the rest of the printer means that the printer frame is never conducting any dangerous voltages.

Convenience

•    Designed for a far easier and quicker assembly than previous versions
•    Separate chamber for electronics ensures heat insulation, short motor cable path, easy access to all wiring, and a very clean installation

*Panel for mounting electronics is not supplied, user is meant to source it locally. A 4mm thick polycarbonate sheet is suggested. Mounting screws and nuts are included as part of the base kit. DXF files with size, shape and hole patterns for the panels are provided on the project documentation.

Electronics Panel should not be thicker than 4mm, otherwise it will not fit in the available space.

Fully Enclosable

Enclosure Kit

The V-Core 3 was designed from the ground up with full enclosing in mind, with no need for an external enclosure. The design ensures that all motors and electronics are safely placed outside the printing chamber, so they are shielded from high temperatures, and no machine elements protrude from the frame, ensuring that the frame can be directly covered with panels from all sides.

Modding

The V-Core 3 is the perfect printer for advanced users who like to tweak and tinker with their machine:

•    Fully open-source design, with downloadable 3D models and part libraries freely available
•    Frame is built on a modular platform of T-Slot and V-Slot profiles, which allow for endless possibilites when it comes to mounting all types of parts
•    Vast catalog of stand-alone parts available for infinite upgradeability: screws, nuts, connectors, brackets, pulleys, belts, electronics, etc
•    For some inspiration, check out the V-Core 3 Gallery with builds from users worldwide

Dimensions

Sample Prints / Parts

These images showcase 3D prints produced by V-Core 3 machines belonging to members of our community.

Acknowledgments

As an Open-source project, the V-Core 3 design is the result of prolonged brainstorming, testing, and collaboration between many active members of the international 3D Printer Community, who shared their knowledge and experience with our design team. As such, the machine inevitably draws inspiration from and builds upon many existing design elements that have been developed, shared, tested, modded, and iterated by the community at large. The nature of the open-source movement makes it often difficult to trace back where each idea was originally generated, making it hard to produce a comprehensive list of acknowledgments. Nevertheless, below we list a few names and projects that we would like to credit for their direct or indirect contribution/inspiration to the V-Core 3 platform (in no particular order):

• - Hypercube by Tech2c
• - Voron
• - BLV
• - Jubilee
• - Simon Davie
• - João Barros
• - Detlev Rackow
• - Márcio Pereira
• - Eduardo Oliveira
• - Mikkel Schmidt
• - Harald Wagener
• - Antonios Antzoulatos
• - Lukas Sinitsch
• - Tomasz Paluszkiewicz

License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International

You may share, remix and mod the design. By default, you may not use the design and its derivatives for commercial purposes, but if you request a commercial license from us, we may (and most likely will) grant you one, as long as we deem your goals are aligned with the best interests of the project and its users.

The spirit of the project is to remove barriers to innovation and focus on pushing the technology, working as a collective, inspiring each other and experimenting with new ideas. We are happy to foster a rich ecosystem of suppliers and services that empowers users by offering them more options and alternatives.

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