Tuesday, Feb 19 2019
Z-steppers
X gantry
Z supports
Put asside for now
This morning I assembled the Z-axis. It’s a simple job of installing the steppers, placing the X-axis gantry over the lead screws, then adding the guide rails and upper supports. I didn’t start until 11 AM and finished in time for a noon lunch.
Extruder parts
Hot end, fans, etc
Hardware
After lunch it was time to tackle the X-carriage and extruder assembly.
Extruder stepper
E3D V6 hot end
The documentation says these steps are difficult. I didn’t find it to be all that hard, but fidldy with lots of steps and some small plastic parts that can break if you try to force a fit. Then there are the wires that can get in your way.
Part of the extruder body holds the stepper motor. Another part holds the components that make up the filament detector. The E3D V6 hot end is held between those two parts of the body. A third part finishes the fan shroud for the hot end. Sometimes a third hand would have been nice to keep fan and sensor wiring where they belonged while assembling the pieces.
Hot end and Bondtech gear
Extruder fan
IR Filament sensor
Bondtech idler gear installed
Part cooling fan
At this point the assembly is complete. It did take a few tries to get the part cooling fan mounted. The support arm wasn’t in the right place at first. The assembly can now be mounted on the X-axis.
X carriage mounted to gantry
X carriage drive belt and back
Cable management
I expected installation of the X-axis drive belt to be harder than it was. Getting the wiring in place, sleeved, and lashed to the cable management protrusion was more work. I mounted two of the cable ties holding the wiring in a different orientation than specified in the doc. I think it will be OK.
X, Y, Z done
Back of LCD PCB
LCD Installed
I had just enough time to install the LCD before cleaning up. I need to get the BBQ started for the chicken wings I’m making tonight. If nothing comes up I should be able to finish assembling the MK3S tomorrow.