3D Printer Retrofit

I plan on printing prototypes of gearboxes similar to this,



I would assume the thicker filament would help build those parts up but would it affect accuracy?

i got print this one also

bbsr_5a wrote:

i got print this one also

Is that also a cycloidal gear box?

thefabricator03 wrote:

bbsr_5a wrote:

i got print this one also

Is that also a cycloidal gear box?

yes it is for E ducation use

If it's protos I'd use a resin printer and make those parts in minutes vs days.
imgur.com/zvxoHUT
imgur.com/zKNtBAg

Higher res than FDM/FFF and much much faster.

A resin printer would be nice. Maybe one day I will build one. They look pretty interesting. I need to crawl before I can run tho.

Finally made some progress with my printer.

I have the Big Tree Tech GTR board set up with Klipper and connected to a Raspberry Pi 3 b+ running Octoprint. Once I got my head around setting up Klipper, setting up the hardware and software was no harder than installing LinuxCNC.




Had a few problems with the mechanical. The linear bearings on the Z axis were somehow bad from factory. The Z axis would not move up or down without binding. Even with the factory electronics I still had that problem.



I replaced the LM12UU bearings with longer LMK12LUU bearings and the z axis moves up and down smoothly.



I also gave up on the idea of using the TMC2209 stepper drivers sensor less homing. I had it set up and tried it but it was pretty hard on the gantry and put a bunch of stress on the belts. On a more solid machine or a machine using lead screws or rack and pinion it would be fine I think.
I had an issue with the cheap limit switched that came with the machine - they did not work properly. So I have replaced them on the X and Y with Omron limit swithes. I use these on my large CNC plasma without and issues. I am still using the factory limit switch on the Z axis but I will replace it soon with a BLTouch unit I have brought.



Now that the machine was set up and functioning I needed to print some parts. I brought a copy of Simplify3D and downloaded a 20mm calibration cube from Thingiverse. Setting up Simplify3D was pretty easy and from the looks of it has plenty of features.


The 20mm cube looks tiny in the center of my 500x500mm build plate.


First print was way under extruded. I calibrated the extruder and tried again. Next couple are still under extruding so I will need to keep playing with the settings.



Once I get the settings correct I will set up my BLTouch sensor, build a cabinet for the electronic hardware and tidy up all the wiring. Its been a pretty fun project so far and I can wait to see what I can print with it.

Thanks Tom,

I went with Simplify3D mostly because of the great technical help articles they make, www.simplify3d.com/support/articles/

I have been playing around with my settings and those articles are a real time saver.