The X-Axis, Z-Axis And A Bit More

The X-Axis, Z-Axis And A Bit More

Issues 20 - 31

OK, so I've saved a few runs of issues up to show a bit of progress. Won't be overly much text as there's not too much to say.

First up though ... filament! Yes, here is the stuff that makes 3D stuff. This is the plastic type "thread" that is fed into and melted in a 3D printer. For subscribing I get 4 spools of different coloured filament.

To the printer! We have another motor. For this next axis (X-axis) we have all we need; a motor, limiter, band and mount for the printer head (I think)

I don't like how that cable sits. I'll need to check the limiter cable positions before sealing this section up.

The motor.

As I mentioned above, I don't like where the limiter cable is.

Rear view of the newly mounted X-Axis motor.

We now have another working motor.

ANOTHER BAR! YAY! :-|

Along with another bearing runner. It has mount points so I'm thinking that this will be part of the printer table mount.

Two bars and another mount for the opposite side. (EDIT: This mount will have a bolt in the middle to allow it to go up and down. This will be covered down the line. The publisher had put up all the instructional build videos for now until the end of the build so I have seen where we are going).

Here is the attached bars at the bottom with the runner mount. At this point I have not put on the holders at the top. If I was doing this issue by issue I would be attaching a bit, detaching it, removing it to put something else on and then attaching again. I am trying to keep things to a single working.

With top holders.

We now have the Z-Axis motor, which is the same as the others but used slightly differently.

We add a cylinder to the top of the motor that will later run a threaded shaft that will control the printer table height.

The Z-Axis limiter switch

I had to use a small DIY clamp to gently hold the mount as it kept falling where I was trying to work. The limiter switch is held behind the motor.

SO! Here we are so far. It's getting there. Issue wise we are 1/3 the way through it. 

For your own interest here's the publishers (simplified looking) video of what I've just done. Notice how a lot of the screws are already in place! ;)

The X-Axis

The X-Axis

Issues 16 - 19

This will be a quick one as there isn't much to it.

So, the x-axis runner parts are here.

This is where I left off with the main frame.

Parts out of the bag. Can you guess where they're going to go?

I won't bore you with the stages here as it's the same as the y-axis. The difference is that they are attached directly to the main frame as opposed to it's own individual module.

Here's the completed timing belt bearing (Can you tell I'm padding?). Again, no point is showing little stages. Difference between this one as the y-axis one is that the tool-kit had arrived and I had their supplied set of needle nose pliers.

Finished this section.

Here's the complete main frame so far

Next up is the belt, belt attachments and motor for the x-axis. I'll post that part, but depending on what is next I might save up the instalments so I have bigger sections to complete.

This is going to be a long build. It will be totally worth it in the end and when I run off my first few things I will be pretty chuffed, it's just a slow process. I'm not overly patient. I haven't been able to find a video or anything about the final product. You can buy them complete so I thought there'd be something.

Here's an image from the publishers that show the bits floating and what is to be done. I can see how it's starting to come together.

The Base and Stand

The Base and Stand

Issues 12 - 15

So this pack came with my free tool kit, base and main frame. 

Here's the tool kit. It's a cool wee kit that will come handy down the line, though apart from the wee scraper thing (for dislodging prints) I had the contents ;)

Me or my camera ballsed up again so I don't have pics of the bits, but here is the y-axis casing with the new y-axis bracket attached.

Next up is the "feet" of the printer. There is a left pack and a right one so I'll only post one as they are identical, just mirrored. There are three feet pads in each, but only two to be used now with one kept for later. These are pretty straight forward, rubber pads stuck to plastic mounts that screw into the base plate. These can be adjusted later to make sure everything levels out.

One lonely spare wee shoe.

Here's the main frame, attachment L-brackets and 21 small fidgety screws.

All done and third bootie attached to each side.

Well, that's that. Upright and ready to go.

According to the back of the last issue the x-axis is coming next. I guest this will be the same as the y-axis stuff. I pretty much expect it to be the exact same as the y-axis with a different mount. We shall see.

The Y-Axis Motor

The Y-Axis Motor

Issues 8 - 11

These four issues build sections were all based on the Y-Axis motor

First up is the motor control board.

Then the power supply. Just the power supply. I'm not writing a lot in this blog in general, so I can't really say much more ... it's a power plug.

Here's the y-axis runner cover.

The all important motor. This makes stuff move! ( If you didn't know ;) )

Sorry (or you might be relieved) but no pictures of fitting the motor and drive belt. Camera screwed up.

The motor control board fits into the test board from the previous issues. After plugging in the cables we can test the motor runs all right.

Here it is all running

To finish off the ruuner build for now we need to complete the enclosure.

Done, for now. Not sure what will be next. I wait with baited breath.

Oh, and the shadow at the bottom corner of most of the pics? I knwo what it is so I can avoid it in the future. I can't be hooped editing and putting the pictures back up, so I'll just have to live with it.

The Y-axis!

Issues 3 - 7

Not much to say

Well, I think it's fair to say that these posts will be more pictures than words for a while. As there was a delay in me getting started I got some stuff in "bulk". Here's the bits I got for issues 3 through 7,

So yeah, here's the base and runner holders.

Next came one of the runner bars along with another runner holder set. Obviously there's a second runner bar to be added later, but they do it one at a time to build up. The problem with this is that you affix a part then remove it, then re-affix it .... I'm trying to keep that to a minimum.

You only need a screwdriver ... my ass, part 1.

I needed to use my DIY clamps to hold parts in place while attempting to put screws in.

Assembled the runner. After checking that it slides smoothly and making an adjustments we can move on. Time to add the belt roller.

You only need a screwdriver ... my ass, part 2

Needle nose pliers required to get the holder clip in place.

Next up, adding the y-axis limit switch and cables..

In the next pack was the test control board and 4GB V3 branded pen drive,

The test board allows you to plug in the cables for components to test them before putting everything together. There's a power input, power switch and a few wee control buttons for running the components.

Next up should be the motor and motor control board. Hopefully that'll be through soon.

Questions? :)