[rockcliff]

3D Print tool for Mach3 cnc routers, mills

http://www.cnczone.com/forums/attach...1&d=1379954217

http://www.cnczone.com/forums/attach...1&d=1379954217

[mikesims]

Interesting setup. No extra pcb to run it?

[rockcliff]

Interesting setup. No extra pcb to run it?

Hi

All that is needed is to wire the extruder stepper motor to your driver, and power the small fan, the kit includes everything else to 3D Print with your CNC Router or Milling Machine, and Mach3

You can find some additional info on the Kits Here

Attachment 202848

[mikesims]

What about heat control? How are you doing it?

[Fastest1]

You see the dimmer switch dont you? Control might not be the word you would think of there.

[rockcliff]

We are using a typical nichrome stainless heater cartridge found on most 3D printers , and we are actually Controlling the Ac voltage going into an AC to AC transformer with a standard light dimmer , the AC output voltage of the transformer is extremely stable therefore holding and controlling the temperature exactly where you want

We originally thought this simple type of control could not work and that it would require a more complex type of control, but I was proved very wrong, the temperature is very stable and does not vary, I asked myself for months how could this type of heat control work so well, and the conclusion I keep coming to, is the amount of plastic flow in 3D Printing is too small as compared to the mass of the heater block to affect temperature variance, if you have ever used a nicrome foam cutter with a similar type of AC temperature control you will understand how accurate you can adjust the wire temperature, you can read more about it in this thread (super long) also in the same thread see our open source 3D Printer version that you can build yourself

Whether you build one yourself or buy a Spider kit I recommend adding 3D Printing to anyone who already has a cnc router, , in the last year I use mine quite a bit for all kinds of useful and sometimes useless fun things. it’s a great tool

Attachment 203104

Attachment 203108

Attachment 203110

[Fastest1]

Thanks for the explanation. I do run an extruder on my mill. Mine uses a Gnexlab controller for heat control of the bed and extruder. Inexpensive solution you have though.

[rockcliff]

Thanks for the explanation. I do run an extruder on my mill. Mine uses a Gnexlab controller for heat control of the bed and extruder. Inexpensive solution you have though.

Yes, the Gnexlab Controller is an awesome board, for standalone running from Mach3 / EMC we looked at adding it to some kits, as higher end option but it always seems to be out of stock?, or they stopped selling it? not sure, it’s definitely nice to have some indication of the actual temperature, we might add at minimum at least some sort of low cost temperature readout, which would make it easier to dial in a different temperature when switching between PLA and ABS

I personally am doing most of my printing these days with PLA and find it sticks the first layer down quite well to just paper label without using heat at all, and does not warp half as bad as ABS,

[Fastest1]

I agree on the PLA/ABS and their different requirements. I haven't talked with Nuri in a while to see if he is still producing boards. Still like your solution, pretty simple.

[mikesims]

Thanks for the explanation.
I will be in touch through your website in the next week or so.

[mikesims]

One more question... Will my screw drives(Acme 2 start, 8 tpi If I recall correctly) be fast enough to 3d print?

[rockcliff]

One more question... Will my screw drives(Acme 2 start, 8 tpi If I recall correctly) be fast enough to 3d print?

You can Print at any speed lower then around 165 IPM printing slower will not affect the quality, it just takes longer,

[Jibber]

Interesting product!

Can you please specify what is needed on the hardware side (e.g. additional axis? I See there is a stepper motor included) and on the Software side (besides Mach3)?

Cheers, Christoph

[rockcliff]

Interesting product!

Can you please specify what is needed on the hardware side (e.g. additional axis? I See there is a stepper motor included) and on the Software side (besides Mach3)?

Cheers, Christoph

For hardware you need an extra axis / driver for Mach3 the A-axis is used for the small stepper to feed the plastic filament

For slicing Gcode software for Mach3 I like and recommend the free version of Kisslicer
KISSlicer [Download]

Attachment 206380

[SPEEDRE]

I wish someone had said something about adding the heated bed. There is not enough information for setting up a stand alone system. I don't think Mach 3 can control the temp to a bed plate. I am in the process of getting help on how to wire up a PID and SSR to create a stand alone system right now. Not getting a lot of help though. Most don't add the right answers to my questions of how to use PID and SSR to control the temps to the bed.

[Fastest1]

Speedre, do you have a heated bed to use? There are a few vendors who sell stand alone temperature control units. Someone recently was using a household dimmer to control the heat with success.

[ThomD]

For smaller stuff, could you use one of those coffee cup heaters?

Electric Tea Coffee Rapid Mug Drinks Beverage Cup Heat Warmer Heater AC110V 240V | eBay

[amish_rabbi]

my machine is pre-wired for an A axis, would I be able to wire this to the connector plug (sorry if that's not what its called, I'm new) and then simply plug and unplug it like a rotary table?

it would be interesting to figure out a way to mount this in a TTS holder as well. I was looking at a stand alone 3d printer for prototyping but this might work just as well.

[Fastest1]

Yes. That is how I do it. Just use the A or C axis driver. You do have to modify your post processor or hand edit your GCode but that is simple.

Skip the idea of a TTS holder for your extruder. It won't be worth the time. You could use a simple mount or even a magnetic base to the extruder?

[sny2ksa]

Wow its Interesting..