Here’s a quick preview of my latest t-slot RepStrap design, the T-Rep 2.
I’ve incorporated a few things I’ve learned from building my first t-slot RepStrap. But I’ve also approached the problem with different set of goals.
Control Box and Heater Test 3
Posted by Tim
on February 26, 2010
I’ve just completed a new control box for my RepStrap. It houses a PID temperature control & SSR, 24V power supply, Gecko G540 4 axis stepper controller, fan, E-Stop switch, and other associated switches/connectors. Some pics:
I attached the heater element to the bottom of my build surface, and mounted the thermocouple (not shown).
The PID control is very easy to use. It has an auto-tune mode that quickly dialed in the appropriate PID parameters. Upping the set point to 120C, it took about 5 minutes for the temperature to reach that value and stabilize. The heater duty cycle appeared to be somewhere around 60%.
I’m really happy with how easily the heater system came together, and the performance seems more than adequate for my needs.
My concern now is for that 120C plate. This plate is really HOT! In my previous machine with no heater, or with the 60C heater, I’m constantly touching the plate. Now, it is a real hazard for the unwary or someone as forgetful as myself.
Build Surface Heater, Take 2 2
Posted by Tim
on February 22, 2010
My previous attempt at building a heated build surface seemed like a success. Then Nophead came along and demonstrated beautiful results with his Kapton/high-temp approach (>100 C) which immediately made my work obsolete. I couldn’t easily achieve temperatures that high without moving to higher voltages, which would then necessitate a redesign of my controller.
This time around, I’m trying the off-the-shelf approach:
- 4×4 flexible silicone rubber heater, 115VAC, with pressure sensitive adhesive on one side, ~$30
- Commercial PID temperature controller, $42
- Type-K thermocouple, ~$6
It’s not the cheapest approach, but it should be a pretty simple system to get up and running, and produce more than enough heat for any printing scenario.
I haven’t yet tried the Auber Instruments controller, but if it works, $40 for PID control seems like a great deal. For the baristas out there, they also sell a kit to upgrade your high-end espresso machine to PID temperature control — awesome!
T-Slot RepStrap Progress 3 8
Posted by Tim
on February 22, 2010
Yesterday I finished assembling the z-axis and installed it on the support structure. This photo shows the bot pretty much complete, sans extruder and drive belts:
All in all, a pretty nice looking machine.
The z-axis is a self-contained unit, making it very easy to assemble and maintain:
I’ll be assembling the control electronics this week.
T-Slot RepStrap Progress 2
Posted by Tim
on February 18, 2010
A few more pics from my RepStrap build:
Adding a build surface:
And then adding the gantry:
Somehow I ran out of T-nuts, so I’ll be working on other stuff until the parts arrive. Here’s a quick video showing the movement of the Y-Axis:
T-Slot RepStrap Progress 1
Posted by Tim
on February 16, 2010
Just returned from a week of vacation - time to get back to robot building!
A desk covered with robot parts is always a beautiful sight:
The 8020 stuff assembles very nicely, as you can see here:
All the flat parts were cut with a waterjet. I buffed the outside edges with a Scotch-Brite wheel, and reamed the close tolerance holes. There were also a few holes that had to be tapped. Lastly, I pressed the bushings into their locations. All told, it took me about 2 hours of prep to get to the bolt-together stage.
Here’s a closeup shot of some flat parts:
More to come…