Glossary · Design

3D printing

Bed slinger

A 3D printer in which the print plate moves back and forth during printing. Inexpensive and simple, but usually slower.

Explained in more detail

A Cartesian design in which the bed forms the Y axis. The moving mass of bed and printed part limits acceleration and speed and can cause vibrations on tall, slender parts. Advantages: simple mechanics, inexpensive, easy to access. It needs space in front of and behind the device (about twice the bed depth) and is difficult to enclose.

Where does the term come from?

Bed slinger is a term from the maker community. It describes the bed, which constantly moves back and forth during printing.

In practice

• For tall, slender parts, reduce acceleration or use a brim so that the part does not start to vibrate or come loose.
• The cable to the bed is flexed with every movement. Check it regularly for kinks and chafing.
• The design is well suited to PLA, PETG and TPU. ABS and ASA, however, warp easily on open devices.
• A heavy glass plate increases the moving mass; a light spring steel plate has the advantage here.

Not to be confused

"Bettschubser" (bed slinger) is not a judgement but merely describes the design. Cartesian printers where the bed only moves down do not count.

Frequently asked questions

Are bed slingers slower than CoreXY?

As a rule, yes, because the bed and the printed part move too, which limits acceleration. Current models with input shaping are still fast enough for most everyday prints.

Can you enclose a bed slinger?

Yes, but the enclosure must be considerably deeper than the printer, because the bed moves out to the front and back. For occasional ABS or ASA a pop-up tent is often enough, as long as the electronics do not overheat.