Taavs Build Thread

[taav]

Hey Everyone, I am a serious noob, with some serious questions.

I got my kit late July and have been putting things together and I am pretty much done up until the electronics phase.

I am ready to install the hot-end but because i live in the third world I am having a difficult time getting hold of PTFE tubing for the resistors. So thats the main delay at the moment.

I am redirecting my attention to the wiring now, and I have a rather noobish random question

With regards to the terminal block I have cut 3/4 exposed wires and wrapped the 4 of them together like it says in the manual. I noticed that the whole thing doesnt really fit in all the way, is this normal? Or should i trim the wires.
Furthermore with the terminal block do i stick in the wires and tighten the screws so the wires get stuck on the upper part

OR

do I twist the screws to expose the lower chamber and stick the wires there then tighten down?


[img]http://i131.photobucket.com/albums/p283 ... 23dbeb.png[/img]

This is my machine btw, lets see if we can get me printing by September, parts from the states including my glass disk should arrive sometime then.

[img]http://i131.photobucket.com/albums/p283 ... e9e907.jpg[/img]

[geneb]

Taav, the terminal blocks are often shipped with ports almost fully closed. Loosen the screw until you feel a tiny "bump" in the screwdriver - this will indicate that the opening is at its widest. Insert the wire and tighten down from there.

g.

[Eaglezsoar]

[quote="taav"]Hey Everyone, I am a serious noob, with some serious questions.

I got my kit late July and have been putting things together and I am pretty much done up until the electronics phase.

I am ready to install the hot-end but because i live in the third world I am having a difficult time getting hold of PTFE tubing for the resistors. So thats the main delay at the moment.

I am redirecting my attention to the wiring now, and I have a rather noobish random question

With regards to the terminal block I have cut 3/4 exposed wires and wrapped the 4 of them together like it says in the manual. I noticed that the whole thing doesnt really fit in all the way, is this normal? Or should i trim the wires.
Furthermore with the terminal block do i stick in the wires and tighten the screws so the wires get stuck on the upper part

OR

do I twist the screws to expose the lower chamber and stick the wires there then tighten down?


The 4 wires should be tightened together very tightly, I like to use regular pliers and twist them together with that. If they still won't fit you can trim off a small amount at the end,
you don't want too much bare wire sticking out that could be shorted if something conductive touched the wires. Also make sure that there is no loose "strands" of wire
sticking out. Gene is correct about the screw and the little "gate". On mine I turn the screw counter-clockwise until the screw makes the click that Gene describes, then the hole
should be open all the way. Stick in your wire then turn the screw clockwise to tighten the wire against the "gate". Your description of being stuck on the upper part is correct.

[taav]

Setting up my Onyx pad.

Is it the end of the world if some small ammount of RTV ends up on the inner part of the PTFE tubing near the head of the thermistor?

Should i take out my Thermistor clean it up and do it over again?

[geneb]

Nah, you're fine.

g.

[taav]

Installed the Onyx yesterday

top part of the board
[img]http://i131.photobucket.com/albums/p283 ... b193b4.jpg[/img]

[taav]

My thermistor on the bottom of the board. Thanks for the reassurance Geneb, I was getting ready to completely redo this because i was worried about the RTV.

[img]http://i131.photobucket.com/albums/p283 ... a207d6.jpg[/img]

Power wiring prepared, in accordance with the manual.
[img]http://i131.photobucket.com/albums/p283 ... 5d446b.jpg[/img]

Anyway I am waiting for my order of PTFE from the states, and contacting some glass suppliers for my board, So i will probably post my hot end, then wiring in a couple of weeks.

[taav]

Perhaps not the best soldering in the world. The extra amount of kapton tape are there to make sure the wires dont move around and touch each other. As you can see my thermistor wire is slightly exposed. Had to tape it down just to be sure no contact occurs.
[img]http://i131.photobucket.com/albums/p283 ... 744365.jpg[/img]

[taav]

Yea hey guys, just got some connector wires for the hot end, they are apparently for car wiring, Its just basic plastic, you think they will be fine? How does my soldering look by the way is it alright? Sorry I know I must sound like very unsure of myself but better safe than sorry I always say.

[img]http://i131.photobucket.com/albums/p283 ... 0633b1.jpg[/img]

[Eaglezsoar]

From what I can see from that last picture, your soldering appears to be fine.
The connector looks to be heavy enough to handle the current. Good job.

[taav]

Finally back after a long hiatus of college life and waiting for ptfe tubing to arrive in the mail.

Looking forward to finally wiring up my rostock

A few quick questions before i proceed.

[img]http://i131.photobucket.com/albums/p283 ... ab4980.jpg[/img]

This is fine right? according to the manual the only thing that matters is that the first two slots are filled.
Color doesnt matter yeah?

[img]http://i131.photobucket.com/albums/p283 ... 6c6bf9.jpg[/img]

This is my hot end, I dont have american parts so my connectors for the resistors are industrial grade copper connectors, I have not wrapped them in Kapton yet but i intend too. Let me know if i should switch out these connectors. My electrician friends say it probably won't make much of a difference since it will most likely be able to handle the current, just wanna verify.

[img]http://i131.photobucket.com/albums/p283 ... 8dbe80.jpg
[/img]

Here is a look at my hot end from a far.

I have loosened up the belts for now while moving around the arms so i dont engage the motors, everything seems fine. Anything i should be concerned about before i start my wiring this weekend?
I can post pictures of anything you think i should double check, before starting.

[Eaglezsoar]

The connectors look fine. The hotend uses less than 4 amps and the connectors you have for that look fine
for that application. You should be fine to start the rest of the wiring.

[taav]

Work in progress, almost everything is wired up and ready to go, just need to go get a fan from the store and I will be ready to wire up the hot end wires.

[img]http://i131.photobucket.com/albums/p283 ... f125a7.jpg[/img]

Opened up my box with the build plate today....

[img]http://i131.photobucket.com/albums/p283 ... 3254eb.jpg[/img]

Well... This is embarrassing, any way i can still make this work? Inventive solutions are more than welcome.

[geneb]

Now THAT is funny. Someone wasn't paying attention and you got an Orion bed plate instead of a Rostock MAX one. I'd email [email protected] ASAP.

g.

[taav]

Everything is wired up except for the fan, I decided to just order one along with my build plate. While waiting for those components I was thinking maybe i should power up the rostock just to see if the arms work.

I was thinking of unplugging the hot end thermistor for now and just running the machine cold so i can start configuring it. while keeping the smaller 220 build plate below just to protect the onyx.

Any thoughts on this, should i go for it or wait on my parts?

[img]http://i131.photobucket.com/albums/p283 ... 2e6408.jpg[/img]

By the way this might seem like an elementary qusetion, but i think its rather important, this is my transformer, should i plug my Rostock into 110v or 220v?

I am very reluctant to plug it into a wall socket because power outages and surges are really common where I am from. In the future i plan to get an uninterruptable power supply for my printer. Until then I am using this.

[img]http://i131.photobucket.com/albums/p283 ... a3b574.jpg[/img]

[Eaglezsoar]

It should be plugged into 110VAC.

[taav]

Alright powered up my machine, everything is in order, now its just a matter of configuring the firmware.

I will transfer my inquries to the software threads.

Thanks so much just for guiding me each step of the way. Wouldnt have had the confidence to put this togethere without this forum!

[AndThenSome09]

I wouldn't configure much until you have everything squared away with your parts, to do the PID for hot end for instance you should really have the fan installed and on to get accurate readings. Also trying to adjust the z height and the end stops without the actual build surface you plan on using would be redundant since you would need to do it all again once your glass arrives because of variances in thickness. I don't know but if it were me I'd wait until I had everything

[taav]

Hey Update my resistors arrived in the mail recently, and I just want to know, what is the best technique for wrapping the aluminum foil around the resistors to prevent shorts?

Also what is a good ammount should i totally cover the thing in foil or just put a little.

Any good suggestions to make sure the foil doesnt accidentally contact the resistor ends if they move out of place from heating?

What is the most optimum way of doing this that is safe?

[Eaglezsoar]

Hey Update my resistors arrived in the mail recently, and I just want to know, what is the best technique for wrapping the aluminum foil around the resistors to prevent shorts?

Also what is a good ammount should i totally cover the thing in foil or just put a little.

Any good suggestions to make sure the foil doesnt accidentally contact the resistor ends if they move out of place from heating?

What is the most optimum way of doing this that is safe?

When Seemecnc builds the Orion, they do not use foil, they embed the resistor in a thick coating of the Copper colored RTV making sure that the resistor is complete embedded without any air pockets. Seems to work well for them in the
building of the Orion. Foil is a bear to get right for the reasons you mention. The other option would be to eliminate the resistors and use a 12V ceramic heating cartridge on one side only.

[taav]

Hey thanks for the reply

Covered the resistors in RTV I was pretty thorough still got smoke bubbling up from the hot end though, I think the variety of RTV i am using is not ideal. (its silicon based)

I am considering just using a heater, is there a particular type of heater that you can recommend, i can most likely order it from where i live, also what is the best way of setting it up?

I am also considering going ahead with the foil anyway, i have an idea for covering up the resistors relatively safely to make sure no shorts occur. Basically just folding foil around them then putting a bit of RTV to hold it in place.

I am weighing my choices between searching for a heater or simply trying things with foil, what do you recommend.

[Tinyhead]

Just do it with foil. Just wrap a thin strip around the resistor tightly but just make sure you don't touch the wire ends, that's all.

Like so:

[nitewatchman]

Hey thanks for the reply

Covered the resistors in RTV I was pretty thorough still got smoke bubbling up from the hot end though, I think the variety of RTV i am using is not ideal. (its silicon based)

I am considering just using a heater, is there a particular type of heater that you can recommend, i can most likely order it from where i live, also what is the best way of setting it up?

I am also considering going ahead with the foil anyway, i have an idea for covering up the resistors relatively safely to make sure no shorts occur. Basically just folding foil around them then putting a bit of RTV to hold it in place.

I am weighing my choices between searching for a heater or simply trying things with foil, what do you recommend.

I used a 6mm X 20mm, 40W, 12VDC Heater Cartridge. Mine came from eBay but there ar lots on Chinese Sources. I also used a 3mm screw in thermistor from eBay.

Still have to wrap but there are no wires to short.

nitewatchman

[taav]

Hi

@Tinyhead

I actually did this but my resistors ended up getting singed around the edges, where the resistors are open, not sure if i am doing something wrong, but i did exactly as was pictures and i still got wisps of smoke.

Not sure whats going on,maybe i didnt wrap them tight enough i will try this again.

@nitewatchman

Thanks for that, I will look around at whats available in my area, in case for some reason the foil doesnt work out

[Tinyhead]

Still seal up the ends with REV. You want to keep the heat in. When I first build mine, the hot end smoked a bit for me too. Not sure if it was the oils from machining or what, but it went away within about 30 seconds. If your actual resistors are smoking.... I'd be looking at getting a heat cartridge on order.