Starting to be a megarep

Still needs a name but I like megarep it growing on me. We are just mocking up the top motor rail area. It will be the next part we start to build. It should let us finish seting the z axis.The days are long and the weekends are short but it's starting to feel like a real repstrap. A real big one that is.

Starting to mock up the top rail for the z motor and pullys

Close up of the z screw in place

Just posting from my phone

It's fast to post but it creates a lot of posts for the day

Installing the z acme screws

Now that we have the y axis face plate on we can finally put the z
scwers into place.

Y axis extruder plate and face plate

Extruded face for the y axis

Nothing like repurposing an old door seal plate.

Just a few more hours on the mill is all

Thanks Roger and Marcia we appreciate the use of your shop and the hospitality suite.

Angle backing for belt lock

Y axis getting closer

Y axis starting to come to gether

Extruder back plate

Extruder back plate

Another significant milestone today

As the build advances so does the drawing

One step at a time and we will get there.

upside down my burger is burning

Pillow blocks for extruder head

Some work to go but they are getting closer.

Worm drive fit to motor

Makerbot Madness at Metrix Create:Space

A special thanks to Matt and Mathew at Metrix Create:Space. These guys are a warehouse full of knowledge. If you like 3d printing then this is the place in Seattle.

Opto endstops ready to go

great new mac tools for the makerbot

http://pleasantsoftware.com/developer/3d/

This application rocks. I am going to keep it handy.

Just one more photo

This just seemed to capture the moment for me

More z axis parts

Z axis mounting blocks

Another part is ready to be mounted to the slate table. Aluminum
block with brass bushings will hold the botom of the z axis acme
screws in place.

Acme threads are all cleaned up

A little glass bead work and the acme threads from the trash compactor
are ready to be cut and sized

Finally the motors can play music

Using the tetris motor test run the motors are playing music by
running at different speeds and frequencies

Replicatg is running the x axis stepper

Now that we have the proper usb to tty cable. The motherboard has begun communicating with the linux computer.  Once some test G-code was loaded into the replicatG program the temporarily wired x axis stepper motor began to move. The singing c++ test code did not work but the motor is moving so yahoo! The final assembly of the electronics box will be done tomorrow.  This should help keep the electronics safe and secure. While we finish building the robot.

Also the extruder and dual head extruder carriage designs are almost done. More to come on that.

Axis drive parts have arrived

More Pictures Of The Project

If you would like to see all the pictures from the project you can find them at the link below.  We'll try to posting the interesting ones but all the pictures will be in this gallery.

http://gallery.me.com/bobbhansen#100114

End of the week the thinking is all done

Final stages of the electronics box

Cap ready to attach

Also the x axis rails are epoxied to the stone

Placing the x axis rails

The robot is coming along now

Starting to set the x axis

Best way to find square off the rails