EEVblog #520 - Michael's 3D Printer - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: EEVblog
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: September 16, 2013, 11:04:27 am
content: Michael from the Melbourne Connected Community Hackerspace talks about his large build area modular dual independent extruder 3D printer design project.Not much electronics talk here, it's mostly about the hardware build.http://www.hackmelbourne.org/?http://www.3dprinterbits.com.au/As usual, if you don't like this type of content, don't watch it.

author: bexwhitt
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: September 16, 2013, 01:09:32 pm
content: I will be interested to see it running, looks cool, what sort of resolution of print can it do?

author: leafi
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: September 16, 2013, 04:02:58 pm
content: I enjoyed it. I would like to see it operating. It would be great if there videos showing troubleshooting printing problems.

author: jancumps
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: September 16, 2013, 07:34:39 pm
content: Is he a forum member?

author: M0BSW
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: September 16, 2013, 07:49:25 pm
content: Dave would you be so kind as to let us know how he gets on and maybe a video of it working, he so enthusiastic about it , he's got my interest.

author: Dave
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 16, 2013, 08:26:04 pm
content: Michael's*Grammar nazi over and out.

author: LapTop006
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: September 16, 2013, 09:03:57 pm
content: I was actually at CCHS last month when the independent dual extruder was being discussed, also shout out to Rob B who you can see at about 6 minutes in.As with Dave it seems like despite living in Sydney I visit CCHS more often than RoboDino.

author: BurtyB
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: September 16, 2013, 11:04:07 pm
content: I agree, it would be good to see it in operation. He could do with some printed tube connectors though (http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:14061) well maybe not for stability but they'd look cool in yellow.

author: Paul Moir
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: September 17, 2013, 03:41:19 am
content: Quote from: Dave on September 16, 2013, 08:26:04 pm"Microcontrollers and FPGA's" is a subforum here, and has been a while. I'm pretty sure there's a shift occurring in English grammar in regard to the 's. One of my coworkers abbreviates "cheese" as "CH'S". Exciting times!(Those unfamiliar with English's rules: the English language is defined by use rather than written rules. For example, the Oxford English Dictionary explains that it reports rather than defines.)

author: EEVblog
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: September 17, 2013, 03:53:09 am
content: Quote from: Dave on September 16, 2013, 08:26:04 pmYes, I know.It's a slip of the stupid tablet, and then gets copy and pasted over.

author: npelov
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: September 17, 2013, 05:15:39 pm
content: Excuse my poor english. Where did he buy the aluminum frames - locally or online? I'm searching for cheap frames/axis - I want to build CNC of some kind - maybe for PCB drilling/milling

author: SeanB
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 17, 2013, 05:38:47 pm
content: Bought at the local hardware store as a frame for making furniture like tables. It is a square tubing and has a set of joiners that have either two or three projections to fit firmly inthe tube, and have various orientations so you can either make a square, and edge or such from simple parts.

author: JoeO
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: September 17, 2013, 07:21:31 pm
content: Michael says the name of the tubing but I can't understand what he says.Can someone post the name of the company that makes the tubing? Thanks.

author: Michael Sullivan
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: September 18, 2013, 11:11:59 am
content: Thanks for the responses to my 3D Printer episode.I will keep people posted as I progress over the next few weeks.When it is up and running I will do my own video of the machine running.The 25mm x 25mm box tubing is from Bunnings Hardware in Australia.MOBSW in am enthusiastic about it and very eager to see her up and running.BurtyB those joiners look a pain to print and the 90o uprights would not be strong enough compared to the injection molded version I purchased and all the joliners range from $1.99 to $4.99 so they are not worth the time ptinting but thanks for the heads up.The electronics I will be using is the RUMBA Board as I need 6 stepper drivers and this board for me is the best in my opinion it has the lot and the large Graphic LCD looks sweat.I will also be connecting up a raspberry Pi and a LCD touch screen I happen to have from an old Car PC project and running Octoprint or Repetier Server for network printing.All and any questions are welcome.CheersMick

author: npelov
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: September 18, 2013, 10:08:31 pm
content: I wander if I can find those Connect-it aluminum tubes with world wide shipping. Or maybe someone from au can buy it for me and ship it. I haven't seen anything like that around or at least not for that price.

author: M0BSW
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: September 19, 2013, 06:23:30 am
content: Hi Mick,A really good job your doing , I look forward to the update video

author: Michael Sullivan
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: September 19, 2013, 09:44:00 am
content: Bunnings Hardware also sell online.

author: GeoffS
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: September 19, 2013, 09:53:42 am
content: Also looking forward to seeing it finished.Might motivate me to finish my 3d printer build (Ord Hadron)

author: Michael Sullivan
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: September 20, 2013, 11:46:17 am
content: A fellow Hackerspace member posted this place with good prices for the 25 x 25 tubinghttps://www.aluminiumtc.com.au/store/category/browse/qubelok/Mick

author: mswhin63
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: September 21, 2013, 01:53:35 pm
content: I have been using Queblok for about 6 years, originally purchased from Capral before Bunnings started to carry them.After a while although still functions well in my van for storage is started to loosen up after about 1 year, The cause I isolated is the plastic inserts start to loosen up from vibrations. Then the aluminium also starts to flare out.The concept is great and very very economical but I would worry about tolerances changing after a while.There are aluminium tubing available with aluminium corner blocks. I am thinking these might be better although i cant locate them at this time.

author: digsys
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: September 21, 2013, 03:22:18 pm
content: Quote from: mswhin63I've also been using the stuff for over 20 yrs, long before Capral and Alcan. The manufacturer has changed names a few times overthe years, as well as the name of the 1" tube system. My entire workshops, including most my home are made from it.BUT I do agree about "ageing". If you have ANY vibration, it WILL wear with time, sometimes a lot. PLUS, I recently made a new benchusing about 80 fittings, Al drop saws, polishers etc AND the fitting tolerances were all over the place !! Some tight as heck, othersso loose that I exchanged them. I think QC has suffered over the years. If you check the video, EXTRA screws lock the endcaps in place. They WILL SHAKE loose if you don't take precautions !!

author: robrenz
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 21, 2013, 03:33:27 pm
content: If you are making a permanent assembly of these tube/fitting systems gluing the joints with a high strength epoxy or using a high quality acrylic adhesive like Loctite 325 with activator would greatly increase the stiffness and fatigue life of the assembly.

author: digsys
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: September 21, 2013, 11:02:01 pm
content: Quote from: robrenzAhhh yes, but that negates the benefit of this type of construction - ease and ability to change at will.

author: SeanB
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 22, 2013, 04:53:53 am
content: Simplest alternative is then to drill and tap the plastic joins after assembly for a locking screw. Make a small jig out of a scrap piece of the square tube as an alignment tool for drilling the holes in a consistent location and then you can rebuild easily.

author: Michael Sullivan
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: October 07, 2013, 02:12:41 pm
content: Just an update that the wiring is almost complete so we should be only a couple of weeks away from testing and setting up the firmware so a video should follow not long after that I hope.

author: Michael Sullivan
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: October 07, 2013, 02:14:54 pm
content: I agree with SeanB that the joiners need to be screwed as well to prevent vibration from shaking the joins apart.

author: Janaha
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: October 07, 2013, 08:16:07 pm
content: I realys like to see it printing, a specialy using it's two printheads together. I realy like the idea with those two heads. Unfortunaly my little reprap prusa mendel i2 hasn't the space for two printheads and i made some mistakes as i build it yust like the online documentary. So now my x axis roads a a little to short so my Printhead can't use the full size of the 20*20cm build platform.GreetingsJanaha

author: gildasd
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: June 23, 2014, 11:04:20 am
content: I've been looking at the video a few times...It's brilliant, love it, want one, no budget, will have to wait, darn.... I can see a lack of rigidity/damping when it moves side to side, it kinda annoys me.You could use triangular 10/15cm stiffeners in each corner (relative to movement) simple screwed in.It would probably help precision.Being a cheap arse, it'd probably cut-up old/defect PCB to make them...G.

author: SNGLinks
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: June 25, 2014, 08:03:33 am
content: The 1 inch frame parts, in the UK, were made by Dexion. It was called Speed Frame. Although Dexion went under some years ago, it's still available.http://www.richardsonsuk.co.uk/Aluminium-Tubes/p47?gclid=CILV0_nHlL8CFQsEwwodj0cAsQ

author: gildasd
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: June 25, 2014, 08:45:01 am
content: Checked it out,Yeah, the junction parts are plastic... Great for damping but this this is going to need stiffeners or it will transform itself into a very expensive plastic life-cycle fatigue experiment.