Welcome to the SeeMeCNC Community

Just wanted to share a few of the mods I made to my V2 as I was building it up and making a few upgrades shortly after.

At first it was a fairly stock build with just a splash of blue to get an R2-D2 vibe going on.

[img]https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5739/23882558035_cb48007532_k.jpg[/img]

After a few prints for the PEEK and layer fan shrouds, I thought it seemed a bit noisier than it needed to be. I ordered and installed the Astrosyn stepper motor dampers.

I also felt the MDF panels were contributing to the acoustic enhancement properties of the motor. Using a basic butyl rubber with foil backing option I found on Amazon, I was able to make sure I could print through the night in the basement without keeping the family up.

[img]https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5734/23774290492_bf4eea7dde_k.jpg[/img]

[img]https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5819/23774291762_58b9db216f_k.jpg[/img]

[img]https://farm1.staticflickr.com/635/23255813293_b574db836c_k.jpg[/img]

I also wanted to be able to remove the USB cable easily so I found a nifty panel plug online and installed that.

[img]https://farm1.staticflickr.com/635/23856517936_42f1a6a05a_k.jpg[/img]

[img]https://farm1.staticflickr.com/779/23882617265_a04c67f432_k.jpg[/img]

Then it was time to get down to the real reason of getting a 3D printer (besides printing replacement wheels for toys that I stepped on!!!) creating and making parts to solve or tweak design issues!!

I wasn't incredibly comfortable with the method for tensioning the belts. While I liked several of the other solutions I found out on the board, I really felt there had to be a simple yet elegant way to do it. So I came up with a couple of small cams that when used with a longer screw would provide a way to easily set tension. Other than needing a longer screw (Lowes carries 6/32 by 3" machine screws in stock by me), no other modifications are required.

[img]https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5742/23774283692_c4e2f9d4c2_k.jpg[/img]

[img]https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5726/23856514886_0467be2312_k.jpg[/img]

I even made a little tool that can slide over the two separate cams to enable even tensioning. The left cam includes a capture for the locknut so setting and locking tension is a two handed operation.

[img]https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5790/23856513626_6a27fec3dd_k.jpg[/img]

The tool and the cams are designed to be able to move the screw holding the pulley the entire length of the adjustment slot within 90 degrees of rotation and without having to re-index the tool. I printed all of this out of ABS and the cams print quite nicely, while the tool usually takes a slight bit of cleanup when I print it. I really need to get an enclosure set up as I am printing in my cool basement.

So I hope folks get a kick out of my little tweaks and upgrades and let me know what you think. Here is the Thingiverse posting for the tensioner cams and tool.

DodgeDerek

Looks well engineered. Very nice install on the ports. (Make sure the usb extension does not pickup noise)


Also that insulation looks conductive. Watch out for connections in there.

That's probably the most elegant solution to belt tensioning that I've seen yet. Excellent work!

g.

Agreed, very nice job on the belt tensioners. So the question must be asked "how did you 3D print the tensioners if you didn't have a printer with tensioned belts?"

Turtle's Mike. Turtles all the way down.

mhackney wrote:Agreed, very nice job on the belt tensioners. So the question must be asked "how did you 3D print the tensioners if you didn't have a printer with tensioned belts?"

I took the easy way out on building the machine and grew a third arm to hold things in place. However I couldn't afford a new wardrobe so I came up with the tensioners.

Derek

teoman wrote:Looks well engineered. Very nice install on the ports. (Make sure the usb extension does not pickup noise)


Also that insulation looks conductive. Watch out for connections in there.

The USB extension has a nicely shielded cable and I haven't had any issues yet. Very happy with it.

Good call on the insulation. I haven't confirmed it for sure, but I have no doubts it is conductive. Luckily the build kit is so nice, I don't think the wires pose too much of a risk at this point. I may make an effort to layer something over the insulation in the base in the future just to be safe.

An excellent job DodgeDerek!

I have installed DodgeDerek's Belt Tensioners on my RMv2 and these are a really nice piece of work.

Sure, positive, secure AND the install tool works flawlessly! I was using V27's before and while they worked well, I needed two allen wrenches and three hands to adjust them.

Hats off!!

gary

I have got the files and its on my todo list in fact I was going to print them today......

but last nights freeze up here has made a mess of my plans as well as my house...m 2 plumbers have been here fixing broken pipes for 6 hours now. it turns out the breaks in the basement garage saved a lot of the rest of that end of the house from flooding as the baseboard radiators on that side have frozen and burst as well but aside from the water that was in them and a bit of staining of the floor that washed off no damage tot he house except in the basement. I have contracted for the system to be filled with antifreeze when fixed and I am glad I have 6 fire place to keep warm today while things are fixed.
the heating system has been freeze free for 26 years 12 since I have been here I have had a frozen pipe before but it was to an outside hose bibb.

nitewatchman wrote:I was using V27's before and while they worked well, I needed two Allen wrenches and three hands to adjust them.

I felt the same about the V27s, which is why i used them as a base for a redesigned version of my own. I like Derek's design. My only problem is that it doesn't let you make fine adjustments on either side to deal with the belt sliding left or right and rubbing. Other than that though, its a great design and i like how few pieces it has.