XL delta build

[calibur2121]

Hello all,
I recently caught a bug for 3d printing, and as i learned more about them i saw they had small print volumes. And well bigger is always better, right? So I stumbled onto delta style printers, and loved the simplicity of their movement. Though all the manufacturers build volumes were less than what i wanted. So i decided to build my own.

The remainder of the parts are on the way, The top is going on tomorrow.
the linear height is 39.3inch(1000mm) while the round wooden base is 18in.
And i would love any suggestions if you guys have any.

[calibur2121]

I got the top put on today, and some LED lighting.

Here is the motor wired into a CAT5 cable. I plan on using the plugs as a quick disconnect.

it has a 15 tooth pulley and a heatsink on the back.

[brent]

Very cool idea with using the CAT5 as a disconnect cable!

[Eaglezsoar]

Are you running the Cat 5 cables into a small patch panel then into the controller card?

[mhackney]

That's how we do it on our home-brewed CNC mill and lathes. A couple of the breakout board and stepper driver vendors have started integrating the CAT5 connectors into their products. Damned convenient and a great idea to include on a 3D printer.

What is the base made of? It looks like black painted wood but hard to tell from the photos.

That's a monster of a machine! You could make some pretty amazing stuff on that. Looking forward to seeing it print.

cheers,
Michael

[calibur2121]

The top, heater plate and bottom are $5.00 table tops from Home Depot. 18 diameter.
I grabbed a outlet box and a 6slot cat cable plate. I cut the cable in half and soldered the pairs of like colors together. Eg) orange w/ orange and white. Then assigned each to either A+ A- B+ or B-.
I think it will be helpful as I'm building as I go.
It just spray painted too.
I'm going to be building a resistor based hot plate for it too.

[Eaglezsoar]

The top, heater plate and bottom are $5.00 table tops from Home Depot. 18 diameter.
I grabbed a outlet box and a 6slot cat cable plate. I cut the cable in half and soldered the pairs of like colors together. Eg) orange w/ orange and white. Then assigned each to either A+ A- B+ or B-.
I think it will be helpful as I'm building as I go.
It just spray painted too.
I'm going to be building a resistor based hot plate for it too.

It's great to see someone building a large delta printer and using common parts and a lot of knowledge.
I would really love to see a video of it printing when you are finished.

[mhackney]

If you are using CAT5 as connections to your steppers, be careful as it is 24 gauge rated at .58A per conductor and the steppers draw a fair amount of current over that. I've seen folks double up the wires to the steppers since CAT5 has 8 conductors. That should work, perhaps you knew that already

[calibur2121]

Yes, Mhacknet i doubled them up from the get go. though i was not sure if there was a need for it.

Home depot parts again

just a little perspective

Basic layout of the resistors

resistor closeup

Wired up in series

I refer to this site for the resistor part of the build
http://eclecti.cc/hardware/ac-powered-h ... for-reprap

[Eaglezsoar]

Please be careful, running that plate from the AC line can be deadly!

[calibur2121]

I'm going to put a gfi circuit on that line, and ground the plate to prevent shorts. I was wondering what you guys would use to insulate the bottom side of the hot plate? I was thinking truck bed liner?

[Eaglezsoar]

I'm going to put a gfi circuit on that line, and ground the plate to prevent shorts. I was wondering what you guys would use to insulate the bottom side of the hot plate? I was thinking truck bed liner?

Bed liner would probably melt, common fiberglass insulation has a melting point of 1300 degrees and that is what I would probably use.

[calibur2121]

I received the eflector kit in the mail, a dab of JB weld

And i cut the base plate to fit in between the pillars

And then JB welded the resistors to the bottom of the plate.

a couple pics of the SSR

[Eaglezsoar]

Getting closer and closer to completion.
Looking good!

[calibur2121]

Tapped out the holes to 6MM X 1.0

Running a cable for the LED lighting.

The arms are bolted on.

Wiring up the heated bed. I grounded the plate also.

Wiring plus spring loaded adjustment screws.

And a overall look.

[Eaglezsoar]

You are speeding right along. Still looking good!

[calibur2121]

All i did was wire up some limit switches.

I'm waiting on the hotend, the carbon arms, and a azteeg x3 controller because i think i burnt out the ramps all i saw was smoke and now it wont allow me to put firmware on it anymore. Is there really anything that burns out on the ramps board, or is it just the Mega board?

[Eaglezsoar]

The Ramps board contains the components to drive the steppers, the heatbed and hotend primarily. If it won't let you
upload to it the Mega board would be suspect card. Seeing that magic smoke appear always leaves a knot in my stomach.

[calibur2121]

Is there a formula for the arm length that I need to conform to? I read in the arduino marlin/repetier firmware that you have to input the arm length. I'm sure there is some type of optimal ratio.... Right?

[Eaglezsoar]

Is there a formula for the arm length that I need to conform to? I read in the arduino marlin/repetier firmware that you have to input the arm length. I'm sure there is some type of optimal ratio.... Right?

There are many parameters that must be entered into the firmware to calibrate a delta printer. The specific entry for arm length would be Delta_Diagonal_Rod.
I recommend you use Google and seach for Delta Printer Calibration because there are far more entries that you are going to need other than just the arm length.
http://www.appropedia.org/Delta_calibration is one such site but there are numerous sites to help you with the Delta calibration. Calibration is the most important
aspect of building any printer and if not done right your printer will never print properly. Your printer is created by you so you have no specific manual to follow which
means you are going to have to make Google your best friend in finding the sites and information you need to properly calibrate your printer.

[neurascenic]

Is this what your looking for?

[img]http://www.neurascenic.com/show/Rostock ... 93d0-1.jpg[/img]

[Eaglezsoar]

Posted in error - please ignore.

[neurascenic]

Eagle: I think you just linked right back to this thread.

[Eaglezsoar]

Eagle: I think you just linked right back to this thread.

Yes, I goofed. I meant to send this to a different thread. Please ignore.

[neurascenic]

Tee Hee hee.... Try again