Hello, and missing part!

Hi folks,

I'm part way through building my unit. All going well and no problems so far.

My kit was missing the M5 threaded rod. I've contacted support but not heard back from them yet. I was wondering if there is anything special about this rod? If not, I could probably try and pick some up locally.

Screwfix don't stock M5, and my local B&Q only had one piece and it was bent in half (!), so I may have to go further afield.

Cheers,

Steve

Hi Steve

Sorry, we're having a bit of trouble updated our website, as well as moving hosting for all our web services, including email. I will get around to responding, when I can reliably access my email!

The M5 studding is standard BZP mild steel, 300mm long, and is usually tucked into one of the pieces of aluminium extrusion when packed. If you do want to source your own, I'd recommend getting A2 or A4 Stainless steel M5 rod, which is generally straighter and has a better cut thread, usually. I was going to recommend screwfix, but checked, and you're right, they don't stock M5 rod. Unfortunately, I don't have any other recommendation as to where to get it apart from B&Q or Homebase type places.

Ian
RepRapPro tech support

If homebase and B&Q come up blank, it's worth looking around on google for local hardware stores - I live in Ely and there's not a main DIY shop for 13 miles, but there's a private company , Peck's, that specialises in agricultural supplies and DIY (not that you'd tell from their website [www.peck.co.uk]) and they stock an outlandish range of useful stuff, I bought a metre of M5-M10 studding from them recently, even if I have to venture to Cambridge for and B&Q and Homebase don't have what I need (most of the time), McKays of Cambridge pretty much never fails - they have an exhaustive stock of metal (which they cut to length at no cost) and tools and assorted hardware (taps, dies, fixings and bearings) [www.mackay.co.uk], and if I need plastic, there's Engineering and Design Plastics [www.edplastics.co.uk] who cut any length of most types.


There's always eBay of course, but it really does pay to look around on the web or yellow pages just to get it quicker (and most of the time cheaper)

Cheers

Ray

Hi Ian

I wasn't complaining - I know you're busy!

Just in case I'd been a complete muppet and missed it, I've removed the end off the Y-axis and had a peek in there with a torch. Definitely not there...

Disregard my e-mail when you get to it - I'll find some somewhere.

Cheers,

Steve

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 02/26/2014 06:12PM by stevelup.

Thanks Ray, there's a pretty good old school 'hardware store' a few miles from my office. I'll give them a try. Failing that, there's an eBay seller doing 300mm lengths of A2 stainless stuff for £2.99 with free next day delivery.

FWIW I am using hardened steel M5 threaded rod and a brass nut in the z-nut trap. The idea is that the nut wears in preference to the rod, and the nut is easier to replace.

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Large delta printer [miscsolutions.wordpress.com], E3D tool changer, Robotdigg SCARA printer, Crane Quad and Ormerod

Disclosure: I design Duet electronics and work on RepRapFirmware, [duet3d.com].

Thanks - I just spotted that on your 'new firmware' thread.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 02/26/2014 06:31PM by stevelup.

toolstation who normally live next door to screwfix at many locations do have stainless m5

m5 threaded rod

Excellent, thanks.