1 Topic by krome

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Topic: Finally getting around to assembly

I have kit #527 from the kickstarter. I was actually a non-reward tier pledger but then I later bought an unassembled kit from another backer.

I've been looking around to gather all the information I need to get this thing assembled and functioning. It looks like there have been a number of changes made through several versions of the machine over the past year and a half since the first kits were shipped out.

Is there anything critical that I need to be aware of? I'm going through various threads here that seem relevant, but just want to be sure that I'm not missing anything that's super-important.

Similarly, are there any additional things I should consider - like additional mods or other improvements? I've already printed the hopper and electronics cover, and I have a kit enclosure as well, but everything else is as it came in the original box.

2 Reply by elmoret

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Re: Finally getting around to assembly

Instructions are organized by serial number. You have a v1.1, which had no real glaring issues. You would benefit from a motor upgrade in terms of output speed, though.

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3 Reply by krome

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Re: Finally getting around to assembly

Thanks Tim. The info thread claims serial numbers after 469 are v1.2... is that incorrect? Is there a way to tell for sure which motor I have (perhaps it is marked differently)?

4 Reply by elmoret

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Re: Finally getting around to assembly

If its truly 527, then its a 1.2. That is not a Kickstarter kit, I figured it was more likely you'd made a typo on the number than be confused about where you got the kit from.

The serial number correctly identifies the motor. The motor you have is the "standard gear motor", roughly 2x faster than Kickstarter kits. v1.2 used a D-shaped motor shaft and a pin to act as a mechanical fuse in case of motor overload. For some folks that was an issue, so later kits moved to a square shaft. I have some square shafts on hand if you want to swap from the D-shaft to a square shaft.

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5 Reply by elmoret

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Re: Finally getting around to assembly

If its truly 527, then its a 1.2. That is not a Kickstarter kit, I figured it was more likely you'd made a typo on the number than be confused about where you got the kit from.

The serial number correctly identifies the motor. The motor you have is the "standard gear motor", roughly 2x faster than Kickstarter kits. v1.2 used a D-shaped motor shaft and a pin to act as a mechanical fuse in case of motor overload. For some folks that was an issue, so later kits moved to a square shaft. I have some square shafts on hand if you want to swap from the D-shaft to a square shaft.

Filastruder - the robust, inexpensive filament extruder
E3Dv6 All Metal Hotend - the premier 3D printing hotend

6 Reply by krome

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Re: Finally getting around to assembly

It may well be a post-kickstarter kit - I could certainly be mistaken about that. Definitely number 527 though (written on a filastruder card that was in the unopened USPS box).

The motor shaft is indeed D-shaped. I'll give it a shot with the hardware I have and will reach out if I encounter any problems.

7 Reply by lesueurp

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Re: Finally getting around to assembly

I'd be interested in getting hold of a square shaft. I've been trying to extrude PLA and my D shaft has worn just enough that the pin no longer holds properly. I've tried a number of other pins made from nails etc but they just deform after a short time (or a bit longer for hardened nails).

8 Reply by elmoret

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Re: Finally getting around to assembly

Sure, contact me through the contact form on the Filastruder website.

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9 Reply by krome

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Re: Finally getting around to assembly

The D-shaped shaft seems to be OK without any real load on the motor. Will see how it fares when it needs to do some actual work.


Anyhow, the kit is assembled and next steps involve putting plastic through it. Before I do that, I have a couple of questions. I scanned the forums and didn't spot any answers to them...

Is there any real difference between extruding PLA versus ABS? It seems that the filastruder can do both, and I have a small amount of ABS on hand. But I'm 90% sure I will be keeping the filastruder at my local makerspace where everyone uses PLA. Also, with that in mind, is PLA extrusion any more complicated (extra steps, less forgiving) than ABS? Since I won't have control over who uses it and won't be able to be there to help them.

Second, once you extrude with one type of plastic, is it easy to switch to another? My guess is that cleaning out the barrel and nozzle will not be very easy and I'd probably be better off just picking one or the other and sticking with it. But my guess might be wrong.

Thanks!

(I'd include a photo of the newly built machine, but looks like I don't have ability to post links)

10 Reply by Ggalisky (edited by Ggalisky 2014-12-04 01:24:19)

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Re: Finally getting around to assembly

Here are a few posts on PLA: http://www.soliforum.com/topic/8529/pla-4043d/ 
http://www.soliforum.com/topic/7470/pla-4043d/
http://www.soliforum.com/topic/4108/my- … s-and-pla/
Switching materials is not too hard, just make sure that you turn the temp up to the new material your putting in. ABS extrudes at 180-200c (how do I do the Celsius symbol?) while PLA extrudes at 160-170c. For example, your switching from PLA to ABS, so you would turn the temp up to 180-200, load up the ABS into the hopper and extrude until only ABS is extruding and PLA is no longer extruding.

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11 Reply by elmoret

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Re: Finally getting around to assembly

The big key with PLA is drying it. Moisture + PLA = bad. Same deal with printing commercially produced filament.

Going from PLA to ABS is easy - just set the extruder to ABS temps and pour ABS into the hopper. Going the other way requires running at ABS temps for a long time while purging PLA, or heating to ABS temps, pulling the nozzle, and removing the ABS with needle nose pliers.

You can post a link, just put a space in the URL and I'll have it reformatted. Its anti spam, after 10 posts you can post links on your own.

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12 Reply by krome

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Re: Finally getting around to assembly

Thanks, it sounds like I'd be best just sticking with ABS for now (mostly because of the drying needed for PLA), and if anyone really wants to make PLA then they can buy and build a second filastruder smile

#527, built and ready to push plastic:

http://i.imgur.com/036enMm.jpg