An alternative to buying a bad kit for $300-500 You can get a well engineered, industrial grade mechanism, fully assembled, for the price of a poorly designed kit of low quality parts: http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_sacat=0&_nkw=cubex%203d%20printer&rt=nc&LH_Complete=1 Look how many of them have sold in the $200-300 range! The CubeX Duo is badly reviewed, mostly because it uses proprietary filament cartridges and slicing software, and tech support is poor. If you've ever built a 3D printer, you know how to wire a controller board and tune things up. Swap out the controller for one of the open source boards and you've got a great machine for the price of an "i" kit. The mechanism is a solidly built Cartesian with two Y axis motors. The X axis motor is mounted on and moves with the X axis. Build volume is about 270 x 270 x 240 mm. It has dual extruders with hot-end and print cooling fans. The Z axis is cantilevered, driven by a lead screw, and is reasonably stable. It uses a sensible 3 point bed leveling scheme and is solid enough that leveling will be infrequent. The bed plate is not heated and is removable. It uses glue to hold prints on some sort of white plastic surface. It even comes with a tool kit! It also comes with two filament cartridges which you can turn around and sell on ebay for $20-40 each to recoup some of your investment. I bought one today, new in box, for $258.74 including shipping. How could I resist? They're practically giving them away! I'll be swapping out the controller board and modifying or replacing the extruders. I think it will cost another $200 or so and probably 20-30 hours of tinkering to get it working the way I want. https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,707941,707941#msg-707941 Sun, 12 Jul 2026 14:25:18 -0400 Phorum 5.2.23 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,707941,885457#msg-885457 Re: An alternative to buying a bad kit for $300-500 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,707941,885457#msg-885457 I use the control panel to preheat the nozzles so I can load and unload filaments.
Also I monitor the temps as I have one filament that if it gets too hot, will always jam! (cheap but bonds well)...
Yes, I'm using the original head/nozzles but open to replacing them as well...
All in all, I'm happy with my set up with 2 extruders, I like the thing you did with swapping the Z and Y axes if the set up allows for two motors without the use of an external board.
It's been a true learning curve for me as I didn't really have much in the way of 3d printing experience before, now I have many Ender 3's and one Monoprice Mini and love to make stuff.
The CubeX was my first try at converting to standard filaments, got it working for the most part.
You are correct about the head alignment, PITA, even with just 2 working...
Thanks again for the help,
Bill]]> gt500 General Wed, 11 Aug 2021 15:15:13 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,707941,885419#msg-885419 Re: An alternative to buying a bad kit for $300-500 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,707941,885419#msg-885419 The rumba board if I recall has 6 stepper controllers so with the cube that could be X, 2xY, Z, E0, E1 and E2 (using the Y output to drive both cube Y steppers).
Marlin 2.0 is capable of then driving 3 extruders and you would be able to select the third extruder the same way as you would currently do with the first and second.
My setup has 3 extruders but only one printer nozzle so the set up/configuration is very different for three extruders with 3 heads. I assume you are still using the original extruders and nozzles from the Cube. I didn't want to go that way because of all the weight on the carriage and also would think Z alignment to be a real headache with that set up.]]> jimboh3 General Tue, 10 Aug 2021 11:39:04 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,707941,885411#msg-885411 Re: An alternative to buying a bad kit for $300-500 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,707941,885411#msg-885411 Sorry, I've forgotten how much I needed to take apart to get to the motherboard. I still have the white tray cover re-installed in my unit (I think because I thought it would help with cooling.) The board I'm using is a Makerbase MKS Rumba v1.0 with 8825 drivers. I'm open to changing the board to the one you are using and use the same drivers if that gets me a third extruter. I'll use this one in one of my Ender3's to drive a duel extruder. Can you control the extruters from your display? What display are you using, I couldn't find one that allowed 3 extruters? Sorry for so many questions but I've had the unit over a year and would love to have 3 working extruters. Thanks for all the help,
Bill]]> gt500 General Tue, 10 Aug 2021 00:22:12 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,707941,885404#msg-885404 Re: An alternative to buying a bad kit for $300-500 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,707941,885404#msg-885404
PS sorry for the delays oh, I'm only answering when I stop, as I said I'm driving.]]> gt500 General Mon, 09 Aug 2021 13:38:23 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,707941,885402#msg-885402 Re: An alternative to buying a bad kit for $300-500 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,707941,885402#msg-885402 Dancook General Mon, 09 Aug 2021 13:15:40 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,707941,885401#msg-885401 Re: An alternative to buying a bad kit for $300-500 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,707941,885401#msg-885401 jimboh3 General Mon, 09 Aug 2021 12:52:32 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,707941,885400#msg-885400 Re: An alternative to buying a bad kit for $300-500 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,707941,885400#msg-885400 gt500 General Mon, 09 Aug 2021 12:27:12 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,707941,885399#msg-885399 Re: An alternative to buying a bad kit for $300-500 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,707941,885399#msg-885399 Sure I can let you have my marlin config. As a starting point maybe. Its not much use unless you have the same board with the same steppers and number of extruders etc.
Marlin configs are very specific to a build I find. Display is a BIQU TFT3.5. They also have a 5" and a 7". They are touch screen as well which is really useful. The latest versions include the rotary encoder and you can boot them up to either run in standard Marlin mode (without touch but with encoder) or in Touch mode. I use Touch and am more than happy with it.

The wifi daughter board is an ESP device and the software will interface with your pc (using wifi) and you won't need Octoprint. Its called ESP3D.
The IC2 card gets round problems with marlin and the Pro 1.1 not being able to save config to the SD cards.]]> jimboh3 General Mon, 09 Aug 2021 12:24:23 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,707941,885398#msg-885398 Re: An alternative to buying a bad kit for $300-500 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,707941,885398#msg-885398 Nice set up!
Maybe sometime you can post the firmware for the board? I have limited luck with marlin compiles at times depending on the board. I currently have mine with 2 extruders as the controller board for the display never updated that board to allow 3 extruders... What is your display you are using? I'll look into the board you have, good to know it's do-able. I had almost given up hope...
Bill]]> gt500 General Mon, 09 Aug 2021 12:13:03 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,707941,885397#msg-885397 Re: An alternative to buying a bad kit for $300-500 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,707941,885397#msg-885397 @GT500 I use the 32bit BIQU SKR Pro v1.1 with TMC2209 stepper drivers and a diamond triple extrusion single nozzle head (see my post a few up). Its all built and running well now, only thing not fully up is the 3 filament runout sensors because Marlin wasn't fully supporting when I was finishing this. Should try again but I tend to do most of my 3d printer stuff in the winter. See last pic. I have the wifi board and ic2 daughter boards on (Ic2 for config storage).
[attachment 118605 IMG_20210809_125243369.jpg]
[attachment 118606 IMG_20210809_125252013.jpg]
[attachment 118607 IMG_20210809_125310333.jpg]
[attachment 118608 IMG_20210809_125327395.jpg]
[attachment 118609 IMG_20210809_125340198.jpg]]]> jimboh3 General Mon, 09 Aug 2021 11:59:41 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,707941,885396#msg-885396 Re: An alternative to buying a bad kit for $300-500 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,707941,885396#msg-885396 VDX General Mon, 09 Aug 2021 11:57:42 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,707941,885395#msg-885395 Re: An alternative to buying a bad kit for $300-500 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,707941,885395#msg-885395
Has anyone found a controller board that will work with 3 extruders like the cubeX Trio has?]]> gt500 General Mon, 09 Aug 2021 11:43:43 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,707941,885392#msg-885392 Re: An alternative to buying a bad kit for $300-500 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,707941,885392#msg-885392 fg dude General Mon, 09 Aug 2021 07:56:08 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,707941,885381#msg-885381 Re: An alternative to buying a bad kit for $300-500 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,707941,885381#msg-885381
[attachment 118602 CubexCoreXY.jpg]

Will post pics and files when I have it working]]> Firefox3D General Sun, 08 Aug 2021 21:48:36 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,707941,877873#msg-877873 Re: An alternative to buying a bad kit for $300-500 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,707941,877873#msg-877873
yesterday i read the whole topic. There is a lot of useful information. Because i'm not an expert i not totally convinced about my knowledge. I want to ask some suggestion. According to the datashet of the stepper motors can i use A4988 or better to choose other which can handle higher current like TMC5160 61 for the Z axis stepper? Thanks in advance.]]> A1770 General Sun, 04 Oct 2020 07:12:33 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,707941,866531#msg-866531 Re: An alternative to buying a bad kit for $300-500 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,707941,866531#msg-866531 nicolafornasa General Sat, 25 Jan 2020 06:34:10 -0500 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,707941,866333#msg-866333 Re: An alternative to buying a bad kit for $300-500 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,707941,866333#msg-866333 That's a great price! Here in the Netherlands some really dumb people are still selling their machines for over €1200/piece. Very unrealistic.]]> Ohmarinus General Wed, 22 Jan 2020 14:03:37 -0500 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,707941,866213#msg-866213 Re: An alternative to buying a bad kit for $300-500 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,707941,866213#msg-866213 fg dude General Tue, 21 Jan 2020 13:55:18 -0500 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,707941,866210#msg-866210 Re: An alternative to buying a bad kit for $300-500 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,707941,866210#msg-866210 My new project is my second Cubex duo conversion (I bought two originally for $220 IIRC for the pair).
This one is based on a BIQU SKR Pro v1.1 with TMC2209 stepper drivers and a diamond triple extrusion single nozzle head.
I stripped the carriage down completely and removed the sliders/bearings. I got myself a little hobby mill and removed a ton of aluminum off each slider and removed the extruder/fans and SS plates resulting in around 3lb reduction in the carriage weight.
I also replace the Z axis plastic back bar with 1/4 Aluminum plate.
Refitted with smaller lighter fans and the diamond head (Bowden) in a pla housing and placed 3 BMG style Bowdon extriders and the stepper motors on the RHS of the cabinet.
Added a Antclabs BLTouch for levelling and removed all endstops and use the stallguard function of the TMC2209.
Everything is 24v (600W Power supply).
I am awaiting delivery of a 310x310 heated 24v Bed (they sent a 12v by mistake) Oh and I replaced the sprung bed plate with a roughly 400x400x3.5mm Aluminum plate.
Also awaiting 3 filament runout sensors.
Btw on my previous duo rebuild I reused the cubex extruder with a e3d head and managed to utilise the cubex duo standard filament run sensor.
Marlin 2 is working well to date, homing working, double z of SKR Pro switched to double Y, BLTouch working .
3.5 TFT is nice.
Still to do: Heated bed fitting, inner base cover and cooling for controller, triple extruder testing and runout sensors to be fitted and set up. Oh and a triple spool holder to bolt to lower LHS of cube. Interior light.
And I still have to work out how to fit/support the bowden tubes and wires to the carriage. Any ideas?

[attachment 114246 IMG_20200121_142420329.jpg]
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[attachment 114255 IMG_20200121_143026911.jpg]]]> jimboh3 General Tue, 21 Jan 2020 13:46:09 -0500 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,707941,862226#msg-862226 Re: An alternative to buying a bad kit for $300-500 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,707941,862226#msg-862226
Quote
wallaceowen
I've got one here you can have, if you still need it.

(sorry, this is in reply to an old old post by user Rlewisrlou666).

If you press 'quote' under the post you're replying to, you can get the original post linked in your reply just like this one. Makes it easier for everyone to understand what you're talking about :)]]> Ohmarinus General Sun, 10 Nov 2019 02:46:04 -0500 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,707941,862216#msg-862216 Re: An alternative to buying a bad kit for $300-500 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,707941,862216#msg-862216
(sorry, this is in reply to an old old post by user Rlewisrlou666).]]> wallaceowen General Sat, 09 Nov 2019 18:19:27 -0500 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,707941,862058#msg-862058 Re: An alternative to buying a bad kit for $300-500 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,707941,862058#msg-862058 David J General Thu, 07 Nov 2019 03:20:47 -0500 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,707941,862054#msg-862054 Re: An alternative to buying a bad kit for $300-500 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,707941,862054#msg-862054
WD-40 can help, and make sure you hex key/driver is the right size, by that I mean some are more accurately sized than others. I found one multi bit set would slip before it broke the bind in the metal, even with the right one T-bar type (good for applying torque) it still took some serious force to get one of them moving.

Worse case you can drill them out, or find a slightly oversize Torx bit that you can hammer in. Or get a screw removal kit, these might not work as they are pretty small.]]> Firefox3D General Thu, 07 Nov 2019 02:46:09 -0500 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,707941,862050#msg-862050 Re: An alternative to buying a bad kit for $300-500 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,707941,862050#msg-862050
I'm Wally, and I have a Cube Pro jettisoned as e-waste. My first 3D printer!

I've read through your entire multithread, all the stories of what you have made of them and (made for them and made with them).

I was encouraged. I bought the aluminum build plate with the garolite surface from that guy that's making replacement build plates, had a smoothieboard, got a V6 hotend, a CNC-machined titan extruder is on the way, my first kilo of nylonX was here when I got home today.

So I pulled it out of the case, started stripping it down and found that... I can't get the extruder plate off the X axis front linear bearing!

I've removed the single extruder (thanks for the help and pictures, btw). I've removed the PC from the other side, and can loosen the two brass stand-offs so the plate has let go of the back linear bearing.
The linear bearing on the front side has three torx screws that I can't budge and I think I'm starting to strip them.

Does anyone have:
  • a suggestion on how to loosen the screws (like, WD-40, torch heating the plate and canned air upside-down to chill the screw, drilling it out, throwing it away)
  • an explanation re: why they won't loosen (like, are they actually left-hand-thread? Locktite applied? Bimetalic junction causing corrosion)
  • an extra front linear bearing that has had the extruder plate removed

I'm now on the lookout for a cube pro on eBay/craigslist for parts/repair and local pickup, I guess.]]> wallaceowen General Thu, 07 Nov 2019 01:59:38 -0500 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,707941,854829#msg-854829 Re: An alternative to buying a bad kit for $300-500 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,707941,854829#msg-854829
Quote
Ohmarinus
Today I found an XYZprinting Davinci printer for 75 euros. It appears to be in new condition. I'm not sure how good it is, but I believe it has either 10 or 12mm guide rods and an enclosure. I'm really thinking of getting one and REPRAP-ifying it :)

Anyone knows anything about these printers?

It looks like it's this one:
[www.xyzprinting.com]

User @Whitewolf on the Duet3D forum (https://forum.duet3d.com/) has one, you could ask him/her.]]> dc42 General Mon, 10 Jun 2019 01:43:00 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,707941,854824#msg-854824 Re: An alternative to buying a bad kit for $300-500 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,707941,854824#msg-854824 jimboh3 General Sun, 09 Jun 2019 20:07:16 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,707941,854821#msg-854821 Re: An alternative to buying a bad kit for $300-500 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,707941,854821#msg-854821 resentedpoet General Sun, 09 Jun 2019 17:02:43 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,707941,854800#msg-854800 Re: An alternative to buying a bad kit for $300-500 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,707941,854800#msg-854800
Anyone knows anything about these printers?

It looks like it's this one:
[www.xyzprinting.com]]]> Ohmarinus General Sun, 09 Jun 2019 04:21:57 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,707941,854799#msg-854799 Re: An alternative to buying a bad kit for $300-500 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,707941,854799#msg-854799 jimboh3 General Sat, 08 Jun 2019 23:00:00 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,707941,854798#msg-854798 Re: An alternative to buying a bad kit for $300-500 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,707941,854798#msg-854798 resentedpoet General Sat, 08 Jun 2019 20:04:18 -0400