Need help with Medel extruder drive (Where to buy bolt?) Hey all, I have an older Mendel ( [reprappro.com] ) that looks kind of like this: tricolour_mendel_big.png mod_embed_images_loadimage('9cf65fab8cd5aa052219dba42bc9e3bf', 'https://reprap.org/forum/addon.php?1,module=embed_images,url=https%3A%2F%2Freprappro.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2013%2F10%2Ftricolour_mendel_big.png', 'https://reprappro.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/tricolour_mendel_big.png', 'https://reprap.org/forum/addon.php?1,module=embed_images,check_scaling=1,url=https%3A%2F%2Freprappro.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2013%2F10%2Ftricolour_mendel_big.png', '', 803009, 800, 400, 'Loading image ...', false); Though I use only 1 filament, not 3 My extruder drive looks like this: [reprappro.com] RRPTriColourExtrduerDriveFitted.jpg mod_embed_images_loadimage('512f594df7789952df371a095202af12', 'https://reprap.org/forum/addon.php?1,module=embed_images,url=https%3A%2F%2Freprappro.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2014%2F01%2FRRPTriColourExtrduerDriveFitted.jpg', 'https://reprappro.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/RRPTriColourExtrduerDriveFitted.jpg', 'https://reprap.org/forum/addon.php?1,module=embed_images,check_scaling=1,url=https%3A%2F%2Freprappro.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2014%2F01%2FRRPTriColourExtrduerDriveFitted.jpg', '', 803009, 800, 400, 'Loading image ...', false); The center shaft of the part (shown below) is a M3 x 25 mm (I think) bolt, with a hex head. Men-Hux-extruder-new-hob-3.jpg mod_embed_images_loadimage('c26e4063a71907ab14fde30262d9578e', 'https://reprap.org/forum/addon.php?1,module=embed_images,url=https%3A%2F%2Freprappro.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2014%2F01%2FMen-Hux-extruder-new-hob-3.jpg', 'https://reprappro.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/Men-Hux-extruder-new-hob-3.jpg', 'https://reprap.org/forum/addon.php?1,module=embed_images,check_scaling=1,url=https%3A%2F%2Freprappro.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2014%2F01%2FMen-Hux-extruder-new-hob-3.jpg', '', 803009, 800, 400, 'Loading image ...', false); That screw part that extends above (in the photo) the hobbed part fits into a bearing to keep the shaft stabilized while turning. My printer is quite old (at least 4-5 years now), and that screw part has gotten worn. This allows the tip to wobble during rotation, which has allowed the filament to slip. So my prints will have areas of under-extrusion, depending on the position of that gear drive. So I want to replace that bolt. But for the life of me, I can't find a seller on the internet. All the M3 bolts I can find are "cap head", meaning round. That won't work, because the bolt has to have a hex head to help transfer the torque from the gear into rotation of the bolt. See photo below Reprappro-multi-materials-extruder-drive-geared-head.jpg mod_embed_images_loadimage('1fe6535e9a095669bf0fa91ed18b0967', 'https://reprap.org/forum/addon.php?1,module=embed_images,url=https%3A%2F%2Freprappro.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2014%2F01%2FReprappro-multi-materials-extruder-drive-geared-head.jpg', 'https://reprappro.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/Reprappro-multi-materials-extruder-drive-geared-head.jpg', 'https://reprap.org/forum/addon.php?1,module=embed_images,check_scaling=1,url=https%3A%2F%2Freprappro.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2014%2F01%2FReprappro-multi-materials-extruder-drive-geared-head.jpg', '', 803009, 800, 400, 'Loading image ...', false); It seems that I have previously found a RepRap store where parts for the printer were sold, but now I can't find that either. Can anyone help me with a link to where I could purchase a replacement bolt? I have thought about getting a more modern extruder drive, but I worry that it would have a different extrusion rate that would have to be accounted for in the Melzi controller board. And I don't know how to calibrate that. So I have just decided to stay with the same for now. Thanks so much in advance. Kevin https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,803009,803009#msg-803009 Thu, 10 Sep 2026 15:26:52 -0400 Phorum 5.2.23 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,803009,804132#msg-804132 Re: Need help with Medel extruder drive (Where to buy bolt?) https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,803009,804132#msg-804132
That is what I was looking for. I will use that resource next time.

Thanks
Kevin T]]> kdtop General Fri, 05 Jan 2018 17:18:15 -0500 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,803009,804082#msg-804082 Re: Need help with Medel extruder drive (Where to buy bolt?) https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,803009,804082#msg-804082
We do, see here.

And specifically for the M3x25mm Hex head screw see here

Best wishes
Sally

Sally Bowyer
RepRap Ltd]]> SallyRepRap General Fri, 05 Jan 2018 11:48:48 -0500 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,803009,804080#msg-804080 Re: Need help with Medel extruder drive (Where to buy bolt?) https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,803009,804080#msg-804080
I ordered some bolts and they came in the mail yesterday. I haven't had a chance to work on this yet. I appreciate your offer to get me going.

For my future reference, is this done on an individual basis? Or do you have a web store front? If so, could you post the URL?

Thanks again.

Kevin T]]> kdtop General Fri, 05 Jan 2018 11:20:39 -0500 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,803009,804062#msg-804062 Re: Need help with Medel extruder drive (Where to buy bolt?) https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,803009,804062#msg-804062
Thanks for the mention David. RepRap Ltd do indeed have spare parts and components used in the RepRapPro kits - Fisher, Ormerod, Mendel and Huxleys.

Kevin- If the parts you have ordered for your Mendel don't work out, let me know and we can arrange replacements. The fasteners we supply can be purchased individually so no need to buy 100s of one bolt if you only need one or two.

Best wishes
Sally

Sally Bowyer
RepRap Ltd]]> SallyRepRap General Fri, 05 Jan 2018 08:09:57 -0500 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,803009,803099#msg-803099 Re: Need help with Medel extruder drive (Where to buy bolt?) https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,803009,803099#msg-803099 dc42 General Sat, 30 Dec 2017 15:38:31 -0500 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,803009,803082#msg-803082 Re: Need help with Medel extruder drive (Where to buy bolt?) https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,803009,803082#msg-803082 www.amazon.co.uk]

I think I was searching US Amazon before, which doesn't seem to favor metric fasteners.

Thanks again!

Kevin]]> kdtop General Sat, 30 Dec 2017 13:39:46 -0500 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,803009,803055#msg-803055 Re: Need help with Medel extruder drive (Where to buy bolt?) https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,803009,803055#msg-803055 dc42 General Sat, 30 Dec 2017 12:32:29 -0500 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,803009,803020#msg-803020 Re: Need help with Medel extruder drive (Where to buy bolt?) https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,803009,803020#msg-803020
Kevin]]> kdtop General Sat, 30 Dec 2017 09:20:56 -0500 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,803009,803015#msg-803015 Re: Need help with Medel extruder drive (Where to buy bolt?) https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,803009,803015#msg-803015
[www.fastenal.com]~

Still deciding if these will work...]]> kdtop General Sat, 30 Dec 2017 08:46:07 -0500 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,803009,803010#msg-803010 Re: Need help with Medel extruder drive (Where to buy bolt?) https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,803009,803010#msg-803010
Kevin]]> kdtop General Sat, 30 Dec 2017 08:31:53 -0500 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,803009,803009#msg-803009 Need help with Medel extruder drive (Where to buy bolt?) https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,803009,803009#msg-803009
I have an older Mendel ( [reprappro.com] ) that looks kind of like this:



Though I use only 1 filament, not 3

My extruder drive looks like this: [reprappro.com]



The center shaft of the part (shown below) is a M3 x 25 mm (I think) bolt, with a hex head.



That screw part that extends above (in the photo) the hobbed part fits into a bearing to keep the shaft stabilized while turning. My printer is quite old (at least 4-5 years now), and that screw part has gotten worn. This allows the tip to wobble during rotation, which has allowed the filament to slip. So my prints will have areas of under-extrusion, depending on the position of that gear drive.

So I want to replace that bolt. But for the life of me, I can't find a seller on the internet. All the M3 bolts I can find are "cap head", meaning round. That won't work, because the bolt has to have a hex head to help transfer the torque from the gear into rotation of the bolt. See photo below



It seems that I have previously found a RepRap store where parts for the printer were sold, but now I can't find that either.

Can anyone help me with a link to where I could purchase a replacement bolt?

I have thought about getting a more modern extruder drive, but I worry that it would have a different extrusion rate that would have to be accounted for in the Melzi controller board. And I don't know how to calibrate that. So I have just decided to stay with the same for now.

Thanks so much in advance.

Kevin
]]> kdtop General Sat, 30 Dec 2017 08:31:16 -0500