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Patrick Westropp
Jun 17, 2010, 7:25:44 PM6/17/10
to New England RepRap
Hi all!
My name is Patrick Westropp and I've been wanting to build a homemade
3d printer since I discovered the fab@home project 4 years ago.
Recently I got together the resources necessary to construct the more
sensible reprap, and so I'm here to ask for help and lend a hand where
I can. I have next to zero experience with a soldering iron, and I run
ubuntu on my laptop and have a little experience with code and
computers.
So far I've managed to get the reprap software to run successfully.
according to the wiki the next step is to assemble a circuit board, so
right now I'm looking for that. Makerbot does not have any of the
circuit board in stock, and I'm a bit confused on something. I was
told that a sanguino board would work as the motherboard, but at the
moment I'm reluctant to start purchasing anything before I know for
certain that I need it. Any guidance would be greatly appreciated.
My name is Patrick Westropp and I've been wanting to build a homemade
3d printer since I discovered the fab@home project 4 years ago.
Recently I got together the resources necessary to construct the more
sensible reprap, and so I'm here to ask for help and lend a hand where
I can. I have next to zero experience with a soldering iron, and I run
ubuntu on my laptop and have a little experience with code and
computers.
So far I've managed to get the reprap software to run successfully.
according to the wiki the next step is to assemble a circuit board, so
right now I'm looking for that. Makerbot does not have any of the
circuit board in stock, and I'm a bit confused on something. I was
told that a sanguino board would work as the motherboard, but at the
moment I'm reluctant to start purchasing anything before I know for
certain that I need it. Any guidance would be greatly appreciated.
Jeff Keegan
Jun 17, 2010, 7:46:49 PM6/17/10
to new-engla...@googlegroups.com
Welcome!
Electronics wise, here's what you need to buy (if buying from Makerbot) to build a Mendel RepRap (if you're going for pre-assembled):
http://store.makerbot.com/electronics/assembled-electronics/generation-3-electronics-mostly-assembled.html
That includes one motherboard, one extruder controller, and three stepper driver boards.
You'll then need to do modifications to those boards with a soldering iron to change their configuration to match the Mendel specification based on this URL here:
http://objects.reprap.org/wiki/PCB_adaptions_for_Mendel
That was the part I did almost last.
(Some people have decided to not make those modifications, and instead improvised different wiring schemes etc.. bah).
Soldering isn't that hard to pick up.. It can be a pain in the ass sometimes, but it's worth it. Myself, I decided to avoid the whole surface-mounted-soldering-issue and didn't construct the above boards myself, but rather let the robots do it (when you buy them pre-assembled, it's a machine that's making those things, I think). I did the modifications in that URL, but none of the surface mounted stuff.
Just buying all of the "vitamin" parts you need (steel rod, bolts, nuts, washers, etc) is a journey in and of itself.. Do yourself a favor and keep track of everything in a google docs spreadsheet or something.
Good luck!
..Jeff
--
/=====================================================================\
| Jeff Keegan == jke...@keegan.org == http://www.keegan.org/jeff |
\=====================================================================/
Electronics wise, here's what you need to buy (if buying from Makerbot) to build a Mendel RepRap (if you're going for pre-assembled):
http://store.makerbot.com/electronics/assembled-electronics/generation-3-electronics-mostly-assembled.html
That includes one motherboard, one extruder controller, and three stepper driver boards.
You'll then need to do modifications to those boards with a soldering iron to change their configuration to match the Mendel specification based on this URL here:
http://objects.reprap.org/wiki/PCB_adaptions_for_Mendel
That was the part I did almost last.
(Some people have decided to not make those modifications, and instead improvised different wiring schemes etc.. bah).
Soldering isn't that hard to pick up.. It can be a pain in the ass sometimes, but it's worth it. Myself, I decided to avoid the whole surface-mounted-soldering-issue and didn't construct the above boards myself, but rather let the robots do it (when you buy them pre-assembled, it's a machine that's making those things, I think). I did the modifications in that URL, but none of the surface mounted stuff.
Just buying all of the "vitamin" parts you need (steel rod, bolts, nuts, washers, etc) is a journey in and of itself.. Do yourself a favor and keep track of everything in a google docs spreadsheet or something.
Good luck!
..Jeff
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| Jeff Keegan == jke...@keegan.org == http://www.keegan.org/jeff |
\=====================================================================/
pat weston
Jun 18, 2010, 8:24:14 AM6/18/10
to new-engla...@googlegroups.com
Are the vitamin parts included in the kit, or is that a whole other
can of worms?
can of worms?
AARON DOUBLE
Jun 18, 2010, 7:47:10 AM6/18/10
to new-engla...@googlegroups.com
I bought the Mendel hardware here:
in one kit.
Best,
Aaron Double
Jeff Keegan
Jun 18, 2010, 8:58:03 AM6/18/10
to new-engla...@googlegroups.com, new-engla...@googlegroups.com
"vitamin" parts are parts not printable by the printer - pieces you
need to add (currently including stepper motors, electronics, nuts,
bolts, washers, etc).
need to add (currently including stepper motors, electronics, nuts,
bolts, washers, etc).
I'm guessing the kit he mentioned doesn't include the printed or
RepRapped parts (RP) - those are another whole can of worms.
..Jeff
http://www.keegan.org/reprapblog
Sent from my iPhone
John Wasser
Jun 18, 2010, 11:40:33 AM6/18/10
to new-engla...@googlegroups.com
The $200 "Mendel Hardware Kit " from UltiMachine includes the screws,
nuts, washers, rods (threaded and plain) and bearings. For $26 they
sell a set of timing belts. The printable parts and electronics you
will have to get elsewhere.
nuts, washers, rods (threaded and plain) and bearings. For $26 they
sell a set of timing belts. The printable parts and electronics you
will have to get elsewhere.
pat weston
Jun 26, 2010, 8:29:15 PM6/26/10
to new-engla...@googlegroups.com
Alright, my makerbot industries package has arrived. So at this point I've got 3 stepper motor drivers, a motherboard, and an extruder controller board. http://profounddevices.com/ this website has a hardware kit for 285$. After I got that I would need to purchase/build the opto endstop circuit boards, stepper motors, and thermoplast extruder. Did I miss anything?
Shawn Wallace
Jun 30, 2010, 3:02:08 PM6/30/10
to new-engla...@googlegroups.com
Make sure you get a large enough power supply: a 400w atx supply is
speced.
speced.
--------------------
www.fluxly.com
On Jun 30, 2010, at 12:14 PM, John Wasser <john....@gmail.com> wrote:
> It's hard to tell what the ProfoundDevices kit includes and what more
> you need. It says that "this kit is without electronics, motors,
> arduino and power supply." I guess that means it will need at least
> three steppers and probably a fourth for the extruder. Since you have
> the MakerBot electronics you will not need the Arduino or the 24V
> power supply. You WILL need a PC power supply to power the MakerBot
> motherboard. You can probably salvage one from an old PC. It's not
> clear if you will need the opto-endstops. MakerBots used to come with
> them but don't anymore. I found them more trouble than help so I
> removed them from my MakerBot.
Jeff Keegan
Jun 30, 2010, 4:40:16 PM6/30/10
to new-engla...@googlegroups.com
Yes, you need opto-endstops (for a Mendel), but you only need three, not six.
You need a power supply, but NOT for the motherboard - instead it's for everything else. The motherboard on a Mendel is powered via the USB connection to the computer. The power supply powers the stepper driver boards and the extruder controller.
The power supply you need is 12V. As was said, you can use an old ATX power supply.
If you're making a Mendel, there are modifications you'll be making to all of the circuit boards you just purchased, as I described in a previous reply to you, described here:
http://objects.reprap.org/wiki/PCB_adaptions_for_Mendel
You'll also need to buy the electronic components for that work. mouser.com is a great place to look. I assembled my list of components by hand from those instructions, but someone's got to have an official list up by now. If you can't find a list of those pieces, or put it together yourself, lemme know and I'll look at the list of what I purchased and put together a list for you when I get a chance (but the way my schedule has been going, you'll probably get quicker results elsewhere).
Have you figured out where you're getting your plastic parts from yet? The good news is that people are starting to sell them, so they're hopefully somewhat available. I still believe in the idea of us all printing out parts for each other for the cost of a case of beer, but I don't have a working machine yet (so close).. I do know that to print the parts for MY machine (on a makerbot) took two solid months of effort. I look at people printing whole sheets of parts at a time on Mendel and I'm hopeful that that's what it will be like for all of us soon.
Keep us posted! Have you created a blog yet? Take a day of time (should take far less, but just in case) and go ahead and set one up (blogger.com is easy, or wordpress.com, if you run your own website there's the wordpress software for your own site, which is what I do. Trust me, having a blog to journal your progress helps give the whole project focus, let's your friends see how you're doing, and is a great reference for yourself later when you're going back to see what you did that time a month ago that you can't remember anymore. :)
Good luck!
..Jeff
You need a power supply, but NOT for the motherboard - instead it's for everything else. The motherboard on a Mendel is powered via the USB connection to the computer. The power supply powers the stepper driver boards and the extruder controller.
The power supply you need is 12V. As was said, you can use an old ATX power supply.
If you're making a Mendel, there are modifications you'll be making to all of the circuit boards you just purchased, as I described in a previous reply to you, described here:
http://objects.reprap.org/wiki/PCB_adaptions_for_Mendel
You'll also need to buy the electronic components for that work. mouser.com is a great place to look. I assembled my list of components by hand from those instructions, but someone's got to have an official list up by now. If you can't find a list of those pieces, or put it together yourself, lemme know and I'll look at the list of what I purchased and put together a list for you when I get a chance (but the way my schedule has been going, you'll probably get quicker results elsewhere).
Have you figured out where you're getting your plastic parts from yet? The good news is that people are starting to sell them, so they're hopefully somewhat available. I still believe in the idea of us all printing out parts for each other for the cost of a case of beer, but I don't have a working machine yet (so close).. I do know that to print the parts for MY machine (on a makerbot) took two solid months of effort. I look at people printing whole sheets of parts at a time on Mendel and I'm hopeful that that's what it will be like for all of us soon.
Keep us posted! Have you created a blog yet? Take a day of time (should take far less, but just in case) and go ahead and set one up (blogger.com is easy, or wordpress.com, if you run your own website there's the wordpress software for your own site, which is what I do. Trust me, having a blog to journal your progress helps give the whole project focus, let's your friends see how you're doing, and is a great reference for yourself later when you're going back to see what you did that time a month ago that you can't remember anymore. :)
Good luck!
..Jeff
It's hard to tell what the ProfoundDevices kit includes and what more
you need. It says that "this kit is without electronics, motors,
arduino and power supply." I guess that means it will need at least
three steppers and probably a fourth for the extruder. Since you have
the MakerBot electronics you will not need the Arduino or the 24V
power supply. You WILL need a PC power supply to power the MakerBot
motherboard. You can probably salvage one from an old PC. It's not
clear if you will need the opto-endstops. MakerBots used to come with
them but don't anymore. I found them more trouble than help so I
removed them from my MakerBot.
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