Revision as of 04:09, 30 October 2015

Safety Instructions

Building the printer will require a certain amount of physical dexterity, common sense and a thorough understanding of what you are doing. We have provided this detailed instruction to help you assemble it easily. However ultimately we cannot be responsible for your health and safety whilst building or operating the printer, with that in mind be sure you are confident with what you are doing prior to commencing with building or buying. Read the entire manual to enable you to make an informed decision. Building and operating involves electricity, so all necessary precautions should be taken and adhered to, the printer runs on 12V supplied by a certified power supply, so you shouldn’t ever have to get involved with anything over 12V but bear in mind there can still be high currents involved and even at 12V they shouldn’t be taken lightly. High temperatures are involved with 3D Printing, the Extrusion nozzle of the hot end can run about 230°C, the heated bed runs 110°C and the molten plastic extruded will initially be at around 200°C, so special care and attention should be made when handling these parts of the printer during operation. We wouldn’t recommend leaving your printer running unattended, or at least until you are confident to do so. We cannot be held responsible for any loss, damage, threat, hurt or other negligent result from either building or using the printer.

Preparation

1. Unpack the kit and check if all parts are in the box and check the condition of each part, there might be some damage during shipping. To help you with this, there is BOM in the box and each bag was labeled with part number.

2. Contact our customer service immediately by email or through the website if you find any missing or damaged parts. And on the bottom of the BOM, there is a signature of reviewer, please take a picture of it and attach the picture in your mail.

3. Read through each chapter of these instructions to gain an over-all idea of what is involved and how long it might take, before starting on the work described. Or you can watch the video here.

4. Before you start, you can put all the part in order to save your time especially those screws and nuts. Do not mix them up.

5. Some printed parts may need more filing than others to ensure a secure fit when screwing together. Please do not over file a part, it is best to remove a small amount of excess plastic and test the fit then re-file as necessary. No excessive forces should be required to bring parts together.

6. Ensure you have the necessary skills to carry out the work, or enlist the help of someone who does.

7. Work on a big firm table or bench in a clean dry well-lit area.

8. This kit contains tiny parts; please keep them away from kids under 3.

9. Ask for help if you run into any problems - our contact details are on the website and we will always do our best to resolve any problems encountered.

Unfold the box and check the package list

Unfold the package and take all the parts out to check the condition of the items.

• All the acrylic plate has been etched with part ID and the plate is covered with a sheet of kraft paper, you need to tear them off.

• The part ID is corresponding to the number labeled on the bag of every part. Some parts may not have label, you can refer to the pictures on the package list.

Assemble the threaded rods of Y axis

Thread the nuts and washers into the two M10 threaded rods separately. The order should be:

Watch the Video here.

Assemble the front and back support of y axis.

Thread the plate to both end of the threaded rod in the following order:2

Front outside support plate: No.A9

Front inside support plate: No.A10

Rear outside support plate: No.A12

Rear inside support plate: No.A11

Screw up the threaded rods and support plates with M10 nut and M10 washer at both end. Hand tighten the M10 Nuts against the M10 Washers. Try to keep the rods parallel and the four acrylic pieces parallel.

• Tips:

the Y-axis must be a rectangle, that is the rods on both side should be parallel, so is the front and back plate. Otherwise it will cause obstruction for the belt later.

You can watch the video here.

Thread the smooth rods and linear bearings.

Thread the smooth rod into the Y axis support plate from rear to front, and thread the locking ring and 2 SCS8UU Linear Bearing on the smooth rod in turn.

Screw up the locking ring

Mount the Y motor

Step1. Mount the pulley on the motor shaft, one of the screws should be screwed on the cross section of the shaft. Screw it tightly.

Step2. Then screw the motor on the Y motor holder with 3 M3 x 12 screws and M3 washers.

Step 3. Push the Y Motor holder tab into the square hole in Rear -Outside Plate and Rear - Inside Plate. You may need to use a little force, but be careful not to break or crack any of the Acrylic pieces. Secure the Y Motor holder with 2 M3x16mm Screws , 2 M3 Washers and 2 M3 Square Nuts.

You can watch the video here.

Y belt driving wheel

Step1. Thread the M3 x 20 screw and M3 washer through the Driven wheel holder .

Step2. Insert the two MR84zz ball bearings into both ends of the driven wheel.

Step3.Put the M4 x25 screw and M4 washer through the driving wheel. Lock the other end with a M4 lock nut. You may need a wrench to tighten locking nut.

• Do not screw it too tight, you should leave enough room for the wheel to turn freely.

Step4. Mount the assembled bearing holder onto the front support plates. And screw it with a wing nut.

Look at this picture, the driving wheel and the pulley should be in a straight line. You can refer to the video here.

Build the print platform

Step1. Mount the belt mount at the middle of the building platform support with 2 M3 x12mm screws and M3 washers.

Step2. Mount the the building platform support on the 4 SCS8UU linear bearings on the rod with M4x16mm screws and M4 washers

• Note the direction of the building platform support, you can judge from the direction of the belt mount, whose direction is corresponding to the Y axis.

You can refer to the video here.

Mount the Y belt

Step1. Punch a M2.5 hole on one end of the belt (the hole can be as the diameter of the M2.5 screw , leave enough margin)

Step2. Fix the belt on one side of the belt -mount with a M3 x 8 screw and washer(.

Step3. Thread the belt around the pulley on the motor and the driving wheel.

Step4. Taut the belt to determine the length of the belt, punch another hole and and fix the other end of the belt mount with a M3 x 8 screw and washer.

Step5. Cut off the rest of the belt

• Tips: 

1. Before you drill your second hole, make sure to pull belt tightly to find the  proper placement of hole for a tight belt, if it is too loose, it will hinder the move of the print platform.

2. Loosen the Y idler wing nut when tightening belt onto the Y belt mount  in order to make securing the belt to the block easier. Be sure to tighten wing nut fully  once done.

3.The belt should be vertical with the Y axis support plate.

Watch the video here.

Left Z motor mount

Step 1. Insert the A6 and A7 into A5, note the detail:A7 is on the left and A6 is on the right.

• Note the direction of the A4,the small round hole is on the left.

Step 2. Fix the assembled motor mount on the left-bottom of A1 with M3 x 16mm screw, M3 and square nut.

*Be very careful here, if you can not insert them into the hole you can loose the screw on the motor mount and try again. 

Watch the video here.

Right Z motor mount

Step1. Assemble the 2 A6 and A5 together, screw up with 3 M3 x 16mm screw ,M3 washer and M3 Square nut .

• Note the direction of the A5,the small round hole is on the right.

Step2. Fix the assembled motor mount on the right-bottom of A1 with M3 x 16mm screw, M3 washer and M3 Square nut.

• Be very careful here, if you can not insert it into the hole you can loose the screw on the motor mount and try again.

Watch the video here.

Side panel assembly

Fix the side panels on A1 with M3 x 16mm screw, M3 Square nut and M3 washer. Watch the video here.

If the tab doesn’t fit the hole, there must be some manufacturing faulty, please use the file to trim it.

Mount the Z motors

Step1.Thread the wires of the motor through the holes on the bottom of A1.

Step2.Screw up the motors on A5 with 4 M3 x 12 screws and M3 washers. Mount the other Z motor on A4 in the same way.

For detailed assembly process, please watch here.

Mount the Z endstop

Mount the endstop on the outside of A7 with M2.5 x 16mm screw and M2.5 hex nut

Main frame assembly

Step 1. Put the assembled Y axis into the main frame, put the main frame between the connecting fender and the M10 nut. The Connecting fender is at the front part of the Y axis.

Step 2. Connect the side panel to the rear support plate, screw it up with M3 x 16mm screw,M3 washer and M3 square nut.

Step 3. Fix the connecting fender to A1 with M3 x 20mm screw, M3 washer and M3 hex nut.

Watch the video here.

Fan mount

Mount the fan on the BACK of the left side of the A1. Fix it with 4 M3 x 30mm screw, M3 washer and 4 M3 hex nut.

Note the direction of the fan, the side with wires is at outside. The fan is for the heat dissipation of the control board. You can see from the video.

Watch the video here.

Mount the couplings

Step 1. Fix the two couplings on the Z motor shaft separately. Please note:

1.The opening of both end, one is 5mm, another is 8mm, connect the 5mm hole to the motor shaft.Half and half. Screw it tightly.

2.The screw should be fixed on the cross section (the flat side) of the motor shaft.

Repeat the steps for another couplings.

• the bottom of the coupling is better to be leveled with No. A4.

Assemble the left end of the X axis（motor end)

Repeat the steps for another couplings.

• the bottom of the coupling is better to be leveled with No. A4.

Step1. Mount the Z nut on the X-axis left end from bottom to up, fix with M3 x 6mm screws.

Step2. Mount the linear bearing on X-axis motor end from bottom to up. Fix it up with M3 x 6mm screws .

Step3. Mount the endstop trigger.

1.Thread a M3 washer> spring> M3 washer in order to the M3x50mm screw.

2.Thread half of the M3x50mm screw into the screw hole.

mount the X motor.

Step 1. Mount the pulley on the motor shaft. Screw it on the flat side.

Step 2.Mount the stepper motor on the motor end with 3 M3 x 6 mm screw.

Step 3. Mount the endstop

Mount the endstop on the top of X-axis motor end with two M2.5 x 8mm screw.

Assemble the right end of the X axis. (X idler end)

For the whole process of assembly of this part, please refer here.

Step1.Mount the Z axis nut on the bottom of X-axis right end with 4 M3 x 6mm screws.

Step2. Mount the linear bearing on X-axis motor end from bottom to up. Fix it up with M3 x 6mm screws .

Assembly of the extruder carriage

Step1. Insert the linear bearing into the slot of Print bracket(No.P3), tie them up with nylon ties.

Step2. Mount the Extruder holderon the flat side of the Print bracket with 2 M4x12mm screws and M4 washer .

Step3. Mount the hotend under the Extruder holder and fix it up with 2 M4x6mm screws and M4 washer .

Step1.fix the 4 Bearing Brackets on the back of the X Carriage loosly with M3x6mm screws. Insert the linear bearing into the slot and screw the bracket tightly.

Please notice the front and back of the plate. Step2.fix the belt mount on the back of the carriage with 2 M3x 6mm screws and M3 hex nuts.

Step2. Fix the extruder holder on the front side of the X carriage using M4x6mm screws.

Assemble the the Z axis

Step1. Thread the threaded rod to the nut of both end of X axis.

Keep both end of X axis at the same place of the rod, you are advised to measure the distance of the both side so that they are at the same level when you put them up.

Step2. Plug the threaded rod on the X motor end to the left coupling on the left bottom of the Z axis. Then thread the 322mm smooth rod into the linear bearing.

Step3. Thread the 455mm smooth rod into the X motor end > thread 2 locking rings (No.38) on the 2 rods separately > thread the extruder carriage on the two rods.

Step 4. Add another two locking rings on the smooth rod and thread the two X axis smooth rods into the hole of X idler end. Plug the vertical threaded rod into the coupling on the right bottom of the Z axis. Then thread the 322mm smooth rod into the linear bearing. Screw up the 4 locking rings.

Note: the smooth rods and the threaded rod of Z axis is vertical, and the X axis is horizontal ,which is very important, or it will hinder the move of the Z axis.

Assemble the Z axis on the printer

Step1. Put the locking ring on the two smooth rods separately.

Step 2. Add the Z top mount (No.A8) to the top of A1. slowly rotate the rods into the holes, or add some lubricants on the rods. Do not force it, or u will break the acrylic piece.

Step 3. Screw it up with M3 x 16mm screw and M3 Square nut.

Step4. Screw up the locking ring on smooth rods.

Watch the video here.

X belt driving wheel

Step1. Thread the M3 x 20 screw and M3 washer through the Driven wheel holder .

Step2. Insert the two MR84zz ball bearings into both ends of the driven wheel.

Step3.Put the M4 x25 screw and M4 washer through the driving wheel. Lock the other end with a M4 lock nut. You may need a wrench to tighten locking nut.

• Do not screw it too tight, you should leave enough room for the wheel to turn freely.

Add the belt

Step1. Insert one end of the belt in the groove. Pay attention to the tooth mesh of the belt and the groove.

Step2. Thread another end of the belt through the X motor end around the pulley.

Step3. Threaded the belt through the belt driving wheel and put the driving wheel into the X idler end, lock it with a wing nut.

Step4. Insert another end of the belt into the groove. Cut the spare part. Be sure of the length of the belt.

Step5. Taut the belt and tighten the wing nut.

• Note the direction of the driving wheel, the side with bolt head should be towards the A1, or it will scratch the acrylic plate.