Hey Digger! Looks like you really were ready to pull the pink out for this one! VERY, VERY neat.

Now that you've got it together using these altered parts, how do you think it stacks up against the regular MM (as if there is one)?

Great job.
Larry

 

Man it looks nice!

 

Hi digger! You mentioned a bigger MendleMax. Can you share some details or a link about that? I've got a pile of parts and extrusions all for a super-size MM2+. I'd love to see what you've done.

See ya pal.
Larry

 

Great! I'd like to build up a large format printer, on the order of at least 500x500 build area. I'd like to start it after I finish the CNC Router I'm building right now. http://www.openbuilds.com/threads/g...are-strength-power-and-speed.1549/#post-16101

It sounds like you and I think alike about the LM_UU bearings, I agree that the V-wheels are a VERY nice upgrade. If a person is going to the expense of using hardened, polished rods and good quality bearings (not the Chinese Ebay "stuff"), the V-wheels, rail combos make excellent sense. Plus it's great watching a printer swoosh around at acel-decel numbers that would tear up an typical printer. Of course you need slightly more powerful steppers (I'm using 72 inoz NEMA 17's from Automation Technologies) and 8825 drivers.

 

That's cool digger. It touches on one of my "projects" which is to design a printer that anybody can build in 4hrs or an experienced person 2hrs. Have all the parameters preloaded on a ramps that only needs to have cables plugged into jacks. No fiddling with making up connector ends, zero soldering, nothing plugs into the board itself and the mechanicals all built into "bricks" that are screwed together into a final printer. Not a true kit, but not a "printer in a box" either. Sorta like model airplane ARF kits - just add glue, a motor and a radio. Tab 'A' into slot 'a'. Include a disk with a Sketch, Ponterface, Slicer a handful of well tested first builds that are more than the standard 20mm cube.

Next up the real deal closer, a $300-400 pricetag. Affordable, accessible technology that any working parent can use to open a new world for their kids. Mom or dad does not HAVE to be a Maker to kick the door open, or break into the collage fund to finance it and it still be as good a printer as our Mendel's. I'll have a prototype up and running in a couple weeks. As soon as I finish my CNC Router.

 

Hey Pal, no problem and I think you might have taken something I said wrong, or I (most likely) failed to properly express my idea. I have no desire to build and sell kits. None at all. But if I can come up with a beginner build that won't intimidate folks who are not as experienced or knowledgeable as we are to successfully complete a build it would be far better than seeing them give up and walk away. You had mentioned the people who start a build, get lost and never complete it - to me, that's the greatest loss. The people who with a bit of help or a slightly less aggressive learning curve could move on to learn and grew with it.

When I mention a price as being the 'real deal closer', I really could have used better language. So let me try again and I'll try to remove my foot from my mouth. While I'm in absolute favor of maker spaces and the folks who show up and are willing to share all the knowledge they have built, my hats off to them and to you for all you give. In my area there is no makerspace, but there ARE lots of guys like me who are willing to open their shops to people who really want to learn new skills.

Some are like a young man who drops in at my place. A really nice kid who is really sharp, but he has parents that have zero ability help him with the things he wants to learn. They don't understand the drive to create or build and since they spend all their away from work in bars or in front of a TV getting stoned, they could care less. To ask them to pop $1000 for a 3d printer kit would be a waste of effort, they don't have it and wouldn't use it for a printer if they did. There are lots of kids like him out there and I think reaching them with a printer like I described (that I'd probably pay for) could be the difference between a kid saved from or lost to the same 'lifestyle' as his parents. Low cost is pretty important in a case like this. I want to help, but my pockets are only so deep.

I know I have not mentioned it since it's really not important in most cases, but I'm a totally disabled vet who lives in a power wheelchair. There is a Makerspace that has started in a town around 50 miles from us here in rural IL. For most people that's not far at all, but for me it's a journey that requires a lot. If my health is not perfect, I have to get somebody to drive me in my van and I don't want to get into all the details about what it's like, but when you make a effort to go someplace and then discover that it's upstairs in a building with no elevator or no ramp at the door, it don't matter how well equipped they are. (BTW, I have a wonderfully equipped shop at home). This is not a slam, the space was temporarily donated to them as they start up.

If I can design a printer that some company can build the kits at a price point where they can still make the percentage they need to keep lights on and bills paid it's all good. If I can take a kit like that and reach a life that's floundering, it's great! And if I can turn on some young person to technology and making, it's totally awesome!

 

You two are really good guys. ( DiggerJ & Stargeezer ) Going out of your way to help someone learn new skills. One thing about being a Geek, ( or a geek want to be as my roommate calls me) we always want to learn new thing to make us grow and then pass the knowledge on to help another person learn new things.

 

Heck yeah I'm all good buddy. Was never anything else. I'm the one who didn't explain himself in a reasoned manner, thereby causing you to get upset. Kickstarter is a pretty awesome idea, but there has got to be a lot of research into the company you are putting your money into or it can be a black hole that money goes into and nothing comes out. That's a shame.

My son is putting together a small business plan that he hopes to use some sort of crowd funding to help with the startup. He's spent 6 years buying equipment, truck, dumping his paycheck into the ground work. Everything is debt free and now he's saving to cover rent and insurance - the business insurance is going to cost as much per year as his big welder did (he's a welder BTW). He's hoping to raise operating funds to cover the first year as he get things rolling. I don't recall the name of the crowd funding group he's working with, but they specialize in service businesses and seem to do a lot of background checking. That's all good in my mind. I'll also add that I won't be advertising to raise funds for him - he's a rock solid guy and a very hard worker, a good investment in my mind, but, I don't want to be known as "that" guy who is raising money for their kid.

 

JustinTime, I hope I don't have that issue because I also got my LM8UU on ebay. I know a lot of stuff is good but then you never know when some one is selling headaches. The guy I got my bearings has a 100% rating. So I hope I'm ok.

 

Thanks for the heads up on the bushings Digger, I was looking for some. They seen to be out of stock right now, but Amazon says there are more coming.

 

ok, Perhaps they will be back in stock by then.

Last month I saw a printer build by a guy in France who was using chrome plated brass tubing for rods and on the parts he was printing that typically required bearings, he was printing little fingers that contacted the tubing. I'd think it would be short lived even if it was kept well lubed. I was interested because of our previous discussion. These bushings might be a viable alternative to that weak spot in his design.

 

freenix3k - was that "sidewinder"? No matter who it is on Ebay, if it was a cheaper price they are Chinese bearings, imported by the seller, price tripled and listed on Ebay. While there may be a seller who has a better source, all I have seen there seem to come from one of a couple plants. I gave up trying to find good bearings at a reasonable price and now I order from the Chinese vendor in quantity and check the bearings for fit when they arrive. I keep the best fitting ones, donate a bunch to high school teacher who gets them to kids who are making things. The worse ones I simply throw into the trash. For what I pay for the case, I still come out ahead. I wish it were a different story, but industrial quality bearings are just out of my price range. I can buy that whole box from China for what 3-4 US bearings would cost.

Truly sad.

After using these bearings for a while I have learned that there are a few things you need to do before using them in your machine. First of all check for fit, you will be amazed at the difference between them. Select the ones that fit the best. In short they should slip onto a rod with minimal (read - no effort, you don't want a press fit)effort. Before slipping and bearing onto and shaft, the cut edge of the rod must be smoothly beveled so that no sharp edge cuts the inside of the bearing. After selecting your bearings, pour a inch of paint thinner into a plastic container, drop your bearings in and agitate the container. Let them soak a few minutes, agitate again and remove the bearings. Look into the container and see if there are any ball bearings that have fallen out. If you see any, you'll need to examine your bearings to find the one shedding and discard them. Repeat. Lay the bearings out on a towel to completely dry. Be patient and resist the urge to blow them out with compressed air. It will blow them apart.

To lube the now clean bearing, a light oil is recommended. I like Marvel Mystery oil that can be found at any auto supply store. I soak them in a container of the oil for a few hours. This gives time foe the oil to seep into every little space in the bearing. There are all kinds of lubes you can use, but stay away from automotive engine oils. They contain treatments that can actually harm the bearings.

During use of my printer, I have a small squeeze bottle of Marvel Mystery oil that I use to put a drop or two on each of the rods, being careful not to drop any onto the print or print bed.

 

I have used Marvel Mystery oil before it is good stuff. As for the bearings they shipped from California so they should be ok for the printer I am building.

 

Do you have a link? As I said, I'd really like to find quality US bearings I can afford.

 

http://www.ebay.com/itm/291375363762 and http://www.ebay.com/itm/181314646408 , these are the 2 sellers I got bearing from.

 

Yeah, Chinese manufacturer.