So today it looks like I’m putting my money where my mouth is.
My large printer ( the slightly older P4) has a carriage able to move 450mm in the X and 400 in the Z however only 250 in Y.
I have a print request for a print that exceeds the volume of my 300x300 printer.
(which with the cooling fans on is down to about 260 in Y anyway)
So I will be adding 4x 25mm aluminum tubes 560mm long and to new bearing shafts about 590mm long to increase the build volume on that machine to 450x450x400. Ill post pics of it being done and once its done.
Check out http://www.lwd3d.com for a large heated bed and custom aluminum bed plates if needed…
The extended rods before and after polishing
Frame going in. Note the Y bearing shafts retractable so it holds the gantry in place during maintenance.
Whole swap over took 10 minutes. Rivets took another 20 minutes. Need to get new glass. Also may have to lengthen the one stepper motors wires. Maybe 5cm short.
With everything ready job can be done in about an hour
Wow. Looks like youve got it well covered. Nicely done.
Yes few little things. To do still. Here’s the print on the new platform. 104 hours at 0.15 layers. Thinking maybe a bigger nozzle than 0.4
Just be careful with overhangs if you up the nozzle size
Some firmware TLC was also in order when changing the new build dimensions. Stepper wires where long enough in the end. So only the glass in the morning and should be good. Only thing it won’t be heated. But it’s big enough for 4 200x200 pcb heaters so maybe via a SSR and separate psu. But how to get 4 heaters to work together.
@Griffin_Paquette I made a 0.8 a while ago and it printed fast and solid but not pretty.
@Michael_Scholtz I don’t know where you live, but if your mains supply is 230V, you could connect 2 110V silicone heaters in series?
You can also order a custom large heater if there really aren’t any that fit your need. I think it might cost about $75 US.
@Jeff_DeMaagd where do you get them for 75? I have to order in quantities of 100 to get reasonable pricing on heated bed pcbs. I have a 10 x 10 bed version and s 12 x 16 we do.
I eventually found a borosilicate glass company that will make custom sizes. Rather pricey but overdue for my machines. I’ll look for heaters and order one before I have the glass made for the big one. I put a normal glass plate on for now. I’m also doing a new z Axiz in mdf I can cut on my cnc routers. Weight is not an issue on my machine have z motors on both sides. Here’s where I’m at so far. Expanded section clamp the bearings in, lower parts not done yet. Cnc will probably cut all that in under an hour.
