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The outer Z wheel kit has arrived. Here are the parts..
http://i1050.photobucket.com/albums/.../outer%20Z.jpg
These are the same size wheels that are used for the X and Y axes. And X and Y wheels also are on the outside of the aluminum extrusion. This makes adjusting the slack on that axis easy and simple. But the Z currently has these tiny rollers that go inside the aluminum extrusion and once together adjustments are near impossible or a real pita at the very least. So this upgrade is a must for me because I need to be able to make frequent and simple adjustments to my machine as I chase better print quality.
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With the entire X axis removed from the printer we can see the tiny rollers on the small plate i am replacing..
http://i1050.photobucket.com/albums/...er%20z%201.jpg
And here is the larger plate installed with the larger wheels attached..
http://i1050.photobucket.com/albums/...er%20z%202.jpg
And here are both of the rollers with their bearings side by side. The printed piece at the top is a tool to press the bearings..
http://i1050.photobucket.com/albums/...er%20z%203.jpg
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I still have to do something with the drag chain for the Z axis. It used to sit right where the wheels now roll on the frame. No big deal. But the machine is back together and looking beefy. I am so happy with the results of this so far and can't wait to start printing again with my Black Widow.
http://i1050.photobucket.com/albums/...er%20z%204.jpg
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So my Black Widow Is all together and printing like it should. One more thing I am doing is I am changing the wheels on the X and Y axis to the same red wheels that I just put on Z. They are currently black and I just think all the wheels need to be the same. Here is a video of my printer doing its thing..
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UuDXfhSqMoQ
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I designed and printed a simple cover for the extruder wires. This will also serve as a protector to keep the wires from chaffing against the top of the frame on them large prints..http://i1050.photobucket.com/albums/...0cover%201.jpgIt is 1 and 2 mm thick so it does not add any real weight..http://i1050.photobucket.com/albums/...0cover%204.jpg
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I also swapped the rest of the wheels on the frame to the same red wheels that I got with the outer Z wheel kit. So now my Black Widow has 15 red PC V-wheels, all with precision bearings..http://i1050.photobucket.com/albums/...w%20wheels.jpg
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Today I have all of my machines back together and have got the printers calibrated enough to start with the test prints. I never wanted a 3d printer to print out busts or trinkets or figurines or stuff, For me it was always just another way to make a part. So I am not going to demonstrate what my printers can do with a test print from maker's muse or anything like that. For me the test print is going to be this airframe that comes with incredibly detailed build instructions: https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:1831295 To make things interesting for me I am running this test side by side with my other 2 printers. So I will have 3 different color airframes when I am done. Here ismy workbench with all 3 machines working on their own airframes..http://i1050.photobucket.com/albums/...%20station.jpg
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Because there is such little surface area on the bed I am printing a 5mm 1 layer brim around my print. I have done this for all 3 printers..http://i1050.photobucket.com/albums/.../plane%201.jpgThe reason I am using this airframe for my test print is because in order to be light it wants a 0.36mm wall thickness with 3% infill. with a .4mm nozzle diameter this means the structure has a 1 layer perimeter with practically no infill..http://i1050.photobucket.com/albums/.../plane%203.jpgThe real test will be if the structure is strong enough to withstand flight..http://i1050.photobucket.com/albums/.../plane%206.jpg
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Here is the finished EDF housing..http://i1050.photobucket.com/albums/.../plane%209.jpgAnd here are all 3 EDF housings for the 3 airframes I am printing from different machines..http://i1050.photobucket.com/albums/...plane%2010.jpgIt actually looks like they were all printed by the same machine. Which is awesome. This is a good test of my manufacturing capabilities for the purposes of selling 3d printed ideas. Obviously not this as it is not my idea. And these will live a very short life anyways because I have never flown an r/c craft before.
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I will start printing the wings and vertical stabilizers tomorrow..http://i1050.photobucket.com/albums/...plane%2011.jpg