Ronthomp Mendel
Page 2
Think, Draw, Print. 3D printers ROCK!

First print.

December 9, 2011

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This is a major progress update. These are photos of the assembly you can click on to see details.



I stuck it in this photo booth for better lighting and to give details a background that is easier to see than my junk.



There are 12 LM8UU linear ball bushings, 4 on each axis. Hopefully these will improve the longevity of the machine.



This still has the XL belting and printed pulleys. I think MXL belts and machined pulleys are in the future for increased accuracy.
Notice the X belt is twisted. This is to allow the smooth side of the belt to ride against the idler bearing. This helps reduce the jerkiness of the X axis motion.



I robbed the Wades extruder and RAMPS 1.2 electronics from my current Prusa Mendel. I was planning to build a 1.4 with an SD card, but all the small parts aren't here, yet.
That's an old PC power supply on the left. The dim light is an automotive 12V bulb I use on the 5V line to load it. (The PC supply requires a load on the 5V line to make the full 12V output.)




It's hard to see in this photo, but the circle is actually pretty round. I am well pleased with the accuracy of this first print.
The frame has proved to be very rigid. There is no discernable wobble or distortion during the print.
The printer is sitting on a one legged adjustable table that goes over a hospital bed (below). The table moves during the print, but no more than it did with the Prusa.



My spools are currently sitting in a milk crate.



They spin just fine on a piece of 1" PVC pipe. I made the pipe holders to keep it centered.



Somewhere in that rats nest above, you can see the Y axis home switch. I made an adjustable switch mount that allows the switch to contact the edge of the build platform. This allows maximum Y travel.



This shot shows two add ons. One is an easily adjusted Z height control and the other is a similar X axis switch mount.

Yet to do:
Make the legs longer. It currently rests on the Z axis motors.
Narrow the slots where the bolts slide.
Create finished STL files.
Create Bill of Materials.
Create detailed assembly instructions.


Here is a poor video of the first print:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SoZCtaX8Bnw



Also published with part files on Thingiverse.
http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:14451


OH! I almost forgot, I have something extra for pronterface users.
Now you can have a pop up box to ask if you are sure you want to exit!
I accidentally hit the red X and exited about 2 hours into a long print. ARGH! No warning, it just stopped the print and exited.
I asked on reprap IRC for a cure and found others had the same problem, but no cure.
I am not much of a programmer, so I asked at the Orlando Hackerspace (Familab) for a Python GURU.
Luckily, thantik responded and shortly had the answer.
******************************
Replace the kill function in pronterface.py with this:

    def kill(self,e):
        dlg = wx.MessageDialog(self, "Want to exit?", "Exit", wx.YES_NO | wx.ICON_QUESTION)
        if dlg.ShowModal() == wx.ID_YES:
           
            self.statuscheck=0
            self.p.recvcb=None
            self.p.disconnect()
            if hasattr(self,"feedrates_changed"):
                self.save_in_rc("set xy_feedrate","set xy_feedrate %d" % self.settings.xy_feedrate)
                self.save_in_rc("set z_feedrate","set z_feedrate %d" % self.settings.z_feedrate)
                self.save_in_rc("set e_feedrate","set e_feedrate %d" % self.settings.e_feedrate)
            try:
                self.gwindow.Destroy()
            except:
                pass
            self.Destroy()
        dlg.Destroy()
********************************
You will be rewarded with this:



Please feel free to ask any questions in the comment box, below.
Several people have expressed an interest to support my work, so I have included a paypal donate button.


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