Finally started building MakerBot #340 (batch 9)

[Eric Smith]

I've got the basic frame and the Z axis completed. I don't have a hot
glue gun, so I wasn't able to finish the X and Y stages yet. I'll buy
or borrow one tomorrow. My kit was missing the M3 washers, but so far
I haven't run into any other difficulties.

I'm slightly disappointed that the one place that there is a visible
knot on the veneer of the laser-cut plywood is right after the "t" of
"MakerBot" on the front of the machine. Oh well.

I'm still eager to build a Fat Makerbot with a 200mm wide build
platform, but first I'll get the standard one built and working. I'm
wondering whether for the Fat Makerbot I can get by with an unmodified
X stage, or whether that will make the build platform to unstable. I
guess I may as well try it.

I also want to experiment with support material. I think I have a
source that can make me something similar to the breakaway support
material used in the Dimension BST printers. I'll need to figure out
how to get to Mk IV Plastruders into a MakerBot, or build two
Paxtruders or something. Ideally there would be a way to raise and
lower the extruders individually very slightly (probably without
moving the Z stage). The Dimension printers have their two extruders
on a pivoting assembly. I haven't thought up any clever alternative
yet.

Eric

[Tox]

I used masking tape to hold the bushings into the xy stages for
months, eventually used a drop of superglue instead - with the rails
oiled it should take very little to hold the bushings in place.

--
Scott Small