1 Topic by titanium

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Topic: What should I do to my stock Solidoodle 2?

It’s been a long time since I’ve been here.

Our S# 01913 SD2, received in December 2012) is almost completely stock and has performed hundreds of hours of prints with minimal problems.  The only really “big” thing we have had to do was replace the green power connector that burned up.  The only mods we have done is print out a replacement Y-axis bracket and some bed leveling knobs.

We still have the original wood bed, original power supply, original acrylic puzzle extruder and nozzle, original belts, original motors, etc.  We have the Sanguinololu Rev 1.3a board with the ATMEGA 644P.  That chip has a Solidoodle Rev 1.3C sticker on it.

We are running Marlin 1.0.0,  Repetier Host V0.82b, and Slic3r 0.9.7.

We have only printed ABS in all these years, but today we are receiving our first PLA spools from Overture.

I only just learned about the “thermal runaway” events and how there have been some homes burned down.  Kind of scary to think how many hours we have left the thing running unattended.

What are the “must have” upgrades versus the “nice to have” upgrades for our trusted old friend? 

Thanks for any thoughts and ideas.

P.S.  We also have one of the Kickstarter Robo 3D printers, but have never been able to get it up and running.

2 Reply by Quaydon

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Re: What should I do to my stock Solidoodle 2?

Thermal runaway protection is a must have. A ramps arduino clone board are so cheap now there is no reason not to upgrade.

3 Reply by Tin Falcon

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Re: What should I do to my stock Solidoodle 2?

IMHO if it is not broke do not fix it.
If it has an issue then deal with it.
If you want to spend money on something more modern
Prussa mark 3 kit is $800
the new prussa mini is $400 both nice options. to the multitude of chines knock offs that have flooded the market. Although some of them are good if you know which one to by.

Soliddoodle 4 stock w glass bed------Folger Tech Prusa 2020 upgraded to and titan /aero extruder mirror bed
FT5 with titan/ E3D Aero------MP mini select w glass bed
MP Utimate maker pro-W bondtech extruder
Marlin/Repetier Host/ Slic3r and Cura

4 Reply by 2n2r5 (edited by 2n2r5 2019-12-24 01:32:24)

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Re: What should I do to my stock Solidoodle 2?

With machines like the Ender 3 or Prusa I3 mark 3 that perform very well for the low-cost investment, I would tend to agree with Tin Falcon. Generally speaking, if you like where you are at with the SD2 then stick with it. If you want better build quality, I would suggest going with Pirvan's leadscrew mod. I never tried it with my 'doodle but I can't imagine it not working extremely well.

http://www.soliforum.com/topic/2998/sd3 … all-screw/

SD3 w/ mods:
Glass bed with QU-BD heat pad upgrade, threadless ballscrew w/ 8mm smooth rod, spectra line belt replacement, lawsy MK5 extruder, Lawsy replacement carriage, E3D hotend, Ramps 1.4 w/ reprap discount controller, DRV8825 drivers, 12v 30A PS, Acrylic case, Overkill Y-idlers, Filament alarm, Extruder fan + more.

2n2r5's Website

5 Reply by Tin Falcon

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Re: What should I do to my stock Solidoodle 2?

also The current trend is to use 32 bit control boards and marlin 2.0. and the trend also tends to be towards larger printers.

Soliddoodle 4 stock w glass bed------Folger Tech Prusa 2020 upgraded to and titan /aero extruder mirror bed
FT5 with titan/ E3D Aero------MP mini select w glass bed
MP Utimate maker pro-W bondtech extruder
Marlin/Repetier Host/ Slic3r and Cura

6 Reply by wire10ga

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Re: What should I do to my stock Solidoodle 2?

I just got an Ender 3 just so I can do some updates to my mostly stock SD2 as well and of course have a 2nd printer.

SD2 - Glass Bed, Fans on PCB and Y motor, Custom enclosure
Slicer - Simplify3D

wire10ga's Website

7 Reply by madyogi (edited by madyogi 2020-12-20 20:48:57)

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Re: What should I do to my stock Solidoodle 2?

Like 4 months ago, I pulled out the SD2 (ordered in January 2013) and it fried the hot end at it's 2nd run. Listening to advises of few lads on the chat, I looked at it and said to myself, it looks great, solid, no I won't scrap it.

Started a long upgrade process that is half(?) way through now. To keep it short:
- designed and built mains powered heated bed ~280 Watt (1.15A) with thermal fuse; it had acrylic bed before, it's made out of glass now, with kapton on top,
- designed some metal box/casing for solid state relay (DA 25A/230V) features: IEC plug, 2A fuse, extra diode showing it passes voltage on the output and manual on/off switch,
- wrote tiny code http://www.soliforum.com/post/154213/#p154213 that (I hope) lets freely switch thermistors; it generates ADC temperature tables used within Marlin firmware.
- learned bits and pieces of the firmware and how to upgrade it pretty much any possible way SPI/ISP, arduiono - whatever (Atmega had fuse bits set improperly),
- yesterday, made some additional cover (like one for a bicycle chain) that hides belt driving Y axis, since the wiring of the print head was constantly crashing into it; it's glued with ducting tape at the moment but when I find some time, I'll use rivets - like its all done).

Stage two (TODO):
Since I ordered very cheap replacement heater back in August (cost: $2), I'm staying with it, until it dies or the print quality won't be satisfying.
I already received 12V E3D V6 for direct drive. It looks very, very nice. So as soon as $2 puzzle dies and few days off pops up on the horizon, the swap gets scheduled...

Concluding -

*** SAVE YOUR DOODLE AND KEEP MELTING THE WORLD ***

P.S.
Does anyone use SD (2 in particular) with Cura software? I'm interested mostly in setup screens / files. At the moment, I have RepetierHost on WinX with Slic3r.
Since I'm in general a Gentoo/Linux fan and work using it, I found only Cura software is available there at the moment. Yes, Slic3r is there too but there's no other software out of the box, to talk to the printer. Printrun dropped off the mainline and it's pain to build the damn old python-2.7 dependencies for it...
Would be great if anyone would share the setup!

8 Reply by Tin Falcon

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Re: What should I do to my stock Solidoodle 2?

P.S.  We also have one of the Kickstarter Robo 3D printers, but have never been able to get it up and running.

that is another printer. i expect with a little skill and patience , someone can get that running as well.

in the early days I heard several stories of folks getting frustrated with printers and giving up.
Several SD3s were donated to ENABLE . Dr Jon Schull of RIT asks me what printer I had . i replied a Sollidoodle 3 . he then asked if i was able to get it up and running. I then handed him a sample print. and his reply was "I guess you did."

Another forum years ago someone was so frustrated with their Robo 3, that they took a hammer to it tossed it in the bin and posted a photo. IMHO this guy lacked the mechanical , electronic and troubleshooting skills to own a 3D printer.

so what do you do with yours. ??
Fix it and use it ?
Part it out and build a new printer ?
Donate it to an active maker space?
Sell it on e bay ?
Donate it to some talented Kid that really wants a 3d printer but is short on cash.

Soliddoodle 4 stock w glass bed------Folger Tech Prusa 2020 upgraded to and titan /aero extruder mirror bed
FT5 with titan/ E3D Aero------MP mini select w glass bed
MP Utimate maker pro-W bondtech extruder
Marlin/Repetier Host/ Slic3r and Cura