Perhaps No One Saw This....

[JohnStack]

This was one of Steve and John's machines they were showing at Makerfaire SF.

Might be an interesting way to hang ze EzSchtuder and Schpool

[img]http://forum.seemecnc.com/download/file ... &mode=view[/img]

[geneb]

That's just nuts.

He'd better show it off when he stops by here next week.

g.

[ApacheXMD]

I saw that at makerfaire also. Johnoly said itll be up on the website in about a week . Looks like it could be printed without too much trouble.

[foshon]

I saw it, I was to busy praying you can fit two of them up there to post!

[JohnStack]

I think it can be smaller, closer to the top piece, perhaps right underneath.

[foshon]

The location of it appears to be on one of the three spokes on the top plate. If one fits, three may. I wonder if there was any compensation needed for homing (arm collision)?

[Flateric]

Let's not forget just how top heavy this would make your printer with more than one up there.

[Jimustanguitar]

Does it look like the bowden tube and hot-end wiring are routed to one of the cheapskate bearings as a midway point instead of going all the way to the hot-end open air?

[geneb]

If John has it with him when he swings by, I'll try to get some better pictures of it.

g.

[JohnStack]

Let's not forget just how top heavy this would make your printer with more than one up there.

I would tend to agree with you. Historically, in manufacturing anything on a spool has created issues. Personally, I think a small rack sitting separately alongside the machine used in combination with the extruder sitting immediately below the top plate is the ideal. Many of the other printers have an enclosed reel (not optimal due to you having to re-spool new filament) or they don't do anything at all.

My thoughts are that dual heads are right around the corner for most folks; therefore, a nice standalone reel feeding to a guide on a bearing attached to the top is ideal - perhaps even using those two holes at the tops of the vertical braces.

Another thought is to put the EzSchruder on the top and feed the tube through the center. That may or may not reduce the potential for catching the tube on the other moving parts.

[cambo3d]

what does this mounting idea solve? seems like this would require a longer bowden tube or the same.

I like the idea that it moves everything into the dimension of the rostock frame, to free up desk space.

[JohnStack]

So maybe the Ezstruder immediately below the top - but I do believe that adding more weight at the top might affect stability - of course, perfection is the enemy of good...

[foshon]

what does this mounting idea solve? seems like this would require a longer bowden tube or the same.

I like the idea that it moves everything into the dimension of the rostock frame, to free up desk space.

Wouldn't it reduce surface drag and overall friction between the tube and the filament? With the current mount at any layer height pressure is added by forcing the filament through a curved tube, a straight shot would eliminate at least that no?

[foshon]

So maybe the Ezstruder immediately below the top - but I do believe that adding more weight at the top might affect stability - of course, perfection is the enemy of good...

Having run with a full Greg's extruder, a spool holder (with two end caps, bearings, threaded rod, and nuts/washers), and a new spool of plastic up top I'm not worried about stability.

[cambo3d]

but the tube still has to bend, doesn't it? I don't think you can just run a straight tube to the hot end, it has to bend some for the z height. If it doesn't, straight tube would cause it to bind,???

when the hotend is at the highest position, the tube has to still be able to bend. right?

[Polygonhell]

The only real value I see here is packaging, but that isn't necessarily a bad thing, there is a lot of wasted space between the extruder home position and the top of the printer.

[foshon]

but the tube still has to bend, doesn't it? I don't think you can just run a straight tube to the hot end, it has to bend some for the z height. If it doesn't, straight tube would cause it to bind,???

when the hotend is at the highest position, the tube has to still be able to bend. right?

Yeah it would have to bend as it's higher, but personally I don't do a lot of printing above the 4 or 5 inch mark.