Cool, the closest facility I have doesn't have such a wide selection of tools, otherwise i'd set my camp bed up there. They only have 3 decent machines, 3D printers (too slow) Laser cutter (much faster but only perspex n ply) and a larger router for a bit of wood. I've yet to find anywhere I can get time on a mill or lathe, even the local college is struggling to get a decent finish out of the maby MechaBits - Mechanics
Here's a nice tube cutter, pity it's a little out of reach for most of us.by MechaBits - Developers
If your a student you must try IronCad trial for 30 days or One of the nations leading Universities put it this way: "IronCAD has become our CAD system of choice because it represents the best mix of power and usability. Even though we have access to major CAD systems, including CATIA, Unigraphics, Pro/Engineer, Solid Edge and Solidworks, IronCAD remains our primary teaching system." Bruce A.by MechaBits - Reprappers
Quotethe_digital_dentist Error! The photos above are NOT the bed plate- they show the old and new undercarriage plate. Either way I do love looking at drilled, machined aluminium, with the price of this 6mm plate it makes no sense to use perspex, its the same price(almost) unless you cant find a decent machine shop to do the work, do you have your own tools for that side of things or you outsouby MechaBits - Mechanics
Viktor Cooler I could see the duct in the other pic, looked like an aircon unit or something, aircooled could work with what I have in mind, but so could watercooled, maybe I could mix the 2, well of course you kinda have to with the water cooled, but makes me think of alternate arrangements. Koko Good source, even more arrangements to take a look at, some tiddy looking bits, should be manyby MechaBits - General
Viktor, what is that cooling for? how much power you need for all those? surely the hotside is where the aluminium is? Olaf, cant see the peltier in that setup, I do have a watercooler for cpu thats not being used at the moment, there was another youtube vid where the guy just submerged the led chip & heatsink and fan in some mineral oil and it was the best solution for bringing down the temby MechaBits - General
When I designed my printer to only have one Z axis, I was worried about slope of X, and thought about solutions to the problem before I found out if there was a problem, one idea was for a wire & counter weight running from the other end of X up & over the Z, like a large construction crane, the other solution the second Z, I've not decided yet if they are needed(not until I replace my 8-by MechaBits - General
Cool thanks for the info, yeah more youtube vids for ideas & info, already seen a few, sparking a number of ideas, this torch is cool but the heatsink it uses isnt cheap(secondhand maybe)https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c--5c3Egv4E I have been looking at large heatsinks, like power amp stuff, but was hoping to make a smaller unit, like this but perhaps with the peltier too, but dont want toby MechaBits - General
Has anyone any experience of these coolers? Wondering how cold they get, I'm thinking about trying to cool a 100w Led chip, or at least assist, using heatsink & fan. But maybe assist in cooling for 3D Printers(to keep topic relevant to forum)by MechaBits - General
No didn't try it, pity you couldn't see it assembled & working as RS components. When you say slop on X, do you mean slope, or sloppy as in loose where it meets the Z, or X Carriage.by MechaBits - General
Creality seems like another bukito clone, which may have been a clone of something else?by MechaBits - General
Imagine being able to turn a spare room into a giant 3D printer by attaching a few devices in the corners of the room though a solution to remove the need for the lower cables would be better, even better to not need a room to put it in(as DD says), a more ingenious frame/crane,maybe a better option for a concrete printers.by MechaBits - Developers
dont forget about these ones depending on where & what you have to bolt it to it might be useful, even for smooth rod supports.by MechaBits - General
The last time I looked for a closed loop belt I could only find 1500(odd)mm, when I looked last week I found these great for 400mm distance between axis with a little extra for an offset motor or belt tensioner.by MechaBits - Mechanics
Interesting 3D printed Metal Trilobyte story over on 3dersby MechaBits - General
I was wondering how thick is the aluminium bed plate, and why you decided to support the heatplate above the alu plate, on hex standoffs. rather than attaching it to the bottom of the alu plate, no standoffs, and heating the alu plate to print on that?by MechaBits - Extruded Aluminum Frames
Maybe there wouldn't be any if the rest where mag-lev, how to shield my room temp super conductors is proving tricky.by MechaBits - Developers
Cut up a mouse mat, one square on the face of motor and another one the base of the bracket, squashes down to nothing but it sounds quiet enough to me.by MechaBits - Mechanics
I had exactly same blank screen when I started, but it was the lib's weren't added to the code at the beginning and defined at the end, UG8LIB & the dogLCD the ultra too not sure if they where all needed but it works now, maybe your trying to fix problems that aren't there? maybe breaking things in the process? not that I have a clue about the electronics your altering.by MechaBits - Reprappers
Roflmfao... I recognize a few of my own crazy 'trains of thought in there', waiting for my UV Led light panel to arrive, and a few other parts that will do nothing to improve the functionality of the machine. Speaking of crazy trains, What about Mag_Lev on all axis, including filament spool, fast n silent.by MechaBits - Developers
Yeah the cuts can really mess with the bearings, I had to debur a few of the 8mm rods, they should put a proper chamfer on them, even better for me would be threads.by MechaBits - Ormerod
But thanks for all the ideas submitted! it helps to figure out where we do & dont want to go in the future.... They should at least work with some of the entries to make them better.by MechaBits - General
Thanks DD for reminding me of a few of the issues, "Assuming it is well made - looks ok and is designed to keep camera steady but yes it might have a few quirks of its own, (no play in the top plate regardless of screw settings) " screw pitch might cause some issues, vibrations could make them loosen. 3 potential problems. "If your bed moves in the Y axis, the small base will allow it to fby MechaBits - Developers
I tried that site yesterday(spotted your earlier link), but didnt use the tool to find item and nothing came up in the search, just did it again and used the quote tool, nice price only about 10-13 quid for 6 or 8mm, it'll probably get here before I get a reply from the US supplier Yes I think I'm going to use http://www.aluminiumwarehouse.co.uk/cutting_calc.php now to decide 6mm 8 or 10, I'm thby MechaBits - Developers
I'm sold on the cast alu plate, but it is tricky here in the UK, ebay are skewing results for sure, maybe they dont want us to have the manufacturing good stuff here in the UK, for fear of what we'll make with it. I'm waiting to hear from a US supplier about shipping, if I get the 6mm plate (220mmx220ish) I'm wondering will I have to redesign the bed from belt to leadscrew due to the weight or wiby MechaBits - Developers
I saw some 500mm 12mm rods on ebay the other day, very cheap about £5.99 or 6.99. obviously they have to be aligned or the bearings will bind, but I see you tested individually and found some bearings that where bad, like I had the 8mm ones they where bad, I got 2 types of 12mm, one like yours(21mm OD) and one where you can see the balls through slots (19mm OD), as the 19mm fits inside my blackby MechaBits - Ormerod
I saw the story on 3ders.org had no problem viewing, sure looks interesting(but pretty normal inside), wonder how easy to make it work with other machines?by MechaBits - Reprappers
So a year passes, I wonder anyone tried ''Excelvan'' yet?by MechaBits - Ormerod
You might like thisby MechaBits - Let's design something! (I've got an idea ...)