D3D Pro v20.07 Customer Support
Shipping Email
Your printer was shipped, here is the tracking number - _______________. The printer has an SD card inside, with a sample print file that you should print as your first test print. It's a tall columnar rectangle of 1 cm side. The controller and all electronics have been tested and work. The software is already installed on the controller.
The inventory is this for 3DP parts -
https://wiki.opensourceecology.org/wiki/3D_Printer_Production_Cheatsheet
If you wouldn't mind - please print out the inventory, and check off each item. If you can then take a picture of that, it would help me make sure that you found everything and I can address any issues later on in your build.
Think about it as a collaborative build. I can help you effectively if you take pictures throughout the build, and put them on Google Photos or such. You are welcome to set up an account on our wiki - and start a Work Log so you can log your build there. See about work logs:
https://wiki.opensourceecology.org/wiki/Daily_Log_of_Tasks
For the build, main instructions are here:
To build the extruder -
This is the extruder we use on all machines, inclusing Universal. You can also take a look at the Universal build manual for more hints on the axis system build - the axis system is the same on all machines, with adaptations - but the concept is always the same.
More information on the heatbed is here:
https://wiki.opensourceecology.org/wiki/120V_Heatbed
The heatbed is the same concept as the Universal - steel shell, filler, + nichrome wire - so you can use the Universal guide for additional support material.
We do need to update the final build manual all in one place. You can help if you provide feedback on which parts need further explanation. Note that we are adding a high temp build chamber for true industrial grade printing, so the ecosystem is in active development.
First, check you have all the parts. The above links are part of the build manual. We have 2 manuals: Build Guide, and Production Guide. The former is for builders like yourself. The latter is for people who want to produce these kits, which you are welcome to do for fun or profit. The Production Guides are started, and are found at the overall development templates at:
https://wiki.opensourceecology.org/wiki/D3D_Pro_v20.07
https://wiki.opensourceecology.org/wiki/D3D_Universal_v20.07
Some notes:
OSE Linux Inside - entire software suite from FreeCAD to Cura, and Arduino Environment.
Build notes:
1. bend the panel out with a heat gun. Spray paint the frame and heater box before building - you can get a 99 cent can of black spray paint on the bottom shelf of hardware stores in their paint section.
2. Heed the frame hints at [1] so you can get a perfect frame - there's an art to it.
3. For the heater element - once you wind the nichrome around the inner fiberglass sleeve core - you are ready to thread it through the outer fiberglass sleeve. Watch out: you can poke right out of the sleeve with the inner element because the fiberglass sleeve is loosely braided. Thus, attach the feeding end of the inner nichrome element to a very blunt object with tape such as electrical tape - such as the round cap of a sharpie marker - so when you feed the nichrome through, it will not poke out of the sides of the fiberglass sleeve.
Kit Notes:
We printed this with large nozzles - 1.2 mm - so you will see that the prints are ugly. But we favor stronger parts over better looks. Cleaning up prints with a knife or razor is useful. So is reaming out with 3 mm, 6 mm, and 8 mm drill bits. The looks are just a cosmetic thing - they don't affect how the machine works. Just make sure all belt holes, screw holes, etc are clear as in the Build Guide. We had issues printing in freezing weather - our printshop is not heated currently - so some prints are really bad but they should all work fine - it's cosmetic. You can clean up with knife and razor.
The parts included get to a working printer. There are exciting deep-level parts of the build: you build the heat bed, and extruder - from scratch. This gives you direct experience in heater element design/build, and extruder design/build.
Note on the frame - use a wood block with hammer to punch the steel angle into the corners, or use a rubber mallet.
Quality Control: All parts have been verified. The controller and all electronics are in full working order - tested, firmware uploaded, ready to run. An SD card is in the LCD screen already. This means after you build it and do the connections - you will be able to print on your first try. If you did everything right...
Printing - once you get set up and running - print more parts for another D3D machine and give it to a friend. Note that the exact same technology (8 mm Universal Axis) - https://wiki.opensourceecology.org/wiki/Universal_CNC_Axis - applies so you can build a printer with up to an 18" bed - our D3D Pro 3 that looks like this:
https://wiki.opensourceecology.org/wiki/D3D_v20.04.27
Any larger than that, you can print the parts, but you will have to use larger rods, such as 1" rods. This is described on the Universal Axis wiki page.
Once you inventory your parts - and have the tools on hand - you are ready to build. We have tons of other documentation - just ask and I can answer any questions that you may have. Please feel free to post to the OSE Workshops FB group:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/398759490316633/
We are looking for others to print parts, and we'll buy them from you - so once you set up your personal microfactory - keep that in mind as an option. We publish all our enterprise blueprints such as the Production Manual, so you are free to go into enterprise as well.
Thanks for supporting our project, happy building, and let me know if you have any questions. It will take perseverance to do this - but rest assured that if you go through to completion - you'll be amazed at what you have accomplished.
Note also that a copy of OSE Linux v2 comes with the kit. You can use Cura and FreeCAD on it. Let me know when/if you'd like to meet and to discuss any questions.
Thanks, Marcin
