I contacted TZ and worked with Lambert on this issue. Either the extruder did not have the proper boot loader on it or I screwed something up, I ended up sending it back and having a new one sent to me. Waiting on that to arrive by snail mail and when it does I will attempt to try this again and update everyone.by steveo290 - Reprappers
Hey guys me again, I am now trying to get my extruder stepper working. I connect it as I have seen all over the place but when I put power to it I hear a loud whine for a few seconds and then the motor starts jumping around on the table, the shaft not moving at all. This is with out the reprap host software being turned on as well. My heater wire will heat up as soon as I power the extruder boardby steveo290 - Reprappers
If you buy a lasercut kit from Techzone, opt for a kit with post processing already done. If I didn't work at a job with a drill press I would have been screwed. As I thought I could just do some sanding and glueing for post processing. Its a lot more involved then that.by steveo290 - Reprappers
I will try the min to max test, thats a good one. I was using the same piece of can to test all the opto's and the other ones recognized it, I even used a piece of thick cardboard and that worked all all others except the one in question.by steveo290 - Reprappers
Has anyone had problems with Opto's not responding to thin sheet? I hooked up my opto's and passed my thin sheet through all of them. Two of the opto's will turn off the led when the thin sheet (soda can) passes through the uprights. The third one will not turn off the light when the thin sheet is passed through. I hooked up the opto to my mendel and jogged the axis to where the thin sheet shouldby steveo290 - Reprappers
Traum, thanks for the information. I was concerned that the wire was heating up because I didnt have the host software on, which to me would mean that the wire should stay off until the software told the board to heat it. But if that is the case then that is fine. This whole process and theory now makes a ton more sense now that I have experimented and read your guys' advise. As far as damagingby steveo290 - Reprappers
Ok update. I just checked the source where I bought the nichrome (http://store.makerbot.com/cables-and-wires/nichrome-wire-30-ga.html) it doesn't say 6ohm, I thought it did. So I may have been mistaken from the beginning. I have never had to test resistance before but I tried to tonight. I was getting a lot of different results with the piece that turns red hot. Not sure if I was doing it right.by steveo290 - Reprappers
Ok so I hooked up my Nichrome wire as the articles suggest and when I power the board, the nichrome wire starts glowing red/orange hot almost immediately (in a previous thread someone told me it is not supposed to do this). I have the leads hooked up to the +-C terminals on the extruder, which I believe is correct. Do I need to jump the pins for the thermistor? The thermistor is not hooked up yetby steveo290 - Reprappers
Found the problem. Power supply cables were loose.by steveo290 - Reprappers
I am using gen 3 techzone remix electronics and am running into a problem. I cannot get the board to power up with out using the 6 pin connector (when I install firmware). Can someone please supply a picture of the motherboard and extruder, gen 3 techzone remix? I have been searching on here and looking for pictures and cannot find anything useful. I have looked at the pdf's and pin outs and theyby steveo290 - Reprappers
Awesome, thanks for the clarification. I think I will try to hook up my extruder motor this weekend and see if I can get that working.by steveo290 - Reprappers
Well I am using gen 3 electronics with reprap host software, is there still going to be a problem? Also, any thoughts on my question about nichrome wire wrapping? Is it supposed to glow red hot right off the bat with no software hooked up? or is it because i havent hooked up the thermostist yet? Thanks.by steveo290 - Reprappers
Ok thanks mlagana I will buy one of those.by steveo290 - Reprappers
Well right now I would just prefer to get a gear sleeve that I can pin to a flat spot on the motor shaft and use the bracket I have. Then move to a wade or adrian extruder after I can print. Unless someone has a full geared extruder set they can sell me now for a good price, ebay has 5 days left for the only full set.by steveo290 - Reprappers
Ok i made another noob mistake. Didn't get a gear or research how to put a gear on the extruder motor shaft. Where can I get a gear (make it?), instructions for how to notch the motor shaft? EDIT1: I found the instructions for building a jig with a dremmel to put splines on the motor and use a brass insert. Are there any US suppliers? Would a local store have this part? I would like to get thisby steveo290 - Reprappers
Ok so I am nearing the end of my first Mendel build (TechZone lasercut, TZ gen 3 electronics, pinchwheel extruder). After I hook up the extruder and get that working tonight (hopefully) I will verify that the Frame and everything else is square, level, correct spacing, etc. I have already wired up the motors and controllers, I am able to jog the axis's as will in both directions. What I would likby steveo290 - Reprappers
I am going to attempt to use a barrel I got from reifsnyderb. It looks exactly like the one Nophead is using except there is no nozzle at the end of the brass barrel, its built into the brass. But the upper portion has an insert in it with a retaining ring. And today actually, I will be building the extruder when I get home and trying to heat it up. I have already glued the barrel assembly to theby steveo290 - Reprappers
Ok a little change of topic. I ended up deciding to go with the basic extruder for now and print a Wade style one later. So I bought a thermal barrier and barrel. I have also purchased a basic laser cut mendel RP set from techzone, that hasn't arrived just yet. I was looking around at the parts sheet (http://objects.reprap.org/mediawiki/images/d/dd/Printed-parts-glossary.PNG) and didn't see the pby steveo290 - Reprappers
Ok so now that I have decided on an extruder, I need to decide on thermal barriers and nozzles? If I bought a Wades extruder kit, what would i need to slap it on my reprap and make it work? Thanks guys.by steveo290 - Reprappers
Thank you for the response Wade. It looks like I will be going for an extruder of your design, as I plan to make some reprap parts first to try and get a little of my money back (i think that is everyone's original plan?), so z height isn't that big of a deal at the moment.by steveo290 - Reprappers
So what are the pluses of using a stepper motor extruder like wades? as opposed to using the type that the original mendel BOM calls for? If I used wades would I need a stepper controller (total of 4 for project) in addition to the basic extruder controller?by steveo290 - Reprappers
Hey guys, I have started purchasing Mendel parts from forums users and it is getting to the part where I need to purchase motors and an extruder. What are the different types of extruder's out there and which does everyone recommend? I think the original bom calls for three (3) stepper motors, but some extruder's require an additional stepper motor? (wades?) I would rather start with the betterby steveo290 - Reprappers
Aaron, I did us both a favor and used your buy it now feature and have paid via paypal. I am looking forward to receiving them. Please ship them out soon!!!!!1!! Thanks a lot. -Steveby steveo290 - For Sale
I also have not received any shipment information for a "laser cut mendel set" I purchased off ebay. User name sskiff290.by steveo290 - For Sale