User:OliReadingUK
Just starting out the world of RepRap, currently pulling together bits for a Prusa Mendel.
Contents
Parts
My parts collection so far consists of:
- Printed Parts including parts for Wade's Geared Extruder from User:ParCan on http://www.emakershop.com for £75
- Fasteners, Bar and Studding from User:Bob_balthazar on http://www.emakershop.com for £34
- Bearing from User:rsoarer on ebay for £4
- Thick sheet set from genesismachines on ebay for £20 (if I were buying again I'd shop around ebay for this)
- Belts from alex-par64 on ebay for £16
- Set of 5 NEMA 17 stepper motors (torque not enough for extruder though) from astrosyn_excess on ebay for £36
- RAMPS and Arduino and mechanical end stops from Ultimachine for £137
- High torque stepper motor from Ultimachine for £12
- 2.3Kg black PLA from Ultimachine for £58
- Hot End from ParCan on http://www.emakershop.com for £60
- Extruder bolts (M4x50mm) for £1
All prices include postage to UK. Currently totaling £453 (including PLA and spare motor)
I have the following extras from the Prusa parts list, some of which are probably for the extruder:
- 2 x belt-clamp
- 2 x bar-clamp
- 2 x rod-clamp
- 4 x pla-bushing
Software
Need to download repsnapper, skeinforge and sprinter(firmware)
Questions
Stuff I have to find out about...
- Recommendations for a power supply? What lines will I need?
- I have a board for the print surface, should I cover it?
Answers I got were:
- I thought belts were continuous loop but they're not
- Need to clean up bushings so 8mm rod runs smoothly through
- 1m of 3mm filament makes 10cc so 100m makes a cubic decimeter
- Bar should run smoothly through bushings, consider mild heat to bar until it runs smooth
- Mechanical end-stops better than opto
- The seller of the hot end advises "My thermostors read slightly lower than default settings. For PLA run them at about 215 C - that will give you around 200 C real temp"
- ABS = tougher, but stinky and hardly enviro-friendly, also takes much higher temps to melt it and almost requires a heated bed.
- PLA = Compostable, lower temp to work with, but more brittle by comparison and harder to glue.
- G code looks fun
Handy page http://www.onlineconversion.com/torque.htm
Websites
UK
Filament | |
Assorted bits | |
Assorted bits, including extruder hot end | |
Printed parts | |
Filament (expensive) |
Elsewhere
Assorted including electronics | |
Stuff from assorted countries | |
Lots, mostly kits | |
Everything! | |
Assorted parts | |
Hot ends |
Experiences
- Some difficulty getting the bearings into the extruder, had a lot of filing down to do to make them fit
- Considered Sanguinololu but went with RAMPS as it's more available and suspect better supported