User:Jmarsden
Contents
Jonathan Marsden
Member of the Core Team.
Primary system administrator for Reprap servers.
Built a set of Reprap v1 electronics, which worked to the extent of driving one small test stepper motor.
Planning a Mendel build in summer 2010
Mendel Build Goals
- Low cost (under US$500 if at all practical!)
- Improve the mechanical build docs based on the experience putting them together.
- "Very standard" Mendel mechanics (for ease of getting help with them!)
- "Very reliable" extruder (so I can make parts sets)
- Some experimenting with electronics is OK, esp. to reduce cost.
Current Ideas for Parts Acquisition
Electronics:
- Seeeduino Mega fully assembled from http://www.nkcelectronics.com/seeeduino-mega-fully-assembled.html ($40)
- 4 Pololu Stepper Controllers, see Pololu_Electronics ($52 for 4)
- Misc other stuff, cables, Adrian's stripboard or PCBs for the stepper controllers, etc. (maybe $40?)
Steppers:
- 4 steppers, maybe Pololu 1209s (reduces number of suppliers to use Pololu for these) ($64 for 4)
Mechanics:
- Hardware Kit from Ultimachine (because I know the least about the mechanics, spending $$ on a kit is OK!) ($200)
Extruder:
- Not sure which design, Adrian's or Wade's geared stepper driven. ($??)
- Will need RP extruder parts from somewhere, once I decide which design to build!
Feedstock:
- PLA, probably natural, from Ultimachine. ($50 for a 5lb spool)
==Rough Project Cost Estimate
Looks like US$446 plus unknown cost of the extruder parts and any necessary tools to make an extruder. It is going to get pretty close to my $500 budget, it seems.
Things to Print (when it works)
- A set of RP Mendel parts to sell, to get more Reprapping budget
- At least one set of RP Mendel parts to give away, to ease my conscience (!)
- A second set of RP Mendel parts for myself, as spares or for a second Mendel.