2016! Let's Get this Mutha Printing!

Happy New Year!

2016 has stirred me back up to get printing and tinkering again. Well lets say at the beginning of December 2015 I caught the bug again. I needed to print something I had wanted for a long time and just when I was about to print that famous waa waa waa waaaaaaa sound effect came into my head. Nope printer has suffered a stroke and you are not printing today! I literally spent almost 2 weeks trying to figure out why this happened. I for one am not the best trouble shooter but I had to dig in, who was I gonna call? Started with checking out the power supply, I had one just pop with sparks after it sat for awhile so that's where I started. Stupid me had the wrong voltage set on the meter, AC not DC was reading 25V. Crap I said because this is supposed to be 12V! Hey I found my problem so I thought and proceeded to use a ATX power supply I had lying around. Went thru so YouTube videos and thought I had found the right one. NOPE! Just a little advice if you are going to use an ATX power supply is NOT TO CUT ALL THE WIRES BACK YOU DON'T NEED! Sorry but it didn't work for me and I was careful not to leave any exposed wires. I capped them all with heat shrink tube and only used what I followed on the YT video. Damn thing started to smoke and good thing I didn't plug it into the Arduino Mega board. Took a step back and tested my power supply again and it was fine with the correct 12v DC output it should be.

Next I unplugged everything on the Arduino and just plugged the motors back in. I disconnected the extruder filament so it could just move and not push filament thru. I used the RAMPS 1.4 test code for the Arduino and the motors tested fine. You can find that code thru the link above down towards the bottom of the page. I then used the EPROM clear from the example codes provided by the Arduino software to clear out its memory. With me being overly cautious I always save the same files in a few different places and I could not zero in on the last know good Marlin config code I had saved. I was forced to start over and use the updated Marlin, Arduino software and then the newer Slicer and Pronterface programs. I seemed to have gotten things semi back to normal but it still isn't right to me. The motors have different tones now as they move which isn't the end of the world but those of you know when you get used to something it causes you to find out why its not the same and well you know what I mean.

I may be changing things up a bit as I would like to build a new 3D printer. The Kossel is what I want to build and looks very promising!

Some more shots of busy things

I finally have all my updated motors installed. I waited on the Z axis motors and found a deal so bought those. I added some feet levelers with rubber pads on them. And also have some shots of the new Y axis carriage I printed out. Its so much better than what I had and much lighter. I did print a Google watch holder for a friend but didn't take any pics of that

A new beginning? .... !

Way too long between posts. Well life gets in the way and the fun stuff suffers. Well life is fun as well but you know what I mean! I put the breaks on my 3D printer over the past year but was able to make some adjustments here and there. I cleaned up the printer, turned it on and printed a 25 mm calibration cube. Not too bad as my numbers are just off by a pinch. I setup a new project area for model building and made a nice spot for the printer, I just need to keep the area clutter free. Right... So here are a couple pictures of this new thing I am making. Its called the screamer and you can get it here SCREAMER.  If it works well I will get some other colors made.

Just realized I used the same Life gets in the way speech! The portal gun from my last post was scrapped. I couldn't get past a couple of the parts to print and my son lost interest. I'm gonna really try to keep up and want to eventually maybe create a new printer with my MendelMax, hopefully I didn't say that in my last post from last year!

Long overdue update with pics!

So life got in the way of posting and update so here were are. I am in the process of printing a Portal Gun from the game.  Portal Gun
Those not familiar with the game, go here(Portal) to check it out. Its from Valve and I being an avid gamer myself along with my son, really enjoy playing it

I want to upgrade the bed I have to a lighter rig so that's one of my near future plans. I had a big mess develop with the clear filament I had. It really was garbage and lesson learned. If its brittle when you buy it, don't use it, return it, never buy from that vendor again, period. Then I was printing some lucky money Buddha's for family members and the red I had sprung off the holder and that was not fun I can tell you. Don't let that happen!!! Summer is coming up quick and hopefully will have some pics up of the finished portal gun real soon!!

I found out something interesting to help in sticking the objects to the boro glass. Elmer's Glue Stick! I stopped using Kapton tape and was strictly using hairspray that is until I found the stick. Cleans off with water and just apply it after you have started heating the bed. I don't know how many uses you will get out of a application of the glue buts its a welcome addition!

I have an update coming real soon and some pictures.... Be sure to check out my BoM list to help with your DIY printer!

Spring is trying to ... well spring!

So it took 1 month and no patience to decide to go back to my Greg's/Wade extruder. I couldn't get the micro tuned in and I didn't want to try anymore. My time is valuable these days and I've wasted more time dickin' around with the printer and not making things! I'll throw up some pictures I have and I finally put together a BoM list. I didn't include prices as they change week to week. I included vendors I actually bought my stuff from and some that I bought other items from after I had my printer built. But I like their style of doing business and that's what counts in my (thin) book!
Of course you will find things all over the place and my advice would be try to get things grouped up to save on shipping. I gave up on that because I kept forgetting to get this or that and then realizing hey that the wrong this or that after ordering and well you get the picture... Some of my listed vendors have the same things as others do on my list so it's how you want to spend your money. I did save money building/sourcing myself so I'm happy about that. You live and learn on purchases and I think I have noted that previously here.
Ok so now how to I add a file to my blog......... hmmmmm...... BRB!

My list is what I purchased to build my MendelMax 1.5. I have purchased other thing as well after this was built and your milage may vary with your build. Ask any comments you wish and I will try to answer them the best I can!

Ok for now you can download the BoM

Just right click and "save as"

Here.... Mendel Max BoM 1.5

And going.... and going...

So I am into my 4th month with my printer. I wish I could say its been a smooth ride but I have had some setbacks. For one thing my .35mm J-Head V-BV came apart somehow and I wasn't able to salvage the PEEK, so there went another $30! Put it back together and failed to see that I needed a piece from the old unit I cut up and had to order a new hollow set screw to hold back the inner tube. I am printing off a new extruder body as I am changing to a micro extruder with a PG35 motor. Its a direct drive unit and as of today am waiting for more parts to show up.... Parts Parts parts..... you never know what you will need and then realize you should have ordered 3!! maybe 4 even..... I have been trying out new colors and the transparent ABS I used really is a show stopper! It printed like a wet dream and I will be buying more of that. I have red but not liking that as it is de-laminating a bit. I currently am using silver and it is turning out really nice. Here are a couple pics of some progress

Not so good Red

Grandma needed a new coffee scoop!

Make one for yourself.. http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:51411

New micro Extruder

Make one yourself ... http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:42112

The spool holder I built

http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:22759

Back of the holder with a beefed up bracket

And the beefed up bracket

And the vampire skull for my son

http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:31998

And finally I actually made a part I designed, well got inspiration for it from another creator. I needed a z-axis end stop clamp and bracket. 

http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:50881

The Journey Continues.......

So after things went a little crazy, laptop funked up, printer was going a little batty, and trying to fix it all, I think I am back to printing! My main goal right now is to print back up parts now that I have things really good. I also want to start making things for people and hopefully sell some things if that's possible. I bought some transparent 3mm filament and it doesn't like the small spool it is on. So I am printing this MendelMax Spool and I should have better results and not have to watch it constantly since the plastic wants to spring off the spool.

So I will post some pics once I get back to normal here. Maybe in a few days...!

The day of winning.......

One this is for sure you don't want to miss order these 2 parts on your build, the motors and the hot end! I have learned the hard way but it's not something I can't live with. Stay away from a copy hot end, well known people you can trust. I'm talking about the one and only J-Head and there are sub-par units out  there. I happen to find one before. Just the layer tightness is enough to sell you but I'm sure there are some comparable copy J-Heads that would so it for you. I'm just listing the link in my blog for the best one, IMHO.

www.hotends.com

The Mk V-BV to be exact.

Here are a couple of pictures and you can see how tight the layers are on that second pic.

Some designs

Things are looking up for the MendelMax! I am 97% there I believe and when I receive my new .35mm hot end, we will hit that 99.9999% mark! I am just not happy with the hot end I have at this time seeing it is a .50mm end and the filament is coming out at .65-.68mm. I understand from others that the metal swells but this may be a little much and it is throwing off some of the seams. At this point, that is not acceptable to me and if I hadn't made the end to "fit" my extruder, it would be on its way back to where I bought it from. ANOTHER lesson learned. I did a little fixing on my Y axis as I installed 2 solid blocks of wood on the edges and took out the 4 aluminum spacers I had there. It just makes it more rigid and less vibrations all around. I am happy I took it apart to fix!

SO here are a few designs I chose to print from thingverse.

YODA

BRAIN SLUG V2

MENDELMAX SKELETAL SPOOL MOUNT

This is printed at a 50% size. Notice the ears have some buggers and at the neck its a little bubbly.

If you notice on the feet, there is some separation of layers and I think this is from the hot end not being what its supposed to be. It will be better once I get the .35mm end. 

and just because I had black plastic in the unit when I first printed a 100% Yoda!

A mishaT version of the spool holder

Happy New Year to all! 2013

So lets get right to it. I bought 2 new motors to replace my X,Y axis motors. I for one will not disagree any longer that cheaper will work as good as mo money ones...! Just made a believer out of me. I purchased 2 - 2.8v/ 1.5A motors from www.lulzbot.com and very happy I did. I may go back for a third for the extruder but that will happen when I get a new hot end.  So I went from a hot motor to a very cool motor and it really makes a difference. I'm still trying to get this thing calibrated and hopefully will hit that soon! I'm getting closer. Time is what I lack since I can't spend every minute of the day working with it. You can see the difference in the cheap Ebay motor on the left and the nice chunky one on the right.

Here is a picture of bad motor mojo......

And here is a day 1 picture again and a newer version from today. Its getting better!

One of my very near future plans is to re-build my Y-axis platform. I think I need something more solid and rigid. The current one seems to have vibration occurring which may contribute to my issues. 

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...