Comments on: Threaded Pulley for MakerBot CupCake Extruder http://www.neufeld.newton.ks.us/electronics/?p=902 Sun, 08 Dec 2024 17:19:24 -0600 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1.3 By: Matt http://www.neufeld.newton.ks.us/electronics/?p=902&cpage=1#comment-24822 Matt Sat, 03 Apr 2010 15:18:50 +0000 http://www.neufeld.newton.ks.us/electronics/?p=902#comment-24822 Actually, in our build of a Darwin, we retrofitted this extruder head. We managed to push it apart because the alignment between the threaded copper heater tube and nylon collar was bad. The drive mechanism pushed the copper tube straight out of the insulating collar. It is possible, even without a new super-grippy. :) Actually, in our build of a Darwin, we retrofitted this extruder head. We managed to push it apart because the alignment between the threaded copper heater tube and nylon collar was bad. The drive mechanism pushed the copper tube straight out of the insulating collar.

It is possible, even without a new super-grippy. :)

]]> By: Keith Neufeld http://www.neufeld.newton.ks.us/electronics/?p=902&cpage=1#comment-24798 Keith Neufeld Tue, 30 Mar 2010 13:03:07 +0000 http://www.neufeld.newton.ks.us/electronics/?p=902#comment-24798 Kevin, motor current sensing should certainly be possible -- although perhaps tricky since the controller already PWMs the motor for speed control, so it would have to be highly integrated. Since the motor is considerably geared down, I'm not really sure how much current difference one would see -- it didn't really seem to be straining any harder when it was tearing my machine apart. :-) Kevin, motor current sensing should certainly be possible — although perhaps tricky since the controller already PWMs the motor for speed control, so it would have to be highly integrated.

Since the motor is considerably geared down, I’m not really sure how much current difference one would see — it didn’t really seem to be straining any harder when it was tearing my machine apart. :-)

]]> By: Kevin Reid http://www.neufeld.newton.ks.us/electronics/?p=902&cpage=1#comment-24796 Kevin Reid Tue, 30 Mar 2010 11:35:55 +0000 http://www.neufeld.newton.ks.us/electronics/?p=902#comment-24796 Would it be feasible to add sensing to the extruder motor to limit the force applied to the filament? Besides “not breaking your extruder”, I would think it might also be useful for being able to detect the “heater not actually hot enough” problem, or noticing if your extruder just isn't working as smoothly as it used to/ought to. Would it be feasible to add sensing to the extruder motor to limit the force applied to the filament? Besides “not breaking your extruder”, I would think it might also be useful for being able to detect the “heater not actually hot enough” problem, or noticing if your extruder just isn’t working as smoothly as it used to/ought to.

]]> By: Tony Buser http://www.neufeld.newton.ks.us/electronics/?p=902&cpage=1#comment-24792 Tony Buser Tue, 30 Mar 2010 02:48:05 +0000 http://www.neufeld.newton.ks.us/electronics/?p=902#comment-24792 I've broken several acrylic insulator retainers and have since switched to printed insulator retainers and none of these ABS retainers have ever broken on me. See: http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:1004 I also screw the barrel directly into the block for more strength like this: http://www.flickr.com/photos/tbuser/4428088597/ As for the idler wheel, I got a pretty nice one made out of aluminum that should never break, see: http://tonybuser.com/indestructible-aluminum-idler-wheel I’ve broken several acrylic insulator retainers and have since switched to printed insulator retainers and none of these ABS retainers have ever broken on me. See: http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:1004

I also screw the barrel directly into the block for more strength like this: http://www.flickr.com/photos/tbuser/4428088597/

As for the idler wheel, I got a pretty nice one made out of aluminum that should never break, see: http://tonybuser.com/indestructible-aluminum-idler-wheel

]]> By: Keith Neufeld http://www.neufeld.newton.ks.us/electronics/?p=902&cpage=1#comment-24790 Keith Neufeld Tue, 30 Mar 2010 00:55:23 +0000 http://www.neufeld.newton.ks.us/electronics/?p=902#comment-24790 Nophead, your compliment is especially delightful because it's not the camera, it's the technique! (Old photographer's boast.) The camera is a hand-me-down Nikon Coolpix 8700 (ca 2004). It's so old that all my indoor pictures (even under spot lighting) have exposure times of 1/4 second and up. That means I use a tripod on every shot, and I bracket exposures extensively because I can't trust the meter. I calibrate white balance to a sheet of paper before every photo session and I shoot and examine a test picture before every shot to see whether autofocus is acceptable or whether I need to manually focus. After uploading, I examine all the shots on the computer, select the one with best brightness/contrast, and crop better than I've learned to do in the viewfinder. Yes, I need a DSLR! Seriously, I don't know that my photos look any different than yours; so while the praise is appreciated, I don't know that it's necessary. Nophead, your compliment is especially delightful because it’s not the camera, it’s the technique! (Old photographer’s boast.)

The camera is a hand-me-down Nikon Coolpix 8700 (ca 2004). It’s so old that all my indoor pictures (even under spot lighting) have exposure times of 1/4 second and up. That means I use a tripod on every shot, and I bracket exposures extensively because I can’t trust the meter. I calibrate white balance to a sheet of paper before every photo session and I shoot and examine a test picture before every shot to see whether autofocus is acceptable or whether I need to manually focus. After uploading, I examine all the shots on the computer, select the one with best brightness/contrast, and crop better than I’ve learned to do in the viewfinder.

Yes, I need a DSLR!

Seriously, I don’t know that my photos look any different than yours; so while the praise is appreciated, I don’t know that it’s necessary.

]]> By: nophead http://www.neufeld.newton.ks.us/electronics/?p=902&cpage=1#comment-24788 nophead Tue, 30 Mar 2010 00:37:35 +0000 http://www.neufeld.newton.ks.us/electronics/?p=902#comment-24788 Fantastic pictures Keith. What sort of camera do you use? Fantastic pictures Keith. What sort of camera do you use?

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