Upgrading my old Reprap Air 2 Hi all, I have decided to start a new project for the summer; Upgrading my old Reprap Air 2. Currently the smooth rods are quite bad, and the machine is quite flexible and wobbly. Nothing like my newer MendelMax 1.5. So, I've designed a box that wraps all around the internals of the Air 2. To replace the plexiglass frame. The rendering is not the final product, it is more of an idea. [attachment 30346 ScreenShot2014-04-09at11.20.33.png] What I'm wondering about is, will the 1204 ballscrew rods from RobotDIGG be a good replacement for the standard 8mm threaded rods that I have on my machine now? [www.robotdigg.com] And since the rods only cost 30 dollars, and the stepper motors with threaded rods on them already are only a little more expensive: [www.robotdigg.com] I guess that I would still need 2x anti-backlash nut if I buy the stepper motor version, and on top of that, if the stepper motor would ever break down, I have to replace the whole part which might cost me more by the time it breaks down. It is not neccesary, but if a Ballscrew/Leadscrew rod gives a significant improvement over a threaded rod I might consider buying a set. https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,337244,337244#msg-337244 Mon, 14 Sep 2026 22:35:33 -0400 Phorum 5.2.23 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,337244,338529#msg-338529 Re: Upgrading my old Reprap Air 2 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,337244,338529#msg-338529
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REPRAP SQUAD
Also, make sure you get a shipping quote from robotdigg as it can cost a lot more than the parts. Depending on your location as for me they are overseas and charge a ton for shipping.

Hi, thanks for the tip, it was one of the first things I asked them for actually, as it indeed comes out a bit higher than expected so I would have to cut off a few parts from my wanted list.

Does anyone have experience with those ballscrew rods I asked for? The 1204 ones?
I'm really doubting using them since I already have very good experiences with M5 threaded Z-rods.

I can imagine those ballscrew rods are less prone to wear and wobble though.]]> Ohmarinus General Fri, 11 Apr 2014 15:51:16 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,337244,338179#msg-338179 Re: Upgrading my old Reprap Air 2 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,337244,338179#msg-338179 REPRAP SQUAD General Thu, 10 Apr 2014 23:32:28 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,337244,337571#msg-337571 Re: Upgrading my old Reprap Air 2 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,337244,337571#msg-337571
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Ohmarinus
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ekaggrat
a better option would be to just get the parts for a prusa i3 or a mendel 90 laser cut out of mdf or melamine and transfer all your parts to that ....

But I'd hate to do that ;) My life philosophy is to learn new things, not to buy readymades!
Trust me, just getting a Mendel90 frame that's been laster cut is definitely not readymade any more than a threaded or smooth rod that's been cut to length, or a wire with an connector already crimped on. Yeah it's a step you could have done. But it's a long ways away from readymade.]]> cdru General Wed, 09 Apr 2014 16:15:43 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,337244,337564#msg-337564 Re: Upgrading my old Reprap Air 2 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,337244,337564#msg-337564
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Ohmarinus
But I'd hate to do that ;) My life philosophy is to learn new things, not to buy readymades!

Attempting to learn new thing is quite a good idea. However ... how many times was the 3D printer frame re-invented now? 500 times? 800?

Much more interesting would be to put attention to details. Like changing only small things an recording how this influences print quality.]]> Traumflug General Wed, 09 Apr 2014 16:11:02 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,337244,337284#msg-337284 Re: Upgrading my old Reprap Air 2 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,337244,337284#msg-337284
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ekaggrat
a better option would be to just get the parts for a prusa i3 or a mendel 90 laser cut out of mdf or melamine and transfer all your parts to that ....

But I'd hate to do that ;) My life philosophy is to learn new things, not to buy readymades!

However, just buying rods without any knowledge is just plain dumb, so thats why I'm asking for others' experiences.]]> Ohmarinus General Wed, 09 Apr 2014 06:55:48 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,337244,337260#msg-337260 Re: Upgrading my old Reprap Air 2 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,337244,337260#msg-337260 ekaggrat General Wed, 09 Apr 2014 06:14:13 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,337244,337244#msg-337244 Upgrading my old Reprap Air 2 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,337244,337244#msg-337244
Currently the smooth rods are quite bad, and the machine is quite flexible and wobbly. Nothing like my newer MendelMax 1.5.
So, I've designed a box that wraps all around the internals of the Air 2. To replace the plexiglass frame.

The rendering is not the final product, it is more of an idea.

[attachment 30346 ScreenShot2014-04-09at11.20.33.png]

What I'm wondering about is, will the 1204 ballscrew rods from RobotDIGG be a good replacement for the standard 8mm threaded rods that I have on my machine now?
[www.robotdigg.com]

And since the rods only cost 30 dollars, and the stepper motors with threaded rods on them already are only a little more expensive:
[www.robotdigg.com]

I guess that I would still need 2x anti-backlash nut if I buy the stepper motor version, and on top of that, if the stepper motor would ever break down, I have to replace the whole part which might cost me more by the time it breaks down.

It is not neccesary, but if a Ballscrew/Leadscrew rod gives a significant improvement over a threaded rod I might consider buying a set.]]> Ohmarinus General Wed, 09 Apr 2014 05:42:29 -0400