Printer Quality

Hi-

I built a Prusa Mendel in the spring of this year.

I have an engineering class coming up in a few weeks and would like to have my printer printing well so I can use it for this class.

What are all the improvements one can:

a. Do fairly cheap as I am a student with a small budget
b. Require actual investment

Im all in for mcgyver solutions as long as they work, I just want to be printing at the very best quality and accuracy possible.

-Nick

Add diagonal braces to stiffen the frame. There are a few printable version available as well as the mcGyver method of using what ever you have to triangulate the frame in the direction it needs strength.

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FFF Settings Calculator	Gcode post processors	Geometric Object Deposition Tool Blog
Tantillus.org	Mini Printable Lathe	How NOT to install a Pololu driver

Where would braces go on the frame without obstructing the print?

-Nick

This is the first one that came up when I googled it [www.thingiverse.com]

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FFF Settings Calculator	Gcode post processors	Geometric Object Deposition Tool Blog
Tantillus.org	Mini Printable Lathe	How NOT to install a Pololu driver

That is why the circuit board was mounted on a board on the top in the original Sells Mendel.
To provide lateral support at the same time as holding the circuit boards.

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Bob Morrison
Wörth am Rhein, Germany
"Luke, use the source!"
BLOG - PHOTOS - Thingiverse

What else can I do besides adding braces?

-Nick

It would depend on what you already have on your printer.

Herringbone gears for the extruder is nice.
Switching to T2.5 belts is a good upgrade from T5.
Metal/machined pulleys can be an important upgrade depending on how good your printed pulleys are.
Some people like z screw constraints, I have better experience with a floating x gantry, and I'm switching to M5 z leadscrews to eliminate wobble.

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-Nudel
Blog with RepRap Comic

I actually need help fixing my Z wobble. Its pretty for the bottom 1~2cm of a print but then gets progressively worse. Ive tried Z constraints, but there was little change if any so im not currently using them. What can I do?

I currently have T5 belts on, how much of a difference is made by switching to T2.5 or how are GT2s?

Also the PLA bushings I received are so-so. Ive thought about replacing both the Y and Z axis bushings with linear bearings. Would this make much difference/where can one get them?

-Nick

Beuler, Beuler, Beuler...

Waiting to make an order from ultimachine to get these... so can someone tell me if they're worth it?

-Nick

How parallel are your smooth z-rods?

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- akhlut

Just remember - Iterate, Iterate, Iterate!

[myhomelessmind.blogspot.com]