RepRapPro closing down

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droftarts
Sorry about this, everyone, and thanks for all your support over the years.

I was made redundant on 11th December. I've stayed away from the forums since then to avoid any embarrassing questions, until there was an official announcement. I'll help out where I can, though I don't actually own an Omerod! I do have a Fisher, though, and might be able to have the Tall-merod at some point.

Anyone want to employ a technical support engineer?! Any (helpful) suggestions gratefully received!

Ian
ex-RepRapPro tech support

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bartdietrich
Oh no! That is really sad news, I'm sorry to hear about you being made redundant Ian. Happened to me once, also before Christmas (why do they have to do it at this time of the year??), and it was certainly not a fun experience. But like others here have said, your track record of support on these forums is better than any CV. I remember your helpful and patient input when I was putting together my first Ormerod and am very appreciative of it. Hopefully you will find something soon.

On a more selfish note, I am worried now as to what will happen with sourcing spare parts. I operate two Ormerod 2s (one at home and one at work). If a printable part breaks, it can be printed on the other printer and some of the other components (e.g. the motors) are industry standards from what I understand. But what if I fry the Duet or Shield boards, or need a new nozzle (as someone here has already mentioned)? I have invested a lot of time (and money) in these printers and would hate to have to switch to a different brand (and spend more time and money) because I can't get replacement parts. Is there scope here for someone else to look into taking over making spares? (dc42 for electronics for example?)

Bart

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bartdietrich
On a more selfish note, I am worried now as to what will happen with sourcing spare parts. I operate two Ormerod 2s (one at home and one at work). If a printable part breaks, it can be printed on the other printer and some of the other components (e.g. the motors) are industry standards from what I understand. But what if I fry the Duet or Shield boards, or need a new nozzle (as someone here has already mentioned)? I have invested a lot of time (and money) in these printers and would hate to have to switch to a different brand (and spend more time and money) because I can't get replacement parts. Is there scope here for someone else to look into taking over making spares? (dc42 for electronics for example?)

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orictosh

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DADIY
Good question, the domain reprap.org is owned by Adrian Bowyer who ran reprap pro. Perhaps someone could tweet him and ask. Reprappro are currently ignoring my tweets.

Sally's last tweet was just before Christmas and the Reprap pro account has been quiet also. Adrian's has been active in the last 5 days.
I have just tweeted him with a link to this forum post asking what happens after the 15th. Could be a positive thing rather negative.

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reprapprochina
Dear All:

Closing-down of RRP-UK is a sad news for our customers and supporters, certainly it is also pity to our RRP-China. As mentioned in reprappro.com, RRP-China will continue our business . We will announce which service could be provided to our customers outside of China in due course.

Many thanks for your continuous support!

wget -mkEp [reprappro.com]

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achaz
Also a bit disturbed by the claim of RRP getting out while they're ahead, and the rapid cessation of support. What about everyone who ordered in the past month believing they would be getting support from RRP? Seems like this had been thought on for a bit and sprung on everyone else. Not cool, not very open either.

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Treito
Confirmed Dave. I think so, too. Besides it was very quickly. If the company would have run very well and you decide to close it for the reasons that were named you would pronounce this earlier and you would take care about the spare parts and service. Maybe you even would do a big sale. Look at Vorty who ordered and bought a printer short before the shutdown. I have never heard from a similar case like this before. Who knows what the real reason is. Maybe something totally different. Maybe healthy reasons. Maybe financially reasons, but only because they are afraid of not being able to expand? This is no reason to close a company that quick.

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unstable
There was a guy there (Jean-Marc I think) but he understandably didn't know anything about the warranty and couldn't do anything.

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unstable

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Treito
Confirmed Dave. I think so, too. Besides it was very quickly. If the company would have run very well and you decide to close it for the reasons that were named you would pronounce this earlier and you would take care about the spare parts and service. Maybe you even would do a big sale. Look at Vorty who ordered and bought a printer short before the shutdown. I have never heard from a similar case like this before. Who knows what the real reason is. Maybe something totally different. Maybe healthy reasons. Maybe financially reasons, but only because they are afraid of not being able to expand? This is no reason to close a company that quick.

I bought an Ormerod 2 on the 18th Dec and spent the Christmas break building it. Once built I found out that the Voltage regulator was faulty and giving out 10v, which caused the machine to reboot all the time, this has since led to the X motor controller developing a fault and now doesn't work, so I am stuck with a printer that isn't working. I emailed support and Adrian said they would replace the Duet and regulator board under warranty, but I haven't heard from them since, despite many emails. I even went to the RepRap unit near Bristol to see if I could swap the board out there and then, because I got worried about the closing down statement on the site. There was a guy there (Jean-Marc I think) but he understandably didn't know anything about the warranty and couldn't do anything. Even now I still haven't heard anything back from Adrian or Sally, so am unable to use the printer. I've gone so far as ordering a new A4982 from eBay so worst case I have to try some SMD rework (without a heat gun) and replace the chip myself. Very disappointing, I just want to be able to use my printer!

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orictosh
For example on the Ormerod 2 MXL belts are use but every other supplier of rep rap based printer parts are selling GT2 belts

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0x0000

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orictosh
For example on the Ormerod 2 MXL belts are use but every other supplier of rep rap based printer parts are selling GT2 belts

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0x0000
I'm using GT2's on my Ormerod. The steps seem to be a bit inaccurate, but so far I've assumed it's a configuration issue.

Could be that the pitch between the teeth is different, some belts used aren't designed for linear motion. MXL belts are mentioned in RepRapPro documentation.
I also had problems with the corner of squares not being square, kept adjusting the steps value in config.g but Ian stated it's a mechanical based system, made to tight tolerances so the values set and mentioned in the documentation should be correct. check the steps value using a large known length and gain new value using the widely available formula for a new steps_per_mm value.

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0x0000
There are a few parts on the O2 that seem to be made specifically by RRP. The brass unions, hobbed inserts, and 5mm acrylic parts come to mind. I think those supply challenges can be overcome with a bit of ingenuity.

Most of or all the files are on rep-rap pro git-hub page using a number based system, which does have a BOM file to say what number is what part so you need to work to find out what is needed. Also locked into solid works file formats so need that program to view them, some are .dwf which is a good format for the laser machine to the cut the parts, I was able to find a PDF file relating to a 0.3mm quick set nozzle which showed the engineering drawing needed to produce the item to the correct sizes and tolerances needed.

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0x0000
I wish there were more suppliers for Duet boards. I love the board, but it would be nice if someone could figure out how to use RAMPS as an alternative to the Duet, if the Duet becomes unavailable.

The site [www.think3dprint3d.com] designed and open sourced the design, there is a fork to the git-hub files upon the RepRapPro page, maybe it's cost, lack of knowledge or non-understanding which stops there being more suppliers.

You wouldn't want a ramps based system upon a modern based 3D Printer, it used an Arduino 16 bit Uno chip, whereas the Duet is 32 bit processing chip.
The duet is able process more data, maybe in future a print controller will be 64 bit, have multiple cores have a Computer Vision system so rather than hitting print you show it the item or design. Also it could detect a fail and recover by placing encoders upon the stepper motors.

The good part about the ramps based controller was that the stepper drivers (the A4982 part) where plugged into pin headers on the board rather than surface mounted, so when you short them or overload them you can replace them easily. No need to learn surface mount soldering.
There is also a design flaw (IMHO) that most stepper motors draw/can draw 2A under load and the mostly available driver chip has a max amps rating below that.
So it runs hot, overheats, misses steps and needs to use copper.
Seems a bit sad that, wouldn't it better to produce a chip that handles 2.5Amps so it runs better, longer and cooler.

Think3DPrint3D sell an ice blue stepper driver which uses a large area of copper, with optional heat sink which runs cooler. That would be my choice.
In fact I have just remembered that the chip needs the heat sink on the underside of PCB not the top side, so yet another design flaw.

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Treito
@0000 did you exchange the pulleys, too? You will have to set the M92 parameter as the pitch is different. I am considering that exchange, too.