Hardware upgrade: After wiring the 8-pin CPU power connector to go to the relay board and connecting my Cupcake's new PSU, the machine no longer skips steps in the Z-axis nor in the extruder and the heated build platform and extruder nozzle heat up in a more timely manner. My reasoning for wiring an 8-pin CPU power connector to the relay board was to ensure that the heater elements would have enough power and not take it from the steppers. I'm pretty sure this works because the CPU power is o...| Cyrozap's Tech Projects
After 3 years of faithfully supplying power to my MakerBot Cupcake, the power supply has finally died. Every time I switched it on, it would turn right off. That's not bad for 3 years of use, especially considering that I probably started using too much power when I switched to a stepper extruder with power resistor heating with the MK6 upgrade. I've already found an amazing new power supply for it, but it has an air intake on one of its larger sides, so I'll have to cut a hole (or drill a bu...| Cyrozap's Tech Projects
All I have left is to wire up the power supply and attach the heated bed!| Cyrozap's Tech Projects
Progress on the RepRap has slowed to a crawl and it's really bumming me out. Building from kits is SO much easier than sourcing the parts yourself. I've probably gotten the final cost estimate into the $600-$700 range by now. Anyway, I need your help. I just need to print out the new X-carriage, get some M3x25mm bolts, buy some MDF for the Y-stage, and get a hot end. However, I don't really know what to get. What are the recommended dimensions for the Y-stage (LM8UU bearings)? What's the best...| Cyrozap's Tech Projects
A week ago, I bought three 3' lengths of 8mm smooth rod for my Prusa Mendel because I wanted to use LM8UU bearings. After receiving the rod and cutting it, I've fond that they make a huge difference in reducing play between the linear bearings and the rods. With 5/16" rod, you could feel the bearings wiggle. Now there is no wiggle at all! If you're building a "United States customary units" Prusa Mendel and are ordering online and might use LM8UU bearings now or in the future, get 8mm rods. T...| Cyrozap's Tech Projects
Well, the cheap-o linear bearings work! However, they are quite noisy (not unexpected). Unfortunately, I have to print a new set of parts that incorporate the LM8UU holder design to get them to work well with the machine.| Cyrozap's Tech Projects
Today, I bought some linear bearings (against Spacexula's recommendation). I got the 12 el-cheapo LM8UU bearings on ebay for $18 because I figured they might work better than brass bushings. If they don't, $18 isn't a huge loss. I heard there are some small issues with the cheap bearings, but I think I'll be fine. While I wait for the bearings to arrive, I will be cutting the threaded rods down to size and I'll begin assembling the machine.| Cyrozap's Tech Projects
Well, I finally pulled the metaphorical trigger and bought the hardware for my SAE Prusa Mendel. It's so exciting! I probably overpaid ($73.88 + shipping), but it was nice to get everything all at once from McMaster-Carr (I don't have a hardware store near me that sells the rods or belts). Once I get the hardware (sometime next week) I'll start building the frame. Things are getting interesting...| Cyrozap's Tech Projects
Well, it was! I met some really cool people this year and it's always great to put faces to names. I was amazed by Andrew Diehl's "Fablicator" and the double-tall Ultimaker—these things are game changers. I can see the Fablicator directly competing with 3D System's lowest-cost pre-assembled printers and MakerBot's pre-assembled Thing-O-Matic, and it's really an amazing deal considering the Fablicator is made out of aluminum and it includes a computer with all the software pre-installed. A l...| Cyrozap's Tech Projects
I've decided to print as many parts as I can to make a Prusa Mendel. Hopefully I can make enough parts so I can just ask some people to make the parts my CupCake can't make. Currently, every object I make has too much perimeter material—parts designed to interlock don't fit. I've tried to fix this in Skeinforge, but right now I'm adjusting my belt tension to see if that helps. My CupCake fails on large prints, so I'll need help on those. The goal of getting my MakerBot was to get it to make...| Cyrozap's Tech Projects
World Maker Faire NYC was awesome! I took a ton of video, but I still need to edit out all the boring stuff. I've also now listed my refurbished & unlocked Blackberry on ebay ($150 + shipping), though the ebay fees are really high, so I'd prefer it if you'd buy it on SellSimply. In fact, I've dropped the price on the SellSimply one to $130 with Free USPS Priority Mail Flat-rate shipping (I only ship free to the US, though). I'll be selling some CRT monitors soon (one of them is a 21" one with...| Cyrozap's Tech Projects
I just thought of an amazing alternative to the RepRap motherboard that doesn't need a computer to drive it: the BeagleBoard! This way, you could have it interpret the G-code directly and quickly (as opposed to MakerBot's way of doing that work on the computer and then sending different, simpler commands over the serial lines, keeping the heavy-lifting off of the µController). In my hypothetical setup, the stepper drivers would be run directly from the computer, like how most CNC machines ar...| Cyrozap's Tech Projects
This set of parts is a little over half of all the parts needed to build a RepRap Mendel. If I don't get any offers for the complete half-set, I will start offering parts individually. If you want individual parts, please contact me at cyrozap AT gmail DOT com. Make offers on it at http://sellsimp.ly/6s.| Cyrozap's Tech Projects
Go to http://sellsimp.ly/5z to see the Mendel Mini parts that I posted! It's a half-set, so if you're having trouble printing some of the parts for the Mendel Mini, or want to get a head start on printing your own set, this is the set for you! If I don't get any offers for the complete half-set, I'll start offering parts individually. Email me if you're interested in individual parts.| Cyrozap's Tech Projects