RepRapPro Mendel x axis assembly
Introduction | Frame assembly | Y axis assembly | X axis assembly | Z axis assembly | Heated bed assembly | Extruder drive assembly | Hot end assembly | Power supply | Wiring | Commissioning | Printing | Multi‑colour/multi‑materials | Colour Printing - Slic3r | Colour Printing - RepRapPro Slicer | Maintenance | Troubleshooting | Improvements
| A notice about these instructions! |
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Since 1st April 2013, the RepRapPro Mendel has been superseded by the RepRapPro Tricolour and Mono Mendel. |
Contents
Goal
By the end of this stage, your X-axis should look like this:
Tools
You will need the following tools
- M3 Allen key
- M3 set screw Allen key
- M3 spanner/nut runner
- Long-nosed pliers
- Tweezers
- M8 spanner
Step 1: X carriage assembly
| |
| Item | Quantity |
| Printed X carriage lid | 1 |
| Printed X carriage plate | 1 |
| Printed X belt clamp | 2 |
| Cardboard heatshield | 1 |
| Aluminium cooking foil | 110mm x 135mm |
| LM8UU bearings | 3 |
| M3x20mm screws | 5 |
| M3x35mm screws | 5 |
| M3x30mm hex-head screws | 3 |
| M3 nylock nut | 1 |
| M3 nuts | 22 |
| M3 washers | 27 |
Start by gluing the aluminium foil to the cardboard heatshield. The aluminium needs to go on the underside of the cardboard when the cardboard is the way up shown in the picture above.
Virtually any glue will do, but aerosol spray glue is easiest. Spray the foil, then drop the cardboard onto it and press it down against a flat surface.
Trim the foil about 5mm out from the edge of the cardboard and fold it over and stick it around the edge on the back. You can make a neat job if you make rectangular cuts of the foil by convex corners, and 45 degree angled cuts in to concave ones.
Let the glue set.
Next with the X carriage upside-down slide the LM8UU bearings into their holders sideways:
Don't try to fit the bearings by clipping them in from above - this will break the carriage.
Use the 35mm screws with nuts and washers to secure the plate to the carriage. Have the ends of the screws projecting as shown. Fit 2 additional nuts to each screw (making 3 in total) to act as spacers for the heat shield (to be fitted later).
Fit the hex-headed screws in their recesses the other way up, and put nuts and washers on the ends:
Don't do these up tight. These screws allow you to adjust the relative heights of multiple extruders in the carriage.
Fit the belt clamps with screws nuts and washers.
Start by sinking the nuts into their recesses. You can do this most easily by pulling them through with a screw with a washer under its head. Make sure as you tighten the screw that the hexagon of the nut is aligned with its hexagonal hole.
The belt-gripping indentations on the clamps face the vertical pillars.
Fit the tensioning screw using the nylock nut as shown:
Step 2: Main X axis assembly
| |
| Item | Quantity |
| Printed X end (motor) | 1 |
| Printed X end (idler) | 1 |
| 428mm smooth 8mm rods (X) | 2 |
| 8mm IGUS bearings | 4 |
| M3 nylock nuts | 2 |
| M3x16 screws | 2 |
Start by fitting the IGUS bearing inserts to both ends:
You can curl them up so their ends overlap to insert them. Be careful.
Check their internal diameter by running one of the 8mm rods down them. If the rod is too tight (don't force it) put a 9.5mm drill bit shank in a vice, take the bearing inserts out, and slide the printed part over the drill to clean out the hole. Again be careful - you don't want to remove too much material and make a sloppy fit.
Repeat this process until the rod just fits and slides smoothly. It should not wobble from side to side.
With the tweezers fit the nylock nuts into their recesses in the idler end:
Pull them into their recesses with a screw if needs be.
Screw the two screws in by just three or four turns. Slide the smooth rods in so that they abut the screws and nuts.
Put the X carriage on the rods. Make sure to get it the way round shown in the picture.
Put the motor end printed part on the other ends of the rods. Make sure they slide right up to the closed ends of their holes:
Step 3: Fit the X motor
| |
| Item | Quantity |
| NEMA 17 motor | 1 |
| M3x10 screws | 4 |
| M3 washers | 4 |
| Toothed belt pulley | 1 |
| M3 x 10mm set screw | 1 |
Use the screws and washers to mount the motor:
Run the set screw into the toothed pulley until it projects into the central hole. Back it off so it no longer projects. Clean any plastic residue from the hole.
Put the pulley on the motor shaft as shown. Us a toothed belt to position it right - you want the gap between the pulley hub and the printed face whete the motor is mounted to be about 1mm bigger than the width of the belt.
Tighten the pulley's set screw against the flat on the motor shaft. Don't do it too tight or you will break the pulley.
Step 4: The X belt idler
| |
| Item | Quantity |
| 35mm M8 threaded rod | 1 |
| M8 nuts | 2 |
| M8 mudguard washer | 1 |
| 8mm bearing | 1 |
| M8 washers | 3 |
Fit the idler:
From the right the sequence goes:
- Nut
- Mudguard washer
- Washer
- Bearing
- Washer
- Printed idler end
- Washer
- Nut
