User:OliReadingUK

Just starting out the world of RepRap, currently pulling together bits for a Prusa Mendel.

Parts

My parts collection so far consists of:

• Printed Parts including parts for Wade's Geared Extruder from User:ParCan on http://www.emakershop.com for £75
• Fasteners, Bar and Studding from User:Bob_balthazar on http://www.emakershop.com for £34
• Bearing from User:rsoarer on ebay for £4
• Thick sheet set from genesismachines on ebay for £20 (if I were buying again I'd shop around ebay for this)
• Belts from alex-par64 on ebay for £16
• Set of 5 NEMA 17 stepper motors (torque not enough for extruder though) from astrosyn_excess on ebay for £36
• RAMPS and Arduino and mechanical end stops from Ultimachine for £137
• High torque stepper motor from Ultimachine for £12
• 2.3Kg black PLA from Ultimachine for £58
• Hot End from ParCan on http://www.emakershop.com for £60
• Extruder bolts (M4x50mm) for £1

All prices include postage to UK. Currently totaling £453 (including PLA and spare motor)

I have the following extras from the Prusa parts list:

• 2 x belt-clamp
• 2 x bar-clamp
• 2 x rod-clamp
• 4 x pla-bushing

Software

Need to download repsnapper, skeinforge and sprinter(firmware)

Questions

Stuff I have to find out about...

• Recommendations for a power supply? What lines will I need?
• I have a board for the print surface, should I cover it?

Answers I got were:

• I thought belts were continuous loop but they're not
• Need to clean up bushings so 8mm rod runs smoothly through
• 1m of 3mm filament makes 10cc so 100m makes a cubic decimeter
• Bar should run smoothly through bushings, consider mild heat to bar until it runs smooth
• Mechanical end-stops better than opto
• The seller of the hot end advises "My thermostors read slightly lower than default settings. For PLA run them at about 215 C - that will give you around 200 C real temp"

• ABS = tougher, but stinky and hardly enviro-friendly, also takes much higher temps to melt it and almost requires a heated bed.
• PLA = Compostable, lower temp to work with, but more brittle by comparison and harder to glue.
• G code looks fun

Handy page http://www.onlineconversion.com/torque.htm

Websites

UK

http://www.reprapcentral.com	Filament
http://www.redwizard3d.com	Assorted bits
http://thingfarm.org	Assorted bits, including extruder hot end
http://www.reprapltd.com	Printed parts
http://www.bitsfrombytes.com	Filament (expensive)

Elsewhere

http://www.reprapsource.com	Assorted including electronics
http://www.emakershop.com	Stuff from assorted countries
http://xyzprinters.com	Lots, mostly kits
http://ultimachine.com	Everything!
http://www.makergear.com	Assorted parts
http://shop.arcol.hu/	Hot ends

Experiences

• Some difficulty getting the bearings into the extruder, had a lot of filing down to do to make them fit
• Considered Sanguinololu but went with RAMPS as it's more available and suspect better supported