Makerbot Customization

Cupcake Refurb Project 2013

From June to August 2013, a number of major upgrades have been performed to make the cupcake more useful and relevent.

Status

Done. The cupcake is now as usable as the ultimakers. (Same software workflow.) - Print quality is not as high, but sufficient for mechanical parts.

Completed Work

• X,Y mendel style with 10 bearings/axis [ http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:3697] [1]- PLA printed Y part cracked, only 9 bearings installed. Still runs well.
• Wade's extruder for cupcake [2]
  • Hobbed bolt + gear from ultimaker spares
  • Stepper based extruder - stepper borrowed from ultimaker.
• Old Ultimaker (ramps-like) board with arduino Mega that has to be returned to Fumon - Sen to provide alternative?
• X,Y endstops implemented with random mechanical switches found around the lab.
• Tuning: X,Y,Z Steps_per_unit
• Raspi configured with arch and printrun.
• Extruder tuned, replaced gear with 3d printed one (was using old wood ultimaker gear, now using same type of gear as the ultimaker.)
• took apart, cleaned out the makergear extruder.
• Toolchain integration (Cura profile/prontserv) - Note: Cura preferences must be altered to match machine dimentions.
• Z endstops
• Wiring and connecting ABP.
• Cura plugin for ABP at end of print
• Power status LED (Thanks Sen!)
• LED Strip - Regulator runs hot though, usually unpluged.
• Z Axis replacement - [3]
• Crappy Bed leveler

Todo / WIP

• Need a bed leveler design which doesn't add wobble to prints
• ABP tends to be a bit wavvy. Investigate paper/kapton option or metal foil for replacement belt.

Parameters and notes

• Using Marlin firmware. Full configuration to be posted on github once it's more stable.
• Motor model: KYSAN SKU: 1123029. Using 12V, 0.4A. (xyz only, extruder = better motor.) - Set pololu ref voltage to a bit under 0.16v.) [4]
• PID values + thermo values being played with. Default values overshoot hotend significantly.
  • See reference values here: [5]

Historical

The Hacklab has made a number of customization to our Makerbot:

• Thermocouple in the Plastruder heater instead of the default thermocouple (including adding converter board for signal)
• Heated build platform