D3D Australia

Mon Dec 18, 2017

Assembly

Assembled two carriages and checked alignment of linear bearings on one of the assembled axes' rods. Bearings are slightly misaligned due to warping of printed parts.

Printing

Carriage Side parts are fairly warped, in part due to printer settings. Created a new .gcode file for the Carriage Side to try to reduce the warping on these parts. Printer settings for PLA plastic:
Layer height: 0.2mm
Shell thickness: 1.2mm
Bottom/Top thickness: 1.2mm
Fill density: 25%
Printing Speed: 50mm/s
Printing temp: 200 C
Bed temp: 50 C
Nozzle size: 0.4mm
These settings are, at this time, random aproximations based on basic configuration across different machine models for PLA.

Notes

Brought the printing settings back to default, reduced the HBP temperature to 50 deg C and added a brim in an effort to minimize warping.

Sun Dec 17, 2017

• Started this log.

Printing

Generated .gcode file for Carriage Side and started the printing process. Estimated printing time for one set of four parts is 11:00:00. Eight of these parts are needed (two sets with current .stl file layout).
Printer settings for PLA plastic:
Layer height: 0.2mm
Shell thickness: 1.6mm
Bottom/Top thickness: 1.5mm
Fill density: 25%
Printing Speed: 50mm/s
Printing temp: 200 C
Bed temp: 70 C
Nozzle size: 0.4mm
These settings are, at this time, random aproximations based on basic configuration across different machine models for PLA.

Sat Dec 16, 2017

Assembly

• Glued the last 16in square to the frame and trimmed excess epoxy (+-1 hour).
  

Printing

• Printed a second set of Motor Side assembly. Eight of these parts are now ready. Two for X-axis, four for Y-axis and two for Z-axis.

Printer settings for PLA plastic:
Same as previous day.

Fri Dec 15, 2017

Assembly

• Preparing (straightening bows, sanding of edges, degreasing), squaring and gluing of 16" D3D frame (+-4 hours). As with the first set of squares that I got cut out, all of these squares presented some degree ob bowing due, I believe, to the heat generated by the cutting process on a plate that, at 3mm, is relatively thin.
  
• Put together some of the axes' parts to check the squareness of the 8mm rods. Prints are very precise. Rods are parallel across all planes. Assembled HBP support. Possible issues could be sagging of the far end of the heated bed after some use and jittering of bed if Z-axis needs to work too hard for the auto leveling during the printing.

Printing

• Short Iddler Side printed successfully. Elapsed time: 09:43:00. Created .gcode file and started printing another set of parts: Motor Side Estimated printing time for one set of four parts is 10:20:00. Eight of these parts are needed (two sets with current .stl file layout).
  

Printer settings for PLA plastic:
Layer height: 0.2mm
Shell thickness: 1.2mm
Bottom/Top thickness: 1.2mm
Fill density: 30%
Printing Speed: 50mm/s
Printing temp: 200 C
Bed temp: 60 C
Nozzle size: 0.4mm
These settings are, at this time, random approximations based on basic configuration across different machine models for PLA.

Thu Dec 14, 2017

Printing

• First set of parts printed with a fault (shift on Y-axis position halfway through the printing process). Replaced end-stop micro switch. Checked motor driver. Swapped X-axis driver with Y-axis driver. The problem seems to be solved. Probably just a bad contact in the driver's connection. Created .gcode file for Extruder Holder. Extruder holder printed successfully. Created .gcode file for Short Idler Side. And started the printing process.

Printer settings for PLA plastic:
Same as previous day.

Notes

Bridging. There are strings of filament that did not anchor to the edges of the magnet's socket-bases and nut's socket-bases. The filament fell into these socket's space during the printing process. Part of the problem is due to gaps in the printed perimeter of the sockets. These gaps are the result of the proximity or intersection between the perimeters of various sockets with each other and with the outer shell of the part.

Suggestions

Check .stl and .fcstd files to try to solve this issue.

Wed Dec 13, 2017

I have all the parts required except for the 3D printed parts. I am printing my own parts and I will be learning the basics of the printing process as I move along. For this reason, this log will contain some details concerning printer settings that I will be trying with the different parts necessary for OSE's design. These settings may or may not be of use later on but are, I believe, a good reference point.

Printing

• Started printing first set of parts Motor Side.

Printer settings for PLA plastic:
Layer height: 0.2mm
Shell thickness: 1.2mm
Bottom/Top thickness: 1.2mm
Fill density: 25%
Printing Speed: 50mm/s
Printing temp: 200 C
Bed temp: 60 C
Nozzle size: 0.4mm
These settings are, at this time, random approximations based on basic configuration across different machine models for PLA.