1 Topic by mdrVB6

  • mdrVB6
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  • Registered: 2013-12-18
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Topic: Making my own heat bed question

Okay, so I'm ready to make my own heat bed.  I've actually had decent enough results with the stock bed, RUMBA board and 360 watt PSU, but I found a deal on a new 240 watt silicone heater pad cut for the SD2 on eBay, so I got a new project. 

Does anyone know the specs of the bolts solidoodle used on the SD2?  Specifically, does anyone know where I can find the drill bit used to make the cone shaped hole in the aluminum?  I can find the thread type easy enough by taking the bolts I got to home depot and trying various nuts but I am hoping there is a drill bit out there I can use to make the cone (or triangular) shaped hole in the aluminum.  Or, what other shaped bolt heads have people used to hold the aluminum on?

Also, any recommendations on where to buy wool to insulate the heater on the bottom?  Or should I use cork?

I plan to install the aluminum bed a little bigger than the stock bed, then drilling a few other screw holes outside the print area and installing some bolts to make a glass bed holder.  This way I can take the glass off quickly when the print is done and scrape it off outside of the printer, even cooling it in the freezer for a few minutes to cause it to easily pop off if needed.  If anyone has feedback on this plan, I'd love to hear it.

SD4 w/ RUMBA, E3D Volcano, all bearings, glass bed

2 Reply by accusedmonk

  • accusedmonk
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  • Registered: 2013-10-22
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Re: Making my own heat bed question

The holes are just countersinks. There should be plenty of selections that cut that angle for the bolt profile.

Bowden SD3, Rumba, E3D hotend, Mk5 with RtRyder changes, Direct drive Y axis and bearings, GT2 pulleys and braided fishing line, Lawsy linear bearing conversion, M3 Z screw.

3 Reply by mdrVB6

  • mdrVB6
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Re: Making my own heat bed question

I just have never worked with aluminum before so I wasn't sure.  I'll head to home depot and see what I can find but I was hoping someone could tell me the size of the stock solidoodle bolts because I'm lazy and didn't want to take apart my current bed that has a nice sheet of kapton and glass secured with hairspray over it.

SD4 w/ RUMBA, E3D Volcano, all bearings, glass bed

4 Reply by accusedmonk

  • accusedmonk
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Re: Making my own heat bed question

If you're starting into a custom hack on it, it might just be better to pick out your own! Then you can design and drill exactly how you see it needs to be instead of working around someone else's design.  It will be easier getting parts that way too since you'll be sourcing local.

Bowden SD3, Rumba, E3D hotend, Mk5 with RtRyder changes, Direct drive Y axis and bearings, GT2 pulleys and braided fishing line, Lawsy linear bearing conversion, M3 Z screw.