Quote from firepinto on September 22nd, 2011, 05:30 PM

Quote from Jeff Nading on September 22nd, 2011, 04:47 PM

Quote from firepinto on September 22nd, 2011, 01:14 PM

Quote from Jeff Nading on September 21st, 2011, 08:12 PM

Ha Nate, I was installing the Z axis, had an idea for the all thread top nuts above the springs, noticed the plastic was a little larger than the nuts are so I took some heat shrink tubing put it over the nut with the nut screwed on to the all thread, heated it, let it shrink down over the nut and all thread so it would take up the slack as it is inserted into the plastic housing, you can also grease the nut, the shrink tubing around the all thread will keep the dust out, I think this will also help the resolution. Tried to post a  picture but couldn't.

Sounds like a great idea Jeff.  I have some at home, I'll give it a try.  I remember from somewhere, someone said that silicon spray was the best lube for these things.  I'll probably switch to that once I feel the rods are all running smooth and are "broke in".  I'm thinking your going to be all caught up to me by the time I get back to work on mine. lol

Nate

Oh, just to mention I did this on the hobbed bolt head also, just had to cut the heat shrink off the under side of the bolt head so as not to change the center spacing of the bolt for the filament. You will more than likely be done with the build before I am, still have to put all the electronic's together, also going to try to cast the print bed plates this weekend, I have made the pattern already, still have to make the sand molds, melt the aluminum and pour the molds, it will be an all day project, I'll try to make a video of it as I go through the motions.:) Still trying to post a picture, I have done it before, I'll try a lower pixel, maybe that will help. Ha, success, I lowered the pixels, then the photo's went through, good.:D

That's looking great Jeff!  The stainless hardware really makes it look nice. :)  I like the Z axis couplers too.  My Hobbed bolt fit nice and snug on my gear.:huh:  

Nate


Some print ideas Ive been kicking around:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=faZjMCtr2XM

Nate I like that idea of the spool, you could even make it screw together, to make it adjustable lengths.:D Like the toridal idea, but most of all I like the EPG spacer idea, it will keep the tube spacing perfect.:cool:

Came home to a big set back on the RepRap. :(

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xqZF69sIoR0

I think I'm going to hop in the car now to buy a tube of super glue.:dodgy:

&@*#$%#!!

lol it hopefully will work long enough to have offspring.:P

Nate

Quote from firepinto on September 23rd, 2011, 05:51 PM

Came home to a big set back on the RepRap. :(

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xqZF69sIoR0

I think I'm going to hop in the car now to buy a tube of super glue.:dodgy:

&@*#$%#!!

lol it hopefully will work long enough to have offspring.:P

Nate

Nate I have four extra PLA bushings, do you want them, I'll ship them to you, email me, Jeff. In the meantime put a 1/2" strip of aluminum from one bolt to the other to hold it together.

Quote from Jeff Nading on September 23rd, 2011, 06:22 PM

Quote from firepinto on September 23rd, 2011, 05:51 PM

Came home to a big set back on the RepRap. :(


I think I'm going to hop in the car now to buy a tube of super glue.:dodgy:

&@*#$%#!!

lol it hopefully will work long enough to have offspring.:P

Nate

Nate I have four extra PLA bushings, do you want them, I'll ship them to you, email me, Jeff. In the meantime put a 1/2" strip of aluminum from one bolt to the other to hold it together.

Thanks Jeff :)  I'll see how it goes tomorrow.  I actually got my makergear hot end in too, I forgot to put it in the video.  Maybe I can print my own PLA bushings soon if I'm lucky.  Not sure if I should make a new lower bed out of acrylic or something different.  I can get a big sheet of it for 40 bucks locally.  

Might have to move the lab from the garage to some place warmer first. :P

Quote from firepinto on September 23rd, 2011, 07:48 PM

Quote from Jeff Nading on September 23rd, 2011, 06:22 PM

Quote from firepinto on September 23rd, 2011, 05:51 PM

Came home to a big set back on the RepRap. :(


I think I'm going to hop in the car now to buy a tube of super glue.:dodgy:

&@*#$%#!!

lol it hopefully will work long enough to have offspring.:P

Nate

Nate I have four extra PLA bushings, do you want them, I'll ship them to you, email me, Jeff. In the meantime put a 1/2" strip of aluminum from one bolt to the other to hold it together.

Thanks Jeff :)  I'll see how it goes tomorrow.  I actually got my makergear hot end in too, I forgot to put it in the video.  Maybe I can print my own PLA bushings soon if I'm lucky.  Not sure if I should make a new lower bed out of acrylic or something different.  I can get a big sheet of it for 40 bucks locally.  

Might have to move the lab from the garage to some place warmer first. :P

Nate just a suggestion, if you make another bed plate out of plastic drill the clamp holes further in closer to each other, the plastic will have less of a chance of cracking then:D .

Quote from Jeff Nading on September 23rd, 2011, 07:54 PM

Quote from firepinto on September 23rd, 2011, 07:48 PM

Quote from Jeff Nading on September 23rd, 2011, 06:22 PM

Quote from firepinto on September 23rd, 2011, 05:51 PM

Came home to a big set back on the RepRap. :(


I think I'm going to hop in the car now to buy a tube of super glue.:dodgy:

&@*#$%#!!

lol it hopefully will work long enough to have offspring.:P

Nate

Nate I have four extra PLA bushings, do you want them, I'll ship them to you, email me, Jeff. In the meantime put a 1/2" strip of aluminum from one bolt to the other to hold it together.

Thanks Jeff :)  I'll see how it goes tomorrow.  I actually got my makergear hot end in too, I forgot to put it in the video.  Maybe I can print my own PLA bushings soon if I'm lucky.  Not sure if I should make a new lower bed out of acrylic or something different.  I can get a big sheet of it for 40 bucks locally.  

Might have to move the lab from the garage to some place warmer first. :P

Nate just a suggestion, if you make another bed plate out of plastic drill the clamp holes further in closer to each other, the plastic will have less of a chance of cracking then:D .

I'm pretty sure I had the bolts too tight.  It's getting to freezing temps here at night already, and I think the shrinking of the aluminum was enough to make things go pop.  I have an idea how to clamp the belt tight, but not so tight to the bed.  

Nate

Hello Nate, I am done casting the aluminum plates, now all I need to do is mill them. What thickness do you want your bed plate to be? They are 3/4" thick right now, I would not go less than 3/8" but 1/2" would be better to keep it from warping. Do you want to put glass on it or do you want to print straight on the aluminum plate with the special tape they use, I think it will be best straight from the plate? You should be able to mount the plate the same as the plastic one you have. I made a video of the complete casting process, I'll try to post it here, hope the pixels are right. Well I have 12 separate videos, tried to post them here, :blush: how would you link them all together to make one video, I can play them all as one video on my computer but posting them all as one I can't seem to do?  

Quote from Jeff Nading on September 24th, 2011, 09:47 PM

Hello Nate, I am done casting the aluminum plates, now all I need to do is mill them. What thickness do you want your bed plate to be? They are 3/4" thick right now, I would not go less than 3/8" but 1/2" would be better to keep it from warping. Do you want to put glass on it or do you want to print straight on the aluminum plate with the special tape they use, I think it will be best straight from the plate? You should be able to mount the plate the same as the plastic one you have. I made a video of the complete casting process, I'll try to post it here, hope the pixels are right. Well I have 12 separate videos, tried to post them here, :blush: how would you link them all together to make one video, I can play them all as one video on my computer but posting them all as one I can't seem to do?

Hey Jeff,
I just got done watching the videos. :cool:  I'm going to owe you big time, that is some excellent work!  I think 1/2" sounds good, and the tape idea sounds good too.  I would probably break the glass. lol  
I use Windows Movie Maker to combine all my video clips.  It should come on any Windows machine.  It took me awhile to get that to run smooth with out crashing.  It takes a long time to save the movie too, partly because I save it as 1080p HD.  I have to use my CCTV DVR computer to do it, since it has a 2.6 GHZ quad core processor.  My other puters can't handle it.  lol Sometimes I think video editing is just a pain.  You could create a play list on Youtube and add all 12 of the movies in order.  Then they would all play one after another.  I haven't figured out how to post a playlist yet.  But to post a video in the forum, click on the little TV icon in the  upper right corner.  Select Youtube, and paste the link to your video in the box.  

I can't wait to see how the beds look after they are milled. :cool:  I think that furnace is awesome, it looks way easier to use than other home made furnaces ive seen on youtube.  Very cool stuff!

Nate

Thanks Nate for the praise and info, I'll try the video editing with move maker. I will try to mill the plates this coming week, might have to wait until this coming weekend, don't know yet, it will depend on how work go's. Did you fix or replace the bottom plate yet?

Quote from Jeff Nading on September 25th, 2011, 06:28 AM

Thanks Nate for the praise and info, I'll try the video editing with move maker. I will try to mill the plates this coming week, might have to wait until this coming weekend, don't know yet, it will depend on how work go's. Did you fix or replace the bottom plate yet?

I believe I have it fixed.:)  Just started loading the videos of it into Movie Maker.  It will take awhile to process and a longgg time to upload.  Should  be up on Youtube by tomorrow at the latest. lol I think my next prusa is going to have an aluminum bottom plate!  :P

Nate

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1dCPs7nVqWM

Hi Nate, found a video on the software install   https://www.youtube.com/user/GeoDroidJohn#p/a/f/0/CAo89CrMtPo  , also tried to patch all my videos together with win movie maker did not work.

Quote from Jeff Nading on September 27th, 2011, 04:27 PM

Hi Nate, found a video on the software install   https://www.youtube.com/user/GeoDroidJohn#p/a/f/0/CAo89CrMtPo  , also tried to patch all my videos together with win movie maker did not work.

Hey Jeff,
Looks like the link for the video was actually for the channel, and not the plain video link.  Here it is below: :-)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CAo89CrMtPo&feature=channel_video_title

I think I watched that one many beers ago, was a good refresher though! :D  I wish I was ready for software already.

Have you had any  more luck with Movie Maker?

Nate

Quote from firepinto on September 28th, 2011, 03:19 PM

Quote from Jeff Nading on September 27th, 2011, 04:27 PM

Hi Nate, found a video on the software install   https://www.youtube.com/user/GeoDroidJohn#p/a/f/0/CAo89CrMtPo  , also tried to patch all my videos together with win movie maker did not work.

Hey Jeff,
Looks like the link for the video was actually for the channel, and not the plain video link.  Here it is below: :-)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CAo89CrMtPo&feature=channel_video_title

I think I watched that one many beers ago, was a good refresher though! :D  I wish I was ready for software already.

Have you had any  more luck with Movie Maker?

Nate

Hi Nate, sorry about the link.  I have not had much time since you sent me the video on movie maker to work on it, but before you sent the video, I had done all that you said to do, it would only do the first video and not the other 11.  I might have a clue as to why it was not working, there is another program running called Nero 8 that has control of my pictures and video, so I might have to uninstall it to let windows take over. I built the computer I am using, never had a problem until now, it's a 2.8G HZ with 2 gigs of memory, we'll see what happens, oh, thanks so much for spending your time to do this for me Nate I appreciate it very much.:D To, looks like I won't have any time until this weekend to mill the plates,:( but this weekend for sure,:D then I will ship it to you, :D along with some other goodies you might like:cool::D. a beer sounds good about now, New Castle, or or or  1554, YA!

Quote from Jeff Nading on September 28th, 2011, 04:21 PM

Quote from firepinto on September 28th, 2011, 03:19 PM

Quote from Jeff Nading on September 27th, 2011, 04:27 PM

Hi Nate, found a video on the software install   https://www.youtube.com/user/GeoDroidJohn#p/a/f/0/CAo89CrMtPo  , also tried to patch all my videos together with win movie maker did not work.

Hey Jeff,
Looks like the link for the video was actually for the channel, and not the plain video link.  Here it is below: :-)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CAo89CrMtPo&feature=channel_video_title

I think I watched that one many beers ago, was a good refresher though! :D  I wish I was ready for software already.

Have you had any  more luck with Movie Maker?

Nate

Hi Nate, sorry about the link.  I have not had much time since you sent me the video on movie maker to work on it, but before you sent the video, I had done all that you said to do, it would only do the first video and not the other 11.  I might have a clue as to why it was not working, there is another program running called Nero 8 that has control of my pictures and video, so I might have to uninstall it to let windows take over. I built the computer I am using, never had a problem until now, it's a 2.8G HZ with 2 gigs of memory, we'll see what happens, oh, thanks so much for spending your time to do this for me Nate I appreciate it very much.:D To, looks like I won't have any time until this weekend to mill the plates,:( but this weekend for sure,:D then I will ship it to you, :D along with some other goodies you might like:cool::D. a beer sounds good about now, New Castle, or or or  1554, YA!

I won't have time till the weekend either, if I'm lucky.  Already getting threats to have to work the weekend.:dodgy: Glad to hear you built your computer, I build all mine too, not counting laptops.  It could very well be Nero causing the problem.  If you click on Tools, then options, then the compatibility tab.  There are filters you can uncheck. I just checked my laptop MM and there are two in there for Nero Decoders.  That was the problem with my DVR computer, I had so many codecs it hardly worked, I unchecked most of them.  
My beers are usually Wisconsin made Leinenkugel's Honey Wiess, sometimes Molson Canadian, or Yuengling when I'm closer to the east coast.:cool:

Now I'm thirsty.

Hi Nate, well it finally rained here, which gave me a little time, so I used it and succeeded in putting together all the clips about aluminum casting, then posting it on youtube, here is the link, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S_18UHdlfM4 hope this one works, Jeff.

Quote from Jeff Nading on September 29th, 2011, 05:39 PM

Hi Nate, well it finally rained here, which gave me a little time, so I used it and succeeded in putting together all the clips about aluminum casting, then posting it on youtube, here is the link, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S_18UHdlfM4 hope this one works, Jeff.

Looks great Jeff, glad it worked for ya.:)  Id give ya all the rain they are getting here in Pennsylvania if I could. lol  Im tired of getting full of mud.:P  

[attachment=315][attachment=316]   Hi Nate, just got your plate done, wanted to show you a photo of it, hope it's alright, Jeff.:D

Quote from Jeff Nading on October 1st, 2011, 01:44 PM

Hi Nate, just got your plate done, wanted to show you a photo of it, hope it's alright, Jeff.:D

Sweet!  I really appreciate the awesome plate!  I think it will work perfect.:cool:  I have a feeling all the extra shapes on my plastic plate are an optional customization.  
You have any ideas for the nichrome wire on the bottom?  Some kind of high temp insulators?  Groves in the bottom of the plate for the wire?  I have an old electric space heater here that the fan died, wonder if that wire in side it would work for this application..:idea:

Thanks very much Jeff:D

Nate

Nate sorry I did not get back to you right away, I got really busy and then took the wife out to eat.  I just sent your plate today, with a few other goodies,  UPS, you should receive it Thursday of this week, that's what they told me anyway. I got my plate milled and installed last night, i'm not going to use the springs underneath it, i'm just going to bolt it from the top [countersink the holes] through to the bottom plate and level it with the hot end, I don't want the print plate moving around [loose springs] as it is being printed on. As to heating the plate I was thinking I would look for a 12 volt low watt heating element, like what you would find in an RV refrigerator, if they are small enough, or go with the nichrome wire, have not had time to really look yet.  Is the wire in the space heater you have insulated. Here are photo's of my plate, which I haven't sanded yet, have to fix my palm sander, more photo's of the hot end I am building, notice the green filament on one end, the extrusion hole I drilled by hand with a .5 mm drill bit [very small, had to make a chuck to hold the bit], the other end is 3.5 mm hole drilled almost all the way through the middle of it, well that's it for now, let me know if you receive the parts Thursday or not, I should have the tracking # by tonight, Thanks.

Quote from Jeff Nading on October 3rd, 2011, 02:20 PM

Nate sorry I did not get back to you right away, I got really busy and then took the wife out to eat.  I just sent your plate today, with a few other goodies,  UPS, you should receive it Thursday of this week, that's what they told me anyway. I got my plate milled and installed last night, i'm not going to use the springs underneath it, i'm just going to bolt it from the top [countersink the holes] through to the bottom plate and level it with the hot end, I don't want the print plate moving around [loose springs] as it is being printed on. As to heating the plate I was thinking I would look for a 12 volt low watt heating element, like what you would find in an RV refrigerator, if they are small enough, or go with the nichrome wire, have not had time to really look yet.  Is the wire in the space heater you have insulated. Here are photo's of my plate, which I haven't sanded yet, have to fix my palm sander, more photo's of the hot end I am building, notice the green filament on one end, the extrusion hole I drilled by hand with a .5 mm drill bit [very small, had to make a chuck to hold the bit], the other end is 3.5 mm hole drilled almost all the way through the middle of it, well that's it for now, let me know if you receive the parts Thursday or not, I should have the tracking # by tonight, Thanks.

No problem Jeff, family always comes first. :cool:  I'm not home for the rest of the week anyway.  I'll hopefully get to fly home friday, if the "(24-7) day job" don't steal another weekend from me.  I don't understand the reason for the bed springs myself.  I really want to see one of these in action in person, which I think will clear up a lot for me.  I don't really remember what the heater wire was like, it might be in a coil shape, but I know for sure its not insulated.  
A .5 mm bit!  Yeah id break that in 2 seconds.:P   I'm glad I got the makergear hot end.  It looks like very high quality.  I'm still scratching my head on how to install it.  If I had one complaint about RepRep parts distributors, its the lack of manuals and instructions that should come with the parts.  There are too many options to make one wiki that can work for every person building a RepRap.  
I really hope I can work on it more this weekend, but being stuck in PA last weekend really cut into my "before the snow flies" projects that  I wanted to get done.  Leave it to corporate greed to interfere with open source progress!:dodgy:

Your plates look great, I cant wait to put it to use making open source parts soon!  Thanks much.:D

Nate

Nate I think I found what I will heat my plate with  http://hydraraptor.blogspot.com/2010/01/hot-bed.html  9 resistors 12 volts 9 amps, I think this will work.

Quote from Jeff Nading on October 4th, 2011, 04:41 PM

Nate I think I found what I will heat my plate with  http://hydraraptor.blogspot.com/2010/01/hot-bed.html  9 resistors 12 volts 9 amps, I think this will work.

I've thought about doing something like that too.  Would be easier and reliable.  It just seems like over half of the resistor's surface area isn't being use efficiently.   Having a thicker plate will probably reduce the hot spots.  Could do more smaller resistors in series for more surface area?

Nate

Well, here is the nichrome wire wound around the hot end I made, this will screw on to the orifice barrel, now I need to insulate it with an oven paste I have. The nichrome wire is # 31, 9 1/8" long to get the 6 ohms that it calls for, here,s a link that shows how to build one and some photos of the one I made. :D  http://www.makergear.com/pages/ceramic-heater-core-instructions    

Quote from Jeff Nading on October 5th, 2011, 04:06 PM

Well, here is the nichrome wire wound around the hot end I made, this will screw on to the orifice barrel, now I need to insulate it with an oven paste I have. The nichrome wire is # 31, 9 1/8" long to get the 6 ohms that it calls for, here,s a link that shows how to build one and some photos of the one I made. :D  http://www.makergear.com/pages/ceramic-heater-core-instructions

Hey Jeff,
Just got home and found a package. :D  Thanks so much!  The plate looks awesome.  If they call metal parts for RepRap's vitamins, this has got to be steroids! lol I will probably just sand the surface down, but I bet it can be used just like it is. :)  I think this will go on my second Prusa. :cool:
Also thanks for the extra goodies! :D  Have any idea if that is a motor controller or a thermostat?  
I just got done checking out my lower bed repair job.  Looks like the cracks spread a little bit, but still seems strong.

Nate