Printrbot
Contents
Sourcing
Plastic Parts
People Willing To Print Sets of Printed Parts for DMS Members (for a small fee) |
Paul Brown |
Hot End
Name | Source | Option 1 | Option 2 | Price |
J-Head | Reprap-USA | .5mm Orifice | 3mm Filament | $64.99 + Shipping |
Note: An adapter plate will need to be laser cut. Link Also, finishing nails can be used with the Greg's Wade Reloaded (for J-head) design. (No adapter plate required)
Electronics
Type | Source | Price |
Printrboard | Printrbot Store | $130 + Shipping |
RAMPS | Ultimachine | $200 + Shipping |
- If ordering RAMPS, make sure to order with Mechanical Endstops w/ Wiring and Double Connectors.
Stepper Motors
Source 1 | Source 1 Cost | Source 2 | Source 2 Cost | Source 3 | Source 3 Cost |
Ultimachine | $72.50 + $12.50 shipping | Lulzbot | $97.50 + Shipping | China | ~$85 |
I've tested the Chinese motors and the Ultimachine motors and they both work great. - Paul
I've not tested motors from Phidgets, but they may also work: Phidgets = $70.00 + shipping
Note: The Ultimachine motors come with connectors attached, so you don't have to crimp your own connectors. The connectors are just 4 pin .1" header connectors.
Couplings, Bushings, and Bearings
Item | Source 1 | Source 2 | Qty Required |
5mm to 8mm Coupling | China | USA | 2 |
608Z Bearings | Amazon | 6 bearings (package of 10) | |
LM8UU Bushings | Ebay | 10 |
Pulleys and Belts
Item | Part # | Source | Qty Required | unit price |
GT2 Pulley | A 6D51M015DF0605 | SDP-SI | 2 | $18.51 |
GT2 Belt (2218.00 mm) | A 6R51MB09060 | SDP-SI | 1 | $11.95 |
GT2 Belt (1 foot or 304.8mm) | 7959K21 | McMaster Carr | 8 | $2.04 |
GT2 Pulley (16 teeth) | 1375K35 | McMaster Carr | 2 | $10.18 |
Note: Metal pulleys are not necessary, but it seems like finding plastic pulleys with less than a .9" inch (required for Y axis) diameter is difficult. The small tooth count and fine pitch should mean higher resolution than the standard MXL belts.
Hobbed Bolt
Source 1 | Source 2 | Source 3 |
Lulzbot | Ultimachine | Arcol |
Threaded/Smooth Rod
The smooth rod needs to be M8 (for the LM8UU bushings), but the threaded rod can be 5/16ths or M8. Paul Brown has lots of 5/16ths rod and enough M8 drill rod for 2-3 printers. There is a chop saw at the space for cutting these. These rod lengths are for this print bed: Lasercut Print Bed
Cut Lengths:
Smooth or Threaded | Length | QTY | Notes |
Smooth | 335mm | 2 | Y axis |
Smooth | 332mm | 2 | X axis for 270mm apart bases |
Smooth | 250mm | 2 | Z axis, can be longer |
Threaded | 200mm | 2 | Leadscrews, can be longer |
Threaded | 305mm | 4 | Bases 270mm apart |
Threaded Rod Source:
Source 1 | Part # | Qty |
Mcmaster | 98841A030 | 2 |
Smooth Rod Source:
Source 1 | Part # | Qty |
Mcmaster | 88625K67 | 2 |
Print Bed
Paul Brown made a design for this, but it is too large for our lasercutter: Thingiverse Link
Ponoko.com will cut it for ~$15. CNC'ing this part would be preferred.
Cut this part from 1/4" tempered hardboard from Home Depot. (pick the flattest piece you can find)
Heated Bed
Initially, we will not be using a heated bed. PLA plastic prints well without a heated bed (not ABS though). PLA sticks to Lexan very well, so a Lexan sheet will work for the print bed.
Paul Brown ordered several large PCB's on 3/15/11 and is hoping to mill them into heated beds. They will be very cheap, around ~$15.
Mike C has made a couple of heated beds using Prototyping Stripboard wired up as a large resistor Thingiverse Inspiration. Seems to work well - heats faster than a commercial bed and costs < $6 for an 8" X 8" bed. Using two 4" X 8" clad copper boards (not electroplated) from Veroboard (ordered through Amazon.com) is a good, cheap source. Andrew Falgout improved on the soldering technique by using stripped Cat 5 wire as a bridge across the end holes to aid in soldering without increasing the thickness of the solder joint.
Note: Glass will need to be placed on the heated bed. This can be 1/8th inch glass cut at a local glass store to 8.5"x8.5". It should only be a few dollars per piece. Cork sheet under the hot bed will improve efficiency.
Local Purchases
Item | Qty Required | Source | Notes |
6-32 .5” Bolt | 4 | Home Depot / Lowes / Ace Hardware | Y-Axis belt holder |
6-32 1” bolt | 10 | Home Depot / Lowes / Ace Hardware | Extruder |
6-32 1.25” bolt | 4 | Home Depot / Lowes / Ace Hardware | Print Platform Clips |
6-32 nuts | 8 | Ace Hardware / Lowes / Home Depot | Extruder |
6-32 Lock Nut | 10 | Home Depot / Lowes / Ace Hardware | Extruder and Y-Axis belt holder |
5/16"-18 1" bolt | 1 | Home Depot / Lowes / Ace Hardware / Tractor Supply | X-Idler |
5/16"-18 nuts (M8 for metric threaded rod) | 22 | Home Depot / Lowes / Ace Hardware | Bottom Platform, Z-Axis, and X-Axis Idler |
5/16" washers (or M8 for Metric Threaded Rod), 1/4" OD | 25 | Ace Hardware / Lowes / Home Depot / Tractor Supply | Bottom Platform and ?? |
Fender washers for 5/16-18 (or m8) | 2 | Home Depot / Lowes / Ace Hardware / Tractor Supply | X-Idler |
M3x6mm Set Screw | 1 (3 if using printed plastic pulleys) | Ace Hardware | Extruder pulley, opt. other pulleys |
M3x8mm bolts, socket head | 21 | Ace Hardware / McMaster Part# 92005A120 | motor Attachment |
M3x10mm bolts, socket head | 10 | Ace Hardware | |
M3x25mm bolts, socket head | 2 | Ace Hardware | Y Axis bearings |
M3x30mm bolt, socket head | 1 | Ace Hardware | |
M3x50mm bolts, socket head | 2 | Ace Hardware | Extruder hinge (or use 2 6-32 1.75” bolts and jam nuts (the 1/2 height ones)) |
M3 nut | 3 (5 if using 3 printed plastic pulleys) | Ace Hardware | 2 for Extruder hinge, 1 fore each plastic Pulley |
M8 nuts | 2 | Ace Hardware / Lowes / Home Depot | Hobbed Bolt |
10mm Standoffs | 1 Pkg | Radioshack | 4 needed for print platform |
4" Zip ties | 1 Pkg | Home Depot / Lowes / Walmart | 8 needed for Y Axis bearings and 2 for X Axis Belt, plus more for wire containment |
Spring with M3 ID (1/2" to 1" long) | 1 | Ace Hardware | Extruder Hinge |
12"x12" (at least) Lexan/Polycarbonate Sheet (1/4" thick) | 1 | Home Depot / Lowes | print platform |
Plastic Filament
Paul Brown is currently trying to arrange a group buy. Filament prices have recently increased from ~$60 for 5lbs to ~$100. We might still be able to get it for ~$10 per lb.