1 Topic by sanguish

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Topic: Writing Solidoodle Hacks/Mods/Etc in a formal manner

I love that there are so many hacks available, but they are hard to find, find all the bits and corrections, and generally properly 'document'.

I was a full-time technical writer for 12 years before heading back to engineering last week. I'd very much like to be able to contribute to the community by writing proper documentation for a lot of these things.

Yes, the wiki is useful. But without help from the original authors to make sure I have everything covered, I'd be concerned bout misplaced or incorrect information.

Is anyone interested in helping by being the first test case for me to write a set of docs?

Thanks

scott

2 Reply by wardjr

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Re: Writing Solidoodle Hacks/Mods/Etc in a formal manner

What exactly do you mean by "test subject"?

Printit Industries Model 8.10 fully enclosed CoreXY, Chamber heat
3-SD3's & a Workbench all fully enclosed, RH-Slic3r Win7pro, E3D V6, Volcano & Cyclops Hot End
SSR/500W AC Heated Glass Bed, Linear bearings on SS rods. Direct Drive Y-axis, BulldogXL
Thanks to all for your contributions

wardjr's Website

3 Reply by sanguish

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Re: Writing Solidoodle Hacks/Mods/Etc in a formal manner

By that I mean someone who has done something really complete and great to their printer. Say, replaced with linear bearings. Something I can do a true step by step set of instructions for, and include ripping mine apart to include photos.

I think the first will likely be adding a new Power supply. Provided I can figure out where to put the damn thing. not thrilled about it hanging off the back.

I love my SD4, but the docs are sorely lacking for even basic setup. Out of date.

4 Reply by heartless

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Re: Writing Solidoodle Hacks/Mods/Etc in a formal manner

I think this is an awesome idea!

and I would be very willing to help out if I can - I have done the Lawsy carriages and also upgraded to a Rumba board & new PSU at the same time (with a LOT of help from wardjr. smile thanks ward!) due to the stock board failing.

I spent many, many hours searching & reading before doing either upgrade, and you are right - it would be nice to have some nice, clear documentation in one easy to find location for these things.

The thread on the Lawsy carriages is a great resource, but there are so many pages to read thru and the machines have gone thru physical changes since that was started, making some of the information a bit confusing and/or outdated. Things like the Y rod clamps vs collars... and the front pulley blocks - adjustable vs non-adjustable, and where/how the carriage stop switches are located, too...

There are other little things I have done as well, like a bed stabilizer on the front, a fan on the X motor (repurposed one of the SD4's stock fans), and just yesterday I flipped the door on the front to make access easier for me. the stock right hand opening door didnt work very well where/how my printer is located...

SD4 #1 & #2 - Lawsy carriages, E3D v6, Rumba controller board, mirror bed plate, X motor fan, upgraded PSU & Mica bed heater
SD4 #3 - in the works ~ Folgertech FT-5, rev 1
Printit Industries Beta Tester - Horizon H1

5 Reply by wardjr

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Re: Writing Solidoodle Hacks/Mods/Etc in a formal manner

I sure would like to see the write ups for any of these mods posted to the WIKI.
A note to all, the WIKI  can be contributed to by anyone.  If you feel things are missing feel free to add them.  I am willing to help in the way of advice and knowledge but for now I am trying to refrain from tearing my printers apart wink

Printit Industries Model 8.10 fully enclosed CoreXY, Chamber heat
3-SD3's & a Workbench all fully enclosed, RH-Slic3r Win7pro, E3D V6, Volcano & Cyclops Hot End
SSR/500W AC Heated Glass Bed, Linear bearings on SS rods. Direct Drive Y-axis, BulldogXL
Thanks to all for your contributions

wardjr's Website

6 Reply by Claghorn

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Re: Writing Solidoodle Hacks/Mods/Etc in a formal manner

heartless wrote:

...and the machines have gone thru physical changes since that was started, making some of the information a bit confusing and/or outdated.

Yea, this is the biggest problem. Solidoodle constantly changed the design so any two solidoodles made more than a month apart are actually not the same machine, which makes all sorts of perfectly sound advice you find around the web totally inaccurate (like extruder calibration when half the machines have 0.35mm nozzles and the other half has 0.4mm nozzles and solidoodle doesn't even know which serial number they were up to when they changed :-).

Claghorn's Website

7 Reply by heartless

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Re: Writing Solidoodle Hacks/Mods/Etc in a formal manner

wardjr wrote:

I sure would like to see the write ups for any of these mods posted to the WIKI.
A note to all, the WIKI  can be contributed to by anyone.  If you feel things are missing feel free to add them.  I am willing to help in the way of advice and knowledge but for now I am trying to refrain from tearing my printers apart wink


Aww, come on ward - you know you want to! LOL

We should be receiving our "fixed/replaced" Rumba board in the mail today! yippee! just over a week turnaround.

had ours all torn apart yesterday in anticipation of the board getting back here - cleaning, re-lubing, fixing the saggy bed insulation, flipping the door... LOL

SD4 #1 & #2 - Lawsy carriages, E3D v6, Rumba controller board, mirror bed plate, X motor fan, upgraded PSU & Mica bed heater
SD4 #3 - in the works ~ Folgertech FT-5, rev 1
Printit Industries Beta Tester - Horizon H1

8 Reply by wardjr

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Re: Writing Solidoodle Hacks/Mods/Etc in a formal manner

big_smile big_smile

Printit Industries Model 8.10 fully enclosed CoreXY, Chamber heat
3-SD3's & a Workbench all fully enclosed, RH-Slic3r Win7pro, E3D V6, Volcano & Cyclops Hot End
SSR/500W AC Heated Glass Bed, Linear bearings on SS rods. Direct Drive Y-axis, BulldogXL
Thanks to all for your contributions

wardjr's Website

9 Reply by heartless

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Re: Writing Solidoodle Hacks/Mods/Etc in a formal manner

Claghorn wrote:
heartless wrote:

...and the machines have gone thru physical changes since that was started, making some of the information a bit confusing and/or outdated.

Yea, this is the biggest problem. Solidoodle constantly changed the design so any two solidoodles made more than a month apart are actually not the same machine, which makes all sorts of perfectly sound advice you find around the web totally inaccurate (like extruder calibration when half the machines have 0.35mm nozzles and the other half has 0.4mm nozzles and solidoodle doesn't even know which serial number they were up to when they changed :-).

It would be interesting to try to put together a rough "timeline" of the various changes...as in using the serial numbers to try to get an idea of what happened when... but yeah, nearly every picture of an SD4 I see is slightly different than the one I have - and I am not talking about the aftermarket mods/hacks - just the basic stuff... how the rods are secured, wire routing, things like that...

SD4 #1 & #2 - Lawsy carriages, E3D v6, Rumba controller board, mirror bed plate, X motor fan, upgraded PSU & Mica bed heater
SD4 #3 - in the works ~ Folgertech FT-5, rev 1
Printit Industries Beta Tester - Horizon H1

10 Reply by sanguish

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Re: Writing Solidoodle Hacks/Mods/Etc in a formal manner

I agree that these should go on the Wiki. And I've edited it some, although almost all for grammar and style content.

But first thing to do is get something written.

The next upgrade I'm doing is the direct drive Y. So if you've done it and have found issues or have suggestions, it would be a good time to talk about it (offline is fine).  That way I can get pictures as I go.

The Lawsy carriages would be my next target.

My 6mm rod should be here at the beginning of the week, and I'll see if I can connect with anyone about it.

In the meantime, if you want to PM me and we can start an outline of the Lawsy carriages (without mangling the existing ones) I'd love to.

[email protected]

11 Reply by Claghorn

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Re: Writing Solidoodle Hacks/Mods/Etc in a formal manner

Feel free to look at any of my mods and copy/rephrase/edit anything you want on the wiki. One of the mods is a direct Y drive:

http://home.comcast.net/~tomhorsley/har … -mods.html

Claghorn's Website