Hi @skarab thank you for sharing your build it looks great! Assembly seems simple and straight forward.
@skarab Thank you but its guys like you willing to share what you have built and what you have learned that make it great, we just started the ball rolling
The new pics you post look fantastic! I really like this one The prints are coming out great on this machine
Yes, I'm really happy For first tests it's great. The extruder has a little paine, I think change to a geared extruder in order to go faster.
Yeah they always are, but I have just bought a E3D all metal hot end and I am hopeful. From reading the 3D printer forums that its 'the one' to have. We will see http://www.filastruder.com/products/all-metal-e3d-hotend
Yep the E3D has a good reputation. But I've already invested in another project: Pico All-Metal Hotend up to 500°C and yet my j-head going very well, it is really the body of the extruder which is not great. Direct drive does not have enough torque.
I was thinking J head as a lot of people seem to like that one as well. What about a bigger stepper or a geared stepper
I think a geared stepper and a geared extruder have the same performance. But i think a bigger stepper does not solve the problem... In addition, the lever of the extruder does not push enough, this system does not seem serious.
Using one 20mm extrusion might not have enough meat to handle the entire direct drive extruder assembly. Steppers can generate enough tourque to pull your hot end around while it's extruding or retracting. You might try using a geared stepper, but instead of using a direct drive, maybe entertain the idea using a Bowden's style extrusion system. This would significantly lighten the load on your X and Z axis, allowing you to print much faster. (In theory anyway) It does have it's own drawbacks, but it might be worth looking into.
@kram242 I hope too. @Aravoth: Yes you are right, the Bowden system should be considered. But it also has its incionveniants. Must be tested
Nice looking build! Would you recommend a thicker X axis Vslot if you were using dual nozzles? Let's say 20x40 or even 20x60 to hold both nozzles/extruders/fans?
Yes I would recommend an x-axis more rigid, perhaps two V-Slot 20x20, rather than 40 or 60, if more direct drive, or geared extruder. Maybe mounting as the Y axis but 20x20 and vertically ... But I think for printing in several colors / materials, Bowden is a best solutions without changing the X axis (which is not so flexible).
New firmware supporting Auto Leveling for Z-Axis, it would be a good thing to add for such great printer. Also I may try to use it for PCB milling.....
Auto-leveling is a very good thing, but very difficult to implement. Z-probing is much simpler, but in my opinion it is not useful, normally once properly adjusted the bed does not move. Another more simple solution that requires no changes in the hardware, but only on the firmware : the semi-automatic leveling, see this video from the Kühling brothers . I use smoothie firmware on the wonderful smoothieboard. I have add the config file, but only for information. At the moment I'm still looking the best settings. Remember this is a work in progress, all is not yet set to perfection. I apologize again for my English, I am not aware if it is readable or not for you. (I use a translator)
no need to apologize it all good to me. thank you ... im buying my parts now BUT OH http://www.motedis.com do not ship to the U.K. trying to find the Profile B-type slot 6 - 20 x 20 x 430mm and so on,,, else were can any one help?