Builders/Frank

Frank is the name of the RepStrap built by Stanley Ames (Demented Chihuahua) in 2007-2008.

Build Breakdown

Frank was built in many stages over about a 10 month period starting in the summer months of 2007. He is a McWire Cartesian bot using the RepRap Gen 1 electronics and an Mk II extruder. Standard 200 step steppers from the RRRF were used and cat5e cabling was used for all wiring. A 300 watt pc power supply runs all of the electronics and steppers. Limit switches--standard opto-endstops--were used for the home positions only--those closest to the stepper motors for each axis--and not for the max positions as that is really handled in the preferences page of the RepRap host software.

Frank became functional on Friday, April 18, 2008 with the printing of a minimug in fine RepRap style.

Frame

Frank's frame is a McWire design built from 1" steel water pipe and fittings. The frame is bolted to a piece of MDF for stability. None of the joints are locked in place with anything other than friction. I haven't had any problems with stability--not doing any milling on Frank--and I find that having the head be able to move allows me to pack Frank around to various places to show him off.

Axis

The three axis of Frank use the original McWire design except for the z-axis which makes use of a unique piece of scavenged equipment from a universal stereo plotter. It makes use of a slider on a piece of plate steel I call the Vertical. The slider basically clamps the vertical on either side and on the front face and holds itself in this position by use of magnets that hover just above the front face of the vertical and are attached to the slider itself. This is hard to visualize so here are some pictures.