What is everyone doing

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Roberts_Clif
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What is everyone doing

Post by Roberts_Clif »

I see there is a lot a forum users reading though no-one is posting.

What is everyone doing!!!!!

Clif
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LePaul
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Re: What is everyone doing

Post by LePaul »

Trying to get my FolgerTech FT-6 reliable :)
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Re: What is everyone doing

Post by Roberts_Clif »

LePaul wrote: April 21st, 2019, 10:40 pm Trying to get my FolgerTech FT-6 reliable :)
How is that going so far??? I would have though you would have this dialed in by now. Maybe it could help for you to ask the forum for help.
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Re: What is everyone doing

Post by GrueMaster »

I've been too busy this month to print. I sit and read the forum after my morning shower before heading to work, that's about it.

@LePaul, with as many printers as you have worked with over the years, this should only take an hour or two. You're getting slower in your old age. :-P
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Re: What is everyone doing

Post by LePaul »

Well the FT-6 has been fun and challenging

I'm sure the old age is part of it, @GrueMaster :)

I'm very detail oriented and will follow instructions to the letter. This printer's instructions certainly has a lot of areas that need additional steps and some more clarity. I was asked to offer my detailed feedback on how to make it better, so I did. It's nice that they are open to that.

Once the printer is built, there are no Setup Instructions. (Although they say to refer to them for next part of the build!)

You're left to ask questions about things that should be in documentation Stepper driver voltages? I mean, the print bed weighs 12 pounds and lifted by one stepper...so clearly, us builders wondered how that would work out!

The printer uses ethernet cables to communicate back to the controller. As it turns out, that's a very noisy way to do things. More on that later!

The auto bed leveling probe is an unknown device. No calibration knob on it so, you really have no idea how to set it up. It's vastly different than the EZABL setups I have done. Some clarity on setting that device up would be nice and it's sensitivity.

Like all my kits, I seem to spend a fair amount of time trying to make sure things are square/lined up all thought the build. But, if you have ever built things with aluminum extrusions and t-nuts, you know those can wander one you as you tighten them up. I know it would have cost more...but to have something pre drilled/tapped and bolted together would've been nice! (Of course, assuming the manufacturer used a great jig to ensure accuracy)

At this point it's up and working. At the suggestion of other builders, I have opted to replace the sensor with a BL Touch. However, due to the electronic noise, I have to direct wire the motor, getting it off that ethernet jack and add some capacitors to soften out the noise. After this, my BL Touch should probe without failing randomly.

Is it frustrating? A bit.
Is it fun to learn marlin like this? I suppose!
But in hindsight, a printer that can print this volume (720 x 350 x 400) would cost thousands pre assembled.
My hope is after a few more tweaks, it can print large stuff very nicely. I may replace the MKS 1.4 with a Smoothie or Duet board...but small steps!
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Re: What is everyone doing

Post by Roberts_Clif »

LePaul wrote: April 23rd, 2019, 9:59 am Once the printer is built, there are no Setup Instructions.
This is Crazy, why is it that some of the most important information is always missing or incorrectly documented!
LePaul wrote: April 23rd, 2019, 9:59 am Stepper driver voltages?
The Max Stepper motor driver current is easily calculated. then Multiply that by 80% will give you a real good starting point.
Although 12 pounds is heavy for a single stepper motor, What is the model number of this stepper Motor in question?
LePaul wrote: April 23rd, 2019, 9:59 am The printer uses Ethernet cables to communicate back to the controller. As it turns out, that's a very noisy way to do things. More on that later!
It seems a lot of new designs are trying to use a standard Ethernet cable, this might be OK if they would choose a higher quality cable.
Using Cat 5E is not the Answer.

Category 7 cable, more commonly known as a CAT-7 cable, is used for the cabling infrastructure of Gigabit Ethernet.
Category 7 cable offers performance of up to 600MHz. Category 7 cable is recommend when wiring a smart home!
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Re: What is everyone doing

Post by davidd65 »

Roberts_Clif, well, besides the 3D printing of toys and ship-models, I also write papers and essays. Writing custom paper or custom essay (I mean qualified) - may help writer to earn some more money. Also it helps you to improve yourself intellectually, of course. Once I've tried writing 2.5 years ago - for now it is really hard to stop :)
Last edited by davidd65 on April 24th, 2019, 11:45 am, edited 2 times in total.
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Re: What is everyone doing

Post by LePaul »

To @Roberts_Clif 's points...

How is a newbie supposed to have an inkling of a clue on the science of stepper driver voltage? I mean, do you know the atomic weight of how much water to use to prepare your coffee each morning? I mean, your response is just a bit flip. Like "Everyone" should know stepper driver current dynamics??

When you buy a printer kit, you go in with the assumption that the manufacturer provides all the detailed steps and settings you need to craft a complete machine. Leaving out those precise details that prevent that is inexcusable. The market is too competitive to slack on something so basic.
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Re: What is everyone doing

Post by GrueMaster »

The printer uses ethernet cables to communicate back to the controller. As it turns out, that's a very noisy way to do things. More on that later!
I wonder if they are using solid core or stranded wire? You can tell by how stiff the wires are. I read last night in the instructions for my digital dash that I am having installed in my truck not to use solid core wire as it tends to generate a lot of electrical noise; use stranded instead. I'm not an electrical engineer, but I assume there is merit to that.

Glad you enjoyed the assembly and tuning of that printer. After building and tuning my 3DP-17, I wouldn't have the time or patience to build yours. As it is, I barely use my printers currently. Just too busy (next free weekend is looking like June).
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Re: What is everyone doing

Post by Roberts_Clif »

To @ LePaul

Just using my knowledge to help.

Vref = I_TripMax * 8 * Rs

I_TripMax is the steppers max current.
RS is the sensing resistors value shown in the photo .1 ohms

For a Stepper Motor with a current rating of 1.5 amps we would calculate
.96volts =(1.5amps * 8 * .1ohms) * 80% adjustable max Vref for this stepper motor and driver module.

index.jpg
index.jpg (10.04 KiB) Viewed 16621 times

https://reprap.org/wiki/Pololu_stepper_ ... or_current
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Re: What is everyone doing

Post by LePaul »

Hey what's @ivan.akapulko been up to? Besides hitting me with Instagram stuff for months? :)
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Re: What is everyone doing

Post by GrueMaster »

Between working for a startup as Senior DevOps Engineer and dealing with medical issues (HCM), I rarely get time to do much printing. I mostly monitor this and other forums in the morning between shower and getting dressed for work (air dry). I really need to slow down soon, just haven't figured out how.

Currently using Big Hicci (Hictop CR-10S) to print a cable chain for Little Hicci (Hictop 3DP-17). Now that it is going, I need to drill some holes in the basement to reroute my satellite cable for the livingroom, then rewire the entertainment center, run a car load of stuff to Goodwill, take the wife to brunch & go for a scenic drive (Mother's Day), shopping, etc.
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Re: What is everyone doing

Post by LePaul »

You've been a busy guy!
HCM...cardiac? How do they treat that? Doesn't sound like a lot of fun

I'm still dialing in my printers. Sometimes I am super energetic about making all these mods and tweaks...getting them to work much better. And there are some days I adore the Ultimaker for it's plug the SD Card in and go. :)
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Re: What is everyone doing

Post by LePaul »

Hope everyone is doing well!

Asides testing some changes to the forum....a few things going on....

Took a break from YouTube so I could clean up and reorganize the shop (basement). So many printers, so many accessories, filament...I had to get things sorted out so I had room to build, upgrade and work! Moved things around, used the floor scrubber/washing machine to wash away 10 years worth of grime and making good progress. The desk is cleared off, the printers are on some new shelving units and I can work!

The FT-6 was a tough build, due to the lack of setup guidance that the documentation sort of left out. It's using a BL Touch instead of the stock sensor and for now, it still has the stock 2 into 1 hotend/nozzle and dual extruders. I really want to go direct drive but we will see what options the budget allows!
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Re: What is everyone doing

Post by Lez0 »

Sold my FT5 to a friend, his first printer. I gave him all the advice I could, but he still bought it ;-) .
He is printing a Storm-trooper helmet with it, it's almost done, he's done a good job of it.
Work is crazy at the moment but I still look at the new posts here.
When I have more time, after relative have finished visiting, I live in Spain now, I'll have more time to start printing again.
I have a project I want to start so hopefully I'll be able to start designing it a bit at a time.

Happy printing
Lez
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