BETA testers discussion

Vat designs and coatings etc..., Electronics and mods, Z stages and mechanisms to release the prints from Vats etc...
Chewy64
Plasticator
Posts: 13
Joined: Tue Jul 29, 2014 11:56 am
Location: Canadia

Re: BETA testers discussion

Post by Chewy64 »

erickphd wrote:CORRECTION: after getting to the gantry build, it struck me that the rollers use the front and back slot of the extrusion and not the side ones... thus the wires have to go down the center hole... now where is my 22 gauge magnet wire???
Myself and Brent used floss. I tied one end of mine to the threaded rod and the other end to the wires (removed from the connector obviously) I then passed the threaded rod through the center hole and pulled the wires through with the floss.
Kevinvandeusen
Printmaster!
Posts: 125
Joined: Wed Mar 05, 2014 9:53 pm
Location: Cooley Springs,SC

Re: BETA testers discussion

Post by Kevinvandeusen »

stepper wires run down inside wall of cabinet, switch goes inside extrusion, is how I understand it. and it worked well.
Distributor of SeeMeCNC in South Carolina
User avatar
mhackney
ULTIMATE 3D JEDI
Posts: 5412
Joined: Mon Mar 26, 2012 4:15 pm
Location: MA, USA
Contact:

Re: BETA testers discussion

Post by mhackney »

I had originally run the stepper wires down extrusion as per one of the SeeMeCNC photos but then guanu chimed in with wires down the side and limit switch down column. So I changed things over.

BTW, found my homing problem - my switch was faulty intermittently. I had some extras so I used one of those and now it homes properly. But it turns out, the switch is not used for homing, it's a limit switch! So I need to do a quick firmware config change and I'm good to go.

Sublime Layers - my blog on Musings and Experiments in 3D Printing Technology and Art

Start Here:
A Strategy for Successful (and Great) Prints

Strategies for Resolving Print Artifacts

The Eclectic Angler
Kevinvandeusen
Printmaster!
Posts: 125
Joined: Wed Mar 05, 2014 9:53 pm
Location: Cooley Springs,SC

Re: BETA testers discussion

Post by Kevinvandeusen »

Mhackney, , I am nowhere near the arduino engineer you appear to be! Any chance this process will become almost plug and play? I consider myself an electrical, and mechanical type person, but arduino is new to me.
Distributor of SeeMeCNC in South Carolina
User avatar
mhackney
ULTIMATE 3D JEDI
Posts: 5412
Joined: Mon Mar 26, 2012 4:15 pm
Location: MA, USA
Contact:

Re: BETA testers discussion

Post by mhackney »

Yes. The grbl firmware is very plug and play. I'll post my hex file tomorrow.

Sublime Layers - my blog on Musings and Experiments in 3D Printing Technology and Art

Start Here:
A Strategy for Successful (and Great) Prints

Strategies for Resolving Print Artifacts

The Eclectic Angler
User avatar
mhackney
ULTIMATE 3D JEDI
Posts: 5412
Joined: Mon Mar 26, 2012 4:15 pm
Location: MA, USA
Contact:

Re: BETA testers discussion

Post by mhackney »

I've posted the firmware and some instructions over on my build thread to get folks started quickly. Note that I'm using the most recent .9g version go grbl, SeeMeCNC posted a hex file for the earlier .8 version. We may as well start up to date!

Really, all you need to do is flash the grbl.hex file to the Arduino and you are good to go. There are many utilities out there to do this for various platforms. I use the tools built into the Arduino IDE to do it - they work on all platforms supported by the IDE.

Sublime Layers - my blog on Musings and Experiments in 3D Printing Technology and Art

Start Here:
A Strategy for Successful (and Great) Prints

Strategies for Resolving Print Artifacts

The Eclectic Angler
brent
Printmaster!
Posts: 247
Joined: Fri Dec 06, 2013 10:24 pm
Location: Mass.

Re: BETA testers discussion

Post by brent »

Chewy64
Plasticator
Posts: 13
Joined: Tue Jul 29, 2014 11:56 am
Location: Canadia

Re: BETA testers discussion

Post by Chewy64 »

Started cleaning out the PSU last night while I wait for the rest of the parts to come:
[img]http://i.imgur.com/94v3Ctbl.jpg[/img]
Should be able to wire this baby up here real quick as I got most done last night. No issue with fitting any of the remaining parts. All is well for now. Does anyone have a link to a nice petri dish that will work? (Guanu, WILL PYREX WORK?!)
Polygonhell
ULTIMATE 3D JEDI
Posts: 2430
Joined: Mon Mar 26, 2012 1:44 pm
Location: Redmond WA

Re: BETA testers discussion

Post by Polygonhell »

When cleaning out the PSU, you really should connect 3.3V to the sense line, it's usually shorted to it on the 25 pin connector. Some PSU's don't seem to care much, but it is used as feedback for the delivered voltage.
erickphd
Plasticator
Posts: 18
Joined: Wed Aug 06, 2014 10:42 am

Re: BETA testers discussion

Post by erickphd »

OK, mine is done- total build time 6:45. I had the benefit of mhackney's build thread, plus prior experience in toy and furniture building... :-)
[img]http://i.imgur.com/2NsGzMwl.jpg[/img]
Some post-build thoughts:

1. The door latch would be better if it was magnetic. I'm going to design one and put it out on thingiverse.
2. I'm concerned that there are some light leaks from the back panel around the nuts, and at several places where there are gaps in panels (such as at the top of the door). I plan on using some aluminum HVAC tape to fix those places. There is also a lot of light leakage around the door and the nut slots in the door.
3. I would have built the z stage before putting the extrusion into the chassis - put extrusion into top, then through z stage, bottom, etc. Leave the antibacklash part for later. Don't mount the motor until you add the threaded rod into the z stage. My kit came with three tall nuts - two for the z stage and I used the other as a locknut at the motor coupler -no loctite needed.
4. In looking at the build platform alignment to the bottom of the petri dish, it is clear that the surfaces are not parallel. A solution to this might be to include a ball and socket joint in the aluminum build platform that would allow for immediate adjustment, then with a lock screw, set it in place. Kinda like a tripod mount upside down...
5. As has been noted before, the holes for mounting the arduino are wrong. To save time, I used some special double-sided mounting tape with some very strong adhesion.

As I don't have a suitable build vat (my trial fit petri dish is plastic) I'll have to wait to try a build. But I do have the silicone filler for the window, some fresh resin, the projector, computer and software to get it working. So has anybody heard how or if we are getting one??
Chewy64
Plasticator
Posts: 13
Joined: Tue Jul 29, 2014 11:56 am
Location: Canadia

Re: BETA testers discussion

Post by Chewy64 »

erickphd wrote: 5. As has been noted before, the holes for mounting the arduino are wrong. To save time, I used some special double-sided mounting tape with some very strong adhesion.?
The holes on mine lined up perfectly. Chances are you used the wrong holes. The Arduino does not site close to the side panel, like you would expect. It side a good inch or two from it. I'll upload a picture later.
erickphd
Plasticator
Posts: 18
Joined: Wed Aug 06, 2014 10:42 am

Re: BETA testers discussion

Post by erickphd »

OK - but if you line up the usb connector on the arduino so that it is slightly recessed from the side panel, the holes in my shelf panel are not in the right spot for that. Would love to see your arrangement - mhackney's build log is exactly what I experienced here. My tape is .080" thick with VHB adhesive so it is not coming off easily! I'd rather have the USB connector easily accessible from the side panel to exchange cables as needed.
User avatar
mhackney
ULTIMATE 3D JEDI
Posts: 5412
Joined: Mon Mar 26, 2012 4:15 pm
Location: MA, USA
Contact:

Re: BETA testers discussion

Post by mhackney »

John confirmed that the hole location to mount the Arduino is basically a bug in the beta kits. Expect it to be fixed. The goal is to mount the Arduino with the USB connector sticking out the side port for it. It is a nice arrangement.

Sublime Layers - my blog on Musings and Experiments in 3D Printing Technology and Art

Start Here:
A Strategy for Successful (and Great) Prints

Strategies for Resolving Print Artifacts

The Eclectic Angler
erickphd
Plasticator
Posts: 18
Joined: Wed Aug 06, 2014 10:42 am

Re: BETA testers discussion

Post by erickphd »

Yup- that's what I thought. Easy enough to fix..and not a "show stopper" for us beta testers.
User avatar
mhackney
ULTIMATE 3D JEDI
Posts: 5412
Joined: Mon Mar 26, 2012 4:15 pm
Location: MA, USA
Contact:

Re: BETA testers discussion

Post by mhackney »

I'd like to get some info from anyone who has printed from Creation Workshop on a PC - especially if you have the simple case of a single monitor and your projector hooked up to the PC.

When you show the calibration grid, what happens? Does the window with the grid in it show up on the projector and if so, is it a movable/resizable window?

Similarly, when you print, does a window showing the layer image appear on your projector and it is also movable/sizable or does CW fill the entire projected image with just the layer image?

I'm struggling with trying to use Windows 7 on a virtual machine on a Mac. It doesn't look like I can share a projector - but it would help if I knew what was supposed to happen.

Cheers,
Michael

Sublime Layers - my blog on Musings and Experiments in 3D Printing Technology and Art

Start Here:
A Strategy for Successful (and Great) Prints

Strategies for Resolving Print Artifacts

The Eclectic Angler
User avatar
Glacian22
Printmaster!
Posts: 330
Joined: Thu Apr 04, 2013 6:07 am
Location: Seattle

Re: BETA testers discussion

Post by Glacian22 »

I'm running exactly that setup, Creation Workshop on a PC, with a monitor and a projector. When you tell CW to display the calibration grid, it shows it fullscreen on the projector (or whichever video output you tell CW to work with). Same with displaying each layer image, CW just shows it fullscreen on the projector.
User avatar
mhackney
ULTIMATE 3D JEDI
Posts: 5412
Joined: Mon Mar 26, 2012 4:15 pm
Location: MA, USA
Contact:

Re: BETA testers discussion

Post by mhackney »

Hey thanks!

I am going to install Windows 7 on my iBook so it boots natively into Windows, that should give me something to work with.

Sublime Layers - my blog on Musings and Experiments in 3D Printing Technology and Art

Start Here:
A Strategy for Successful (and Great) Prints

Strategies for Resolving Print Artifacts

The Eclectic Angler
brent
Printmaster!
Posts: 247
Joined: Fri Dec 06, 2013 10:24 pm
Location: Mass.

Re: BETA testers discussion

Post by brent »

mhackney wrote:John confirmed that the hole location to mount the Arduino is basically a bug in the beta kits. Expect it to be fixed. The goal is to mount the Arduino with the USB connector sticking out the side port for it. It is a nice arrangement.
The power wires from the gShield are in the way if you wanted to mount it flush.
Kevinvandeusen
Printmaster!
Posts: 125
Joined: Wed Mar 05, 2014 9:53 pm
Location: Cooley Springs,SC

Re: BETA testers discussion

Post by Kevinvandeusen »

I got mine to mount in the hole just back a little but still easy to plug in usb. The power wires take a bend upwards, but not too bad. My projector is hooked up and displaying the black and red test pattern from CW, but I have no clue where to go from here!
Distributor of SeeMeCNC in South Carolina
User avatar
mhackney
ULTIMATE 3D JEDI
Posts: 5412
Joined: Mon Mar 26, 2012 4:15 pm
Location: MA, USA
Contact:

Re: BETA testers discussion

Post by mhackney »

Me too, it would be better of the power leads came off perpendicular, I don't like that but I left about 1/4" and it fits ok.

Sublime Layers - my blog on Musings and Experiments in 3D Printing Technology and Art

Start Here:
A Strategy for Successful (and Great) Prints

Strategies for Resolving Print Artifacts

The Eclectic Angler
erickphd
Plasticator
Posts: 18
Joined: Wed Aug 06, 2014 10:42 am

Re: BETA testers discussion

Post by erickphd »

Yes, I positioned the USB connector slightly recessed to accommodate the power wires, but it is no problem getting connected to it that way.
whoisjoecarr
Plasticator
Posts: 7
Joined: Sat Aug 02, 2014 1:16 pm

Re: BETA testers discussion

Post by whoisjoecarr »

My build is coming along. I had to spend some time filing the tabs or holes for the Projector Deck and the Vat Base plate. Everything else came together well, especially thanks to mhackney's build thread!
erickphd
Plasticator
Posts: 18
Joined: Wed Aug 06, 2014 10:42 am

Re: BETA testers discussion

Post by erickphd »

Yes, same here - I'm ready to print but need a vat. Is seemecnc just using a glass petri dish with PDMS cast into the bottom? Or are we getting a dish to use for testing? And if I need to purchase it, no problem... just need to know what the recommended situation is for this unit.
whoisjoecarr
Plasticator
Posts: 7
Joined: Sat Aug 02, 2014 1:16 pm

Re: BETA testers discussion

Post by whoisjoecarr »

I used a different tactic for running the stepper motor wires. I dropped a length of dental floss down the extrusion and tied a slip knot around all 4 wires and was able to pull them down together without any trouble.
erickphd
Plasticator
Posts: 18
Joined: Wed Aug 06, 2014 10:42 am

Re: BETA testers discussion

Post by erickphd »

Not a huge deal, but IMHO the stepper wires are better off going down the right side through holes provided for them and ty-wraps. I used the center hole in the extrusion for the two end stop switch wires.
Post Reply

Return to “DropLit”