STRATASYS

[Filthy hipster scum]

Hello all,

Hipster here, here's an update on the Stratasys. I've just spent 4-5 (solid) days trying to unclog the extruder as the new/modern ABS material is not used to being heated over 2" of 'hot end' and carbonized inside. I finally got it all back together yesterday (Monday) and gave it a test run, it is still backing out slightly but I think that is just due to setting the temperature right and the feed speed. 

If this is not the case then I will add a reprap/makerbot modern style 'hot end' and if that fails, I'll try to convert it into a CNC Router but if it all goes totally wrong I/we have decided to donate it to the Bletchely Park Computer Museum (http://www.bletchleypark.org.uk/edu/collect/computer.rhtm), as one of the first (and also now the ONLY working...ish) 1st generation 3D printer in the world.

If anyone has better plans or ideas, please post.

Regards

Hipster

[Clare Greenhalgh]

Well done on getting it working again. You are brilliant!

Noko

[Michael Stevens]

I am impressed with your stratasys dedication!

[tom]

cant we jsut shove the plasma cutter on the head and have metal cutty fun times?

[Filthy hipster scum]

Thing with doing that is that the plasma cutter releases a lot of crap when cutting and will clog the motors and worm screws. 

[Simon Howes]

Lets cut the stratasys up with the plasma cutter!

On Jun 19, 2012 1:21 PM, "Filthy hipster scum" <aether....@gmail.com> wrote:

On Tuesday, June 19, 2012 10:14:53 AM UTC+1, Filthy hipster scum wrote:

On Tuesday, June 19, 2012 10:14:53 AM UTC+1, Filthy hipster scum wrote:

[Paddy Duncan]

It would make a good repository for the now large pile of cut-up metal in the welding bay..

[Filthy hipster scum]

NO

[Peter "Sci" Turpin]

It seems the print volume, resolution and heated enclosure are the only
plus-points with the Stratasys.
I seem to recall there was a reason the rest of the innards hadn't been
replaced with more approachable electronics and such, but can't recall
what it was.

What can we learn from the Stratasys so we can improve upon it with our
own version?

[Peter "Sci" Turpin]

For those that don't realise this was a joke (I hope it was meant as
such), the stratasys is completely unsuitable for that. It would utterly
ruin it through heat, debris and electronics. Plus it'd be pointless as
the cutter would only require an X-Y table, not the vertical. Wasteful
destruction of of resources. Like using chisels as prybars.

For using the plasma-cutter for automated I'd suggest looking at the
Open Source Ecology project where they've already prototyped a CNC Torch
Table.
http://opensourceecology.org/wiki/CNC_Torch_Table

On 19/06/2012 13:12, tom wrote:
> cant we jsut shove the plasma cutter on the head and have metal cutty
> fun times?
>
> On Tuesday, June 19, 2012 10:14:53 AM UTC+1, Filthy hipster scum wrote:
>
> Hello all,
>
> Hipster here, here's an update on the Stratasys. I've just spent 4-5
> (solid) days trying to unclog the extruder as the new/modern ABS
> material is not used to being heated over 2" of 'hot end' and
> carbonized inside. I finally got it all back together yesterday
> (Monday) and gave it a test run, it is still backing out slightly
> but I think that is just due to setting the temperature right and
> the feed speed.
>
> If this is not the case then I will add a reprap/makerbot modern
> style 'hot end' and if that fails, I'll try to convert it into a CNC
> Router but if it all goes totally wrong I/we have decided to donate
> it to the Bletchely Park Computer Museum
> (http://www.bletchleypark.org.uk/edu/collect/computer.rhtm

> <http://www.bletchleypark.org.uk/edu/collect/computer.rhtm>), as one

[Billy]

The other main plus point for the Stratasys, is the industrial-
assembly-line electronics that is used for the control boards.

If you have a look at the website for the board manufacturers, they
mostly make the control systems that ar4e used for full-scale control
systems for factories. It's why they are still working 16 years later.

We had one guy who i gave a tour to, during the day, last week, who
works at Bletchely. He restores antique CRT's. He loved the space.
Said he'll bring some of his colleagues along.

He might have some suggestions...

On Jun 19, 2:46 pm, "Peter \"Sci\" Turpin" <s...@sci-fi-fox.com>
wrote:

[Filthy hipster scum]

There was a joke??

At the moment all the electronics are working nicely. just the damn hot end, gonna work on a replacement tonight (shock, try work on a tuesday)

[Have Blue]

What ABS did you try running through the extruder?  Generic PA-747 is awful for the Stratasys and caused me much heartache.  Don't hesitate to drop myself or John Branlund (http://3d4u.org/MyFDM/) a line if you need help with something.

- Michael
haveblue.org

[Filthy hipster scum]

Hi  Michael

Been following you and Johns blog for ages. love them, very informative. I've tried both Stratasys official material, and the new makerbot ABS, it has been working perfectly but then left for about two weeks and then it started oozing melted ABS out the back of the hot-end and all around the seal when new material goes in. I spent 5 days cleaning it out but just to have it happen again, now trying to make a new, shorter hot end like you find on a rep-rap. Any help would be greatly appreciated, If you are free later we can have a chat on Skype.

Regards

Chris

Hipster

[Have Blue]

The makerbot ABS is Chi Mei PA-747 - I've found that it will run well briefly (though kicks off a lot of volatiles and cruds up the nozzle exterior), but you want to then flush out the extruder with proper Stratasys filament or suitable replacement.  At this time, the PP3DP Up! filament is the best bang for the buck filament to use in a Stratasys.

Even if you build a new hot end, I don't know that you'll be able to run PA-747 acceptably on the Stratasys - it has an extremely low melt flow rate (which is why there have been so many issues with RepRap extruders - PA-747 is like pushing concrete through a garden hose).  I've had the drive wheels on the Stratasys strip out the filament and lose grip as a result.  PA-747 is just not a good resin to use for 3D printers, period.

I don't have Skype, but you're welcome to email me anytime!

[Filthy hipster scum]

Hey yall.

GOOD NEWS

I've found the last parts needed to finally fix the stratasys. The metal push-fit part.

will keep you all posted

Hipster

[M]

I lol'd

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