02 - Printer Evolution (7/9/14)

Post date: Jul 9, 2014 8:24:15 PM

My printer has undergone a bit of change over time.

Here it is the day after the build event:

Then I decided I didn't like the bare wood so I tore it apart and painted it, I also replaced the OSB print bed (under the glass) with painted MDF.

I was having some difficulty with the home-made hot end, so ordered one to try from Ohio Plastics - love it for the price!

As I tried to print faster and faster, I realized I needed to try and lighten the print bed, MDF is not the answer, so I went to glass on glass (I hot glued the bearing brackets to the glass). I was then able to reach 100 and even 120 mm/s in some cases. Beware of the intense gap fill vibrations at those speeds!

The next stage was to do away with the wood altogether, so I went with 8020. In the following photo, I'm printing wire holders that will snap into the channel of the aluminum.