RepRapPro Mendel

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Revision as of 09:49, 7 April 2012 by Adrianbowyer (talk | contribs) (Introduction)
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This page is under construction

Introduction | Frame assembly | Y axis assembly | X axis assembly | Z axis assembly | Heated bed assembly | Extruder drive assembly | Hot end assembly | Power supply | Wiring | Commissioning | Printing | Multi‑colour/multi‑materials | Colour Printing - Slic3r | Colour Printing - RepRapPro Slicer | Maintenance | Troubleshooting | Improvements

A notice about these instructions!

Since 1st April 2013, the RepRapPro Mendel has been superseded by the RepRapPro Tricolour and Mono Mendel.
If you are building the new machine, use the official, and most up to date, instructions on the RepRapPro wiki here


Introduction

RepRapPro Mendel fitted with Melzi electronics

These pages are the complete instructions for building, commissioning and using the RepRapPro Ltd version of RepRap Mendel.

Like all RepRap machines, RepRapPro Mendel is fully open-source. It is licenced under the GPL. All the design files and software are available from the RepRapPro Ltd Github repository; the electronics are here: https://github.com/mosfet/melzi. And it is here in the Thingiverse.

If you want to print the plastic parts for a RepRapPro Mendel, see this wiki page.

RepRapPro Mendel is based partly on Prusa Mendel with many alterations and additions. It was designed from the start to accommodate multiple extruders to allow colour printing and the printing of single parts with several different materials built into them.

General notes

Give yourself plenty of space and ensure your work area is clean. Dust and dirt are a 3D printer's worst enemy. All printed parts have been printed on various RepRap machines from suppliers within the RepRap community. Despite the fact that these machines are highly tuned RepRap 3D printers, some holes and features may need a little fettling to get the best performance from the RepRapPro Mendel. This is especially true for the Igus bushings used for the Z axis. There is a video how-to on fettling 3D printed parts here on Vimeo.

Before you start the build, please ensure you have all the components as listed on the packing list included in the kit. If anything is missing, please contact us via email: Reprappro-em.png

We understand that people may want to change aspects of the machine's design, and in fact we encourage this as it is one of the benefits of open source development. Before changing anything, please be aware that the RepRapPro Mendel has been designed to maximise the build volume relative to the the machine's footprint, and as such many of its components fit closely to others. So consider your changes carefully before you try to implement them. And when you find improvements, please tell us so that we can include them in future kits, and so that existing owners can upgrade their own machines.

BEFORE YOU ATTEMPT TO ASSEMBLE ANY PART OF THE RepRapPro Mendel 3D PRINTER, PLEASE READ THESE BUILD INSTRUCTIONS FULLY AND ENSURE YOU UNDERSTAND THEM. Although all parts are covered by warranty, this will be invalidated by your not following these build instructions.

The RepRapPro Mendel is a robust RepRap machine once assembled; however it does require a certain amount of care during assembly. If in doubt, force is usually not the answer! There are many ways to get support and advice, see the Get Support section below.

Table of Contents

  1. Frame assembly
  2. Y axis assembly
  3. X axis assembly
  4. Z axis assembly
  5. Heated bed assembly
  6. Extruder drive assembly
  7. Hot end assembly
  8. Wiring
  9. Commissioning
  10. Printing
  11. Maintenance
  12. Troubleshooting
  13. Improvements

Get support

If you find you need help or advice with assembling, commissioning or using your RepRapPro Mendel 3d printer, you can use the following channels:

  • Our Forum. This is shared with the eMaker and RepRapPro Huxley forum, as the machines are so similar.
  • Email Reprappro-em.png

Tool List

Mechanical

Reprappro-huxley-mechanical.jpg


Tools required for the mechanical build of the RepRapPro Mendel 3D printer:

  • Drill bits
  • Precision screwdriver set
  • A set of allen keys
  • 13mm spanner (M8 nut)
  • 15cm adjustable spanner
  • File
  • Half round needle file
  • Craft knife
  • Fine tweezers
  • 300mm rule
  • Vernier or digital callipers
  • Square
  • Fine nosed pliers
  • Pliers
  • Bench vice
  • For the Hot End Assembly you will also need some PTFE plumber's tape


Electrical

Reprappro-huxley-electrical.jpg

Tools required for the electrical build of the RepRapPro Mendel 3D printer:

  • Digital Multimeter
  • A fine-tipped soldering iron
  • Precision screwdrivers
  • Solder (flux is also useful)
  • Hair dryer (or other heat source for heating heatshrink wire sleeving; the barrel of a soldering iron works OK)
  • Wire strippers/cutters
  • Ratchet crimp tool
  • Molex crimp tool (such as the 63811-1000, you may also want the extraction tool 11-03-0044, Molexkits.com)
  • Scissors



Next step

Frame assembly