Finally a great update!

So I have been busy with the printer and we are up and running! I'm still in the calibration stages but moving along and making progress. It's not out of the box ready and some purchase but I feel I will get there soon enough. After my power supply arrived I was able to get thing rolling and feel I'm about 3/4 of the way there.   I am getting great layer height and the ABS is sticking well to the heated bed with Kapton tape on the glass. I'm trying to get rid of the buggers building up on the corners but with some help from the forum, I am going to work on that today. I found out that I have weak motors and that is one of the keys to success is motors that can handle the work load. I will shop around and when this next purchase is made, we be getting some good motors. I laxed on getting a BOM list going but I plan to do that very soon and put that up on the blog as soon as I can. As of right now, I believe I have about $500 in parts to build this machine. Its going to raise about $100 after I get new motors and possibly a new hot end. Sure I could have bought the whole kit but when money has to be used in small chunks rather than the whole ball, you do what you can do and take some of that wasted money on the chin and move ahead. Ok enough of that and enjoy some pics. I included some short video clips as well.

Here are some links that have helped me
www.reprap.org
Google Groups
www.lulzbot.com
www.makerstoolworks.com
www.thingiverse.com
Ebay seller - Plastic parts- 3dfactory
www.makerfarm.com
Filament - www.3dprinterstuff.com
Ebay Seller -Electronics - reprapdiscount



Here is the first Ramps 1.4 test that some have seen already. You can see it on youtube with a short explanation of what I did.

Hot End is built. I broke off some ceramic around the resistor and had to order a new one. It came with the 6 ohm version and I bought a 5.8 ohm one and it really heats up quick and the matching thermistor keeps the heat steady

Thermistor 100k

The elusive 12v 30 amp power supply

My rendition of a filament spool holder. I am going to print one up very soon!

Mr. Arduino hiding in the back. Once I get things at a somewhat production level I plan to make my housing complete with more space and fan supports.

And we have some crapola for first prints

But things are looking up! This is a calibration cube that came out not too bad and boosted my confidence.

And almost done with the second section.

And the final part was a little fragile and maybe a little too much heat/filament feed

This print was going good on another square/circle calibration print until the filament spool got hung up and sent it crazy across the bed

We are getting there day by day

The extruder doin' it!

And a couple shots of the unit as it is today. My ghetto rig spool holder had to be turned so the filament would roll better to the extruder.

ok 2 more video's

And waiting....

I'm just not happy with the hot end I purchased. I accidentally chipped the ceramic off the Heat resistor tightening the set screw. I barely snugged it!. So I have to purchase a new one. Plus I am not happy about having to use heat proof cement to help hold it in. I saw a video from someone and they don't recommend using anything in it in case it falls out. I should have shopped around some more instead of looking for the best /cheapest deal. I will take that one on the chin. I'm about ready to buy another power supply and return the one that hasn't shown up yet. I know it's coming from China, but when I bought it, they shipping from New Jersey... What are they sending it via rowboat for cripes sake!!!! I bought my electronics kit from Hong Kong and it was here in less than 4 days.. I'm just not a happy camper but things will get back to where they should be...........................................

Still Waiting.....

If I would have known that the vendor I purchased my Hot End from didn't have any in stock, I would have bought somewhere else. Ok enough of this jibberish, I only have a couple pics to post as I am stuck without the Hot End.

Trying to keep the wires managable

Bad pic, sorry...   Thermistor attached with Kapton Tape

Used some heat shrink tube to finish off the connection wires

Wire bundle connected

Moves real nice with no strain on the connection...

Motor wiring - 6 wires

You have to check the resistance on the motor to find the wire pairs you are going to use. I have six wires and will be using 4. There should be 3 wires per coil in the motor. Set your meter to Ohms and hold one wire on the probe and touch the end of the other wires to find the ones that are on one coil. Then just hold one wire and check the other 2 one at a time to see which pair has the highest resistance, that's the pair to use. Follow the same procedure on the other three wires to find the pair in those. Now you should have two pairs for the motor. Be sure to note the color of the pairs for each motor for later reference. Another way is to get the pairs that give the most resistance by putting 2 together and spinning the motor shaft. Start with no wires connected to see how freely the motor spins, then start pairing and spinning the motor. You will feel the difference in the 2 pairs versus the ones you will not be using.

This is a low resistance reading 

This is my high reading resistance number

I had to solder the motor wires to the connector.

 If you choose this route, don't forget to put a chunk of shrink tube on the wire before you solder!

And we solder to the end stop and complete with the shrink tube

I had a problem with the spring slipping thru the X axis carriage so I had to create my own hex washer! Worked pretty well and took about 5 minutes to make with that handy dremmel!

I'm using 3/8" flexible wire conduit on the harnesses. I like the way it looks and it was a bonus that it fits into the project box I have the Ramps/ Ardunio boards mounted in. I have to drill a few more holes for the 3/4" grommets because it just finished the look and I didn't prepare for it. We will change that tomorrow!

It's Christmas Time!

So......
Things have been cooking here. I took the plunge and purchased the rest of my parts so I can get this bad boy fired up and rolling! What kicked off the buying spree was I saw an opportunity to buy the electronics kit for reprapdiscount on ebay. I was going for the Ultimate kit with the LCD display and all but soon realized I was getting pushed to the side from other bidders, fine. I started a different approach. I began making best offers to them but those were rejected. I decided I didn't need the LCD package and went for the next one down. They accepted my offer and I also purchased the MK2 heated bed. I paid on Tuesday and saw that my items shipped on Wed. Nov. 28th at 1:00pm HK time. I checked the tracking and it was in Memphis, TN the next evening at 11:00pm. I woke up Friday morning and it said it was on the truck for delivery by 10:30 am! I had to come home from work to accept it because it required a signature. 9:45 am CST it was at my door in the burbs of Chicago, WOW!

Here's a bunch of  pictures finishing up somethings because I was waiting for some parts.

Belt clips installed

Setting up the heated bed - change mount location to the middle hole by the resistor

Z Coupler installed but I have 5/16 rod because I ordered the wrong ones for my 1/4" Lead Screws

3mm bolts installed and no more temp cable ties!

And we have a X carriage tied in!

Hump day...

Or its just Wednesday, which ever way you look at it. So i have ordered my electronics and heated bed from reprapdiscount. Got a good price on it and hope it will be here by the weekend. I ordered the power supply and hope that gets shipped this week as well. I am still waiting for my Z couplers and that guy isn't getting any props for not telling the truth on shipping. When you say sorry I was away for the holiday, that's fine and you included it shipped Friday. Great! And the then the email shows up Sunday evening that you just printed the label, hmmm. Then you check the tracking number you got Friday and now it shows it was accepted at the facility on the Tuesday 27th? Sorry for the ramble but I sell on ebay too and make sure when you pay, you get your shit shipped without hangups. If there is a problem, hey you will get an email stating such.

Ok back to fun... ! :)   I am waiting for my extra hardware to show up and am about to start putting together my BOM and have it posted. It will include the exact places I purchased from and that way it will be as current as possible.

The waiting game.....

So the real set back is waiting for parts. I shorted myself some m3 bolts and nuts so I had to order those. I'm still waiting on my Z axis couplers and those should be here on Monday. It gave me a chance to go back over the frame and change a couple things and get it squared up. I have my 10mm rods plumbed up on the motors so the x carriages ride up and down smoothly. So looks like I need to get my heat bed/glass, hot end, power supply, Arduino/Ramps or comparible and finally get some filament ordered to have it ready to go!

Ahhh the Dremmel, it's a fine tool to have on hand in case you need to cut down a bolt. If you do use one, always wear your safety glasses because that little chunk that's about to go flying will find an eye sooner or later. I have some experience there and not fun. Once you cut it down, use a small file to de-burr the end so a nut screws on. Sometime you can run the nut up first before you cut and then after the cut, unscrew the nut and it will basically de-burr the end as well. 

So I had some time before the Holiday craziness!

Well I was able to construct my y axis table today. Pretty happy about it and was actually impressed with how fast it went. I saved $50 building it as I had the piece of aluminum. I made a cardboard template with my bearing clip locations and when I was ready, taped it to the 1st place and just drilled to mark the metal. I then proceeded to drill all the way through. Here's a tip, 1/8" drill bit works for the 3mm screws to attach the clips.
Yes I know there is a new rail system and would have liked to use that but down the line I will come up with something similar and less costly. Some may say hey your going backwards with your build. It's fine with me so I can learn and progress at my own pace and maybe come up with something different I can put my name to... Ok enough rambling, Have a safe Holiday today! Happy Thanksgiving! Here's a few pics..

Now this is a sexy beast right here!

More Parts....

Turns out today really was a good day! I had anticipated my stuff arriving Friday and was surprised to see my motors show up. Having the printer sit here a few days really pushes the anxiety to get that thang built! I'm hoping that my Lead screws and Z Couplers show up and that way I can really make some progress. That will fall into play once I get the outside of the house decorated for Christmas. Oh wait, we haven't hit Thanksgiving yet ! Well that's tomorrow and I plan to fill my belly with some good eats that's for sure. I have to figure a way to post my supply list with prices and should have that up soon as well. I really didn't realize how tiny the motors were until today. I was so impressed that I bought them Monday morning and they arrived today via Priority Mail from the west coast to Chicago. Actually they were here around 11:00 am this morning, bonus!

The motors came with vibration rings? And also short connection wires. I was kinda bummed about that because I wanted to make it cleaner looking but I will manage.