First RepRap (RepStrap) Build - Parts Question

Hey all,

A friend and I are starting in on our first RepRap (We're going to build a RepStrap first to build the parts for the RepRap). We have tonnes of electronics/mechanical/code background, but we're getting stuck on the simple stuff.

Here is where we are getting stuck:
1. Where can you buy the toothed belts and pulleys for the RepRap (I can't seem to find a vendor in the documentation, and have no idea where else I should be looking).

2. The only part we are looking to buy in a kit is the extruder, as we're not convinced we have the facilities to build one (without a RepRap) (We're kinda bummed we can't make it all outside of a kit so we may try to build one anyways), and the only one we have really found is at the link below by maker bot:

MakerBot MK3 Extruder

Has anyone tried this extruder out?


Hmmm.. Now that I put it into text we're not nearly as lost as I though .

If someone can point me to the belts and pulleys I would be grateful.

Hey,

Me again, I guess I should have registered before I posted my questions, so here I am.

Thanks in advance!

Hello Adam,
You can get the timing belts and pulleys from RS components, for example [uk.rs-online.com] and [uk.rs-online.com]

You do have to bore out the hole in the pulleys though, which will be tricky to get accurate without a lathe.

Alternatively you can mold the pulleys in Polymorph using the belt to form the teeth. Details in Darwin build instructions.

Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 09/29/2009 03:57PM by nophead.

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[www.hydraraptor.blogspot.com]

Excellent,

Thanks for the quick response. What I forgot to indicate is that I am in Canada (My bad). Is there anywhere is North America that sells these parts?

We may try to make these pulleys, but the belts we're good and stuck on

Hah, yeah, location can be tricky. I'm in Canada as well, Vancouver. I ordered some pulleys from SDP-SI in the US. They cost about $10 each, and the shipping and customs was that much again. But they work.

Dai, an engineering student at UBC who's in China at the moment is shipping me some cheaper pulleys this week. They're all spoken for now, but if they work well, maybe we can order some more.

Wade

Adam,
I was fooled by your ISPs id starting with LONDON14. I didn't realise there was a London in Canada.

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[www.hydraraptor.blogspot.com]

Ahh Wade, I was actually reading about you earlier today while looking at Barry's RepRap build (found VIA the Google map of RepRapians, I am on there now ) If those pulleys work out please let me know, I'm quite interested.

And yes nophead there's a London near Toronto

You both (Wade and nophead) seem to be pretty popular around here, how are you guys involved with the RepRap project?

I am a member of the core team [www.reprap.org], which does not mean very much. I got invited to join because I made a successful RepStrap early in the project and blogged a lot of experimental results.

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[www.hydraraptor.blogspot.com]

Cool, I am way to excited to get working on this project. I like the open and sharing concept of this whole thing and can't wait to get into it!

Hi Adam,
I am part-way through building the mechanial part and part-way through assembling the electronics for my McWire-alike repstrap. I have been impressed by the level of and amount of and free-giving of help along the way by everyone on these boards. And much heartened when things are going wrong, too.
I have had nothing but encouragement and constructive help.

So not only is the concept unusual, and the build fun, but it's good for your soul too! I highly recommend it!

I look forward to reading about your progress.

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Hazel

[copycatbot.blogspot.com]

Thanks Hazel!

I'll get some sort of blog or site set-up for our build (I'm sure my buddy will get to registering at some point). When we get it up I'll post it for all to see

we have a bunch of ideas for "upgrades" that we want to try once we get our Darwin up and running. Oh on that note, we also had ideas on how to improve the self replicated ratio (maybe for gen 2 or 3?, we're going to play with it once ours is up and running, hopefully in a couple months) where is the discussion on gen 3 upgrades (If there is one)?.

I'm afraid I'm not the right person to answer this, but try the electronics forum, and/or the search facility.

Hazel