TubularBot 3D printer

Build instructions 1

Introductory Notes: Videos referenced in this guide are via hyperlinks. To view them open the pdf version of this document in a pdf viewer. The links will not function if this guide is viewed online. Thank you for purchasing the TubularBot 3D printer kit. If at any time you have questions feel free to e-mail us at [email protected]

Basic tools required to complete the kit: The kit requires the following tools: Box cutter knife, pliers, a phillips screw driver, a robertson screw driver (for 6-32 screws), a flat head screw driver, 4mm, 2.5mm and 1.25mm hex wrench. Scissors and a ruler are also helpful. You may also require a soldering iron for some of the later electronic work.

Note that the heated bed and the extruder can reach temperatures capable of causing burns if handled incorrectly. Take appropriate precautions to avoid injury, and handle these parts at your own risk.

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Step 1: Assembling the X-Axis The following parts are needed to assemble the X-axis. Please gather these parts together from the kit provided: Quantity 4 7 2 1 1 1 1 1 1 1

M3 0.5 x 25 hex screws LM8UU bearings 379mm smooth rod 8mm M5 lock nut M5 0.8 x 20 machine screw 625zz bearing 6-32 x 1.5" machine screw x-motor mount NEMA-17 motor x-idler

View the video at the link below to see the step by step assembly procedure.

X- Axis video: ( http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7nhHsPXslU0 )

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Step 2: Assembling the X –Carriage The following parts are required to assemble the X-carriage: Quantity 1 1 8 1 1 2 2 4

GT2 pulley 36” GT2 belt cable ties 4" x - carriage plastic extruder mount plastic M3 0.5 x 25 hex screw M3 0.5 x 16 hex screw M3 nuts

View the video at the link below to see the step by step assembly procedure.

X-carriage video : ( http://youtu.be/zNv0g6r7w6s )

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Step 3: Assembling the Y-frame: The following parts are required to assemble the Y-frame: Quantity 1 1 3 3

Quantity 12 2 1

Y-mount front plastic Y-mount back plastic LM8UU bearings bearing mounts plastic

6-32 x 3/8" screws 379 mm smooth rods tubular aluminum base

View the step by step assembly procedure at this link.

Y-frame video : ( http://youtu.be/xS1vhmFAXLI ) 5

Step 4: Assembling the Y-Bed: The following parts are required to assemble the Y-bed: Quantity 12 6 4 2 1 1 1

Quantity 1 1 1 1 1 4 1

6-32 lock nuts 6-32 x 3/8" screws 6-32 x 0.5" screws 6-32 x 1.00" screws NEMA-17 motor GT2 belt 30" GT2 pulley

puller plastic Y-stop plastic 625zz bearing M5 screw 25mm M5 lock nut M3 12mm screws 8.56" sq. Y-bed platform

View the video at this link to see the step by step assembly procedure. Y-Bed video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y8yszFdqRWo 6

Step 5: Z motor assembly The following parts are required to assemble the z-motors and frame: Quantity 2 1 1 8 2 4 4

NEMA-17 motors motor mount left motor mount right M3 10mm screws 15" aluminum tubes 6-32 x 3/8" screws 6-32 x 1.25" screws

View the video at this link to see the step by step assembly procedure.

http://youtu.be/maYHUaDbKIY

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Z-motors video :

Step 6: final frame assembly The following parts are required for the final frame assembly: Quantity 2 2 1 2 2 2 2 2

320 mm smooth rods 305 mm threaded rods 16" aluminum tube M5 nuts 1.5" vinyl tubes 6-32 x 2" screws 6-32 x 1" screws Z- rod holders plastic

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View the video at this link to see the step by step assembly procedure.

Final frame video: http://youtu.be/LRRDcpbovbs Once completed, the assembled printer without electronics or extruder should look as follows:

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Step 7: Assembling the Extruder The following parts are required to assemble the extruder: Quantity 2 2 2 3 3 1 1 1 3

M3 x 50 mm screws washers for M3 screws springs 608zz bearings M3 nuts M3 set screw 3/8" dowel pin NEMA 17 motor M3 x 16mm screws

Quantity 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 4 2

6-32 x 1.25" screw 6-32 nut large plastic gear small plastic gear extruder body extruder idler hobbed bolt M8 washers M8 nuts

View the video at this link to see the step by step assembly procedure.

Extruder video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v7cCshhmsy4 Step 8: Building the E3D Hotend: Refer to the E3Dv5 Assembly Manual – http://e3d-online.com/Documentation 10

Step 9: Mounting the extruder, hotend and end stops onto the frame. The following parts are required for this step: Quantity 3 2 1 1 2 2 3 1

Quantity 1 4 8 8 3 1 1

end stop connectorized wires wire pair for fan piece heat shrink tubing Hot end mounting plate plastic 6-32 x 1" screws 6-32 nuts lever switches 20x10mm Z-stop mount plastic

X-stop mount plastic Z-axis clips M3 x 10mm screws M3 nuts cable ties preassembled E3D hotend preassembled extruder

View the video at this link to see the step by step assembly procedure.

Hotend and extruder mounting video: http://youtu.be/wBX0TI7YIM0

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Step 10: Adding the heated bed The following parts are required for this step: Quantity 1 1 4 4 1 1 1 1

piece kapton tape 8.5" x 8.5" heated bed nylon standoffs M3 x 12mm screws dual wire for heated bed thermistor thermistor cable cable tie

View the video at this link to see the step by step assembly procedure.

Heated bed video: http://youtu.be/4BIxp27Mnyw 12

Step 11: Adding the RAMPS/Arduino board and LCD display The following parts are required for this step: Quantity 1 1 6 6 4 1 1

LCD mount electronics mount M3 x 25 screws M3 nuts 6-32 x 0.5" screws LCD /SD card RAMPS 1.4/Arduino board

View the video at this link to see the step by step assembly procedure.

Electronics video: http://youtu.be/1q9VeKE2JKM

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Step 12: Completing the RAMPS wiring Below is a wiring diagram for all the individual parts to the RAMPS board:

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The components should be connected as shown above. The heated bed, hot end heater, thermistors, and end stops are polarity insensitive. The motors wires are color coded and should be inserted exactly as shown (note that the x-motor is in the reverse orientation to the others). If the ATX power supply Molex connectors are not already connected to the board, take care to wire them as shown above i.e. the 4 pin Molex with the red and black wires goes to the 11 amp side of the input voltage connector, the yellow and black wires from the 24 pin Molex connector goes to the 5 amp side. The Molex connectors provided will then fit into the ATX-2 power supply keyed connectors (4pin and 24 pin) without further modification.

Step 13: Loading the software. The RAMPs board come pre-loaded with the Arduino software. You need to load the arduino software onto your computer which is available at:

http://arduino.cc/en/Main/Software Choose the version appropriate for your computer, download, and install it, including the USB interface software.

Once downloaded, plug the usb cable into your host computer and then into the printer arduino board. A prompt should then appear that the computer recognizes the arduino mega 2560 and what the com port is. If you are using windows 8, the driver is available at: https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B80A_woXoRWdT2VGeFp6YS01TEU/edit?pli=1 Also, how to install an unsigned driver in windows 8 is described. https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B80A_woXoRWdMzhCc3VoMHFvWXM/edit?pli=1 You will also need the following two programs: Pronterface – download here. http://koti.kapsi.fi/~kliment/printrun/ Choose the appropriate package compatible with your computer from the menu, download it, unzip and install. Make sure it puts an icon on your desktop for easy access. Slic3r – download here: http://slic3r.org/ and install it on your computer. Make sure it puts an icon on your desktop for easy access. On the CD provided, you will find a file called config4E3D.ini . Once Slic3r is open, click on file, load config, then go into the RAMPS skyhunt 15

folder and chose the file config4E3D.ini . This will setup the initial conditions suitable for your hotend to complete the first build. These conditions are saved in Slic3r until modified manually. For more info on the installation, startup and first print, see the

software video:

http://youtu.be/gkjC-zT5AUw The completed 3D printer with optional spool holder:

Instructions for adding the spool holder can be found here. http://youtu.be/i95KhX6_q1c Some pointers on mounting the glass sheet and the best surface for different plastics can be found here. http://youtu.be/zE34IHW7mdM

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