Blue Max

[geneb]

This machine was built using the Trick Laser pre-assembled carbon fiber arms and some other mods. Pics will appear in the assembly guide as soon as I can find a few spare minutes.

[img]http://www.geneb.org/rostock-max/blue-max-done.jpg[/img]

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[barnett]

Wow, that is really, really sharp.

[geneb]

Thanks! The photo doesn't show all the paint-mask errors that I'll have to touch-up manually. Had I been smart about it, I would have painted the blue FIRST, then laser cut, then painted the edges...

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[doctorgonzo]

Jeebus, how many do you have?!?!

[geneb]

Two complete, one under construction (Red Sonja).



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[kbob]

What happened to the white one from IndieGogo that was in V1 of the manual?

[geneb]

That is what became Blue Max. The discs are from the original Indiegogo machine and all the rest of the parts were cut based on the current production parts. My laser cutter is only 24x12, so I can't cut the platform discs.

At some point I'd like to make an alternate part set that uses 3/8" Baltic Birch. A set like that all stained and varnished would look really nice. The base disc notches would only be pockets and not completely cut through in order to improve the visual look of it a bit.

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[geneb]

Here's another pic:

[img]http://www.geneb.org/rostock-max/blue-max.jpg[/img]

[dpmacri]

I'm curious, how did you get the yellow extrusions? Did you paint them? And if so, do you think the yellow is going to wear off after lots of use?

Also, for your painted builds, are you using any kind of special paint (I'm assuming just spray cans but would like to know if something else is used)? Is there any chance that a poor paint job (i.e. too thick somewhere) could cause build/calibration issues? My kit is arriving today and I'm trying to decide whether or not to paint it

[geneb]

The extrusions were painted - I used a Rustoleum "ultra coat" paint. The paint will wear, but who wants a well loved machine that doesn't look used?

I paint the cut edges will Killz two coats of Killz oil based primer and then one or two coats of an oil based color coat - brushed on. If you're going to paint, do NOT take the mask off the parts! Carefully cut the masking tape holding them in place on the sheets and then paint the edges. After the edges are done, it's a LOT easier to mask the painted edge and spray the parts.

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[Eaglezsoar]

Be sure to show us the Red one when it's ready.

[kbob]

That is what became Blue Max. The discs are from the original Indiegogo machine and all the rest of the parts were cut based on the current production parts. My laser cutter is only 24x12, so I can't cut the platform discs.

g.

What kind of laser cutter do you have? I have had one under construction for about a year now.

[geneb]

It's a 2007 Epilog Mini-24 with a 45 Watt laser.

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[kbob]

Very nice. I got sidetracked writing my own firmware; the electrical and mechanical parts have been 98% finished since February.

[geneb]

I really like the Epilog. You can't beat a servo driven laser engraver. Their technical support is outstanding as well. The only thing I don't care for is the hoops AutoCAD makes you jump through in order to get a sane print job out of it. (The Epilog driver appears as a printer to the system so using it is VERY easy). Most of the time I just import the DWG file I want to cut/engrave into CorelDraw! and use it to print with.

BTW, this weekend Blue Max got a Kossel bed surface probe. I'm 99% there with the software - it will deploy the bed, auto-probe and and then store the probe, but I've got a nasty dish shape going on that I haven't figured out quite yet. I suspect it's some parameter in Marlin that I don't have quite right.

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[Eaglezsoar]

I really like the Epilog. You can't beat a servo driven laser engraver. Their technical support is outstanding as well. The only thing I don't care for is the hoops AutoCAD makes you jump through in order to get a sane print job out of it. (The Epilog driver appears as a printer to the system so using it is VERY easy). Most of the time I just import the DWG file I want to cut/engrave into CorelDraw! and use it to print with.

BTW, this weekend Blue Max got a Kossel bed surface probe. I'm 99% there with the software - it will deploy the bed, auto-probe and and then store the probe, but I've got a nasty dish shape going on that I haven't figured out quite yet. I suspect it's some parameter in Marlin that I don't have quite right.

g.

I didn't realize that you program along with your other talents. Is there anything you don't do?

[geneb]

Well my wife has forbidden me from liquid fueled rockets and DIY nuclear reactors, so I don't do those.

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[lordbinky]

Well my wife has forbidden me from liquid fueled rockets and DIY nuclear reactors, so I don't do those.

g.

Smart lady, solid Fuel lets you concentrate on other things so that's just helpful and fusion reactors are just a moneypit anyways.

[geneb]

The Thorium based reactors look promising, but you've got to get by the "omg! nookleer?! FEAR! FEAR!", uneducated (and un-educatable) NIMBY jerk-wads first.

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[lordbinky]

When you said DIY nuclear reactor the projects of people doing fusion in a jar of water came to mind, which really is a money pit since you put more power in than you can get >_<.

For the big stuff though, there are lots of great nuclear reactor designs and even fail-safe designs (with the tradeoff of lower efficency). I like the concept behind thorium reactors as well. The raw fuel material is cheap and plentiful since it is considered mining waste, making refinement the primary cost of the fuel which leaves room for improvement in refining processes.