bot #193 build logs

[Aakash]

Hi,
Here's a log of issues I faced when puttting together my bot (#193)
for fututre assemblers (and my own reference)

0. Note for people in India: DON'T get it from USPS. Because they hand
it over to India Post, and in my case, my bot sat in a corner in their
storehouse for almost two months before I could get it! Not to mention
the numerous calls and trip(s) you have to make to their customs
department and pay bribe to the ppl there to get your box released.

1. No mentionable problems in putting together the mechanicals. If you
want, you can look at mech. assy pics here:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/41552971@N04/with/4162675623/

2. I made the serial-to-TTL converter myself using a MAX3241. Note
for future same-doers: the TTL signals on atemga side are inverted,
i.e. 5V when no signal present (I spent two days to figure this out,
and wondering if my circuit is working correctly) I also added a strap
to give 5V to the MAX3241 on pin 3 of the serial header. See the pic:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/41552971@N04/4162676461/

3. Upon connection with repG 0010, I got a lot of complaints about "no
serial port found", "unexpected commands" etc... finally it came out
that the firmware was 1.1, and repG 0010 isn't backward compatible.
I tried connecting with repG 0007, and bingo! The control panel
brought the bot alive.

4. To compile latest images, I needed to copy the firmware's libraries
"SimplePacket" and "RepRapSDCard" to the arduino 0017 libraries
folder. Then it compiled without problems.

5. No problems at all to upgrade the two boards' firmware too! The
header is exactly the same for extruderController, (it has the Vcc on
pin 3 too :) maybe they should do the same on MBd too in some next
revision...

6. My Z axis was inverted. For this, I plugged the Z motor cable
upside down in the connector. (another tweak I did for the same end
before I found out the correct way: http://www.flickr.com/photos/41552971@N04/4162676117/)

7. My bot printed its way nicely! A problem: i didn't keep the Y belt
tight, so it slipped a notch midway in the print, and it got spoiled!
See the whistle print: http://www.flickr.com/photos/41552971@N04/4162676117/

Wiki pages and this forum are great indeed !!

[TeamTeamUSA]

Congrats, Aakash!

Add yourself to these:
* Lineage: http://wiki.makerbot.com/lineage
* Who's Made It: http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:457
* World RepRap/MakerBot map:
http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en&msa=0&msid=117099291054388532447.0004409098b1c5b712553

And if you're up for it, create, or add an existing, group in the part
of India in which you live:
* Regional Groups: http://wiki.makerbot.com/regional-groups

Also feel free to add any of these tips to the wiki:
* http://wiki.makerbot.com

Go!

=ml=

[Cathal Garvey]

Excellent work Aakash, that's a great guide, particularly on making your own TTL-USB cable. Congratulations!