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.

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

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

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.

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]

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