Sweeper shield and code for automated printing

thingiverse

Sometimes we just need to print a lot of small parts in series. So it would be great if we could print them consecutively. So this is what we came up with. You print this sweeper shield that replaces the fan guard and acts as a broom to push parts forward. Then you add gcode to use the broom to push parts forward and duplicate the code to print multiple parts in series. Instructions The sweeper shield replaces the fan guard and is printed face down so that it has clearance from the fan. The colored letter background is created by changing filament color after a few layers. To push the part forward you need to find the line with :( End.gcode) in the gcode file and add the following code before that line (after the M127 line): G21 (set units to mm) G90 (set positioning to absolute) G1 Z150 F1000 (lower build platform) G1 X0 F1000 (move to center left to righ) G1 Y75 F1000 (move to rear) G1 Z50 F1000 (raise to 50mm) G1 Y-75 F1000 (push part) G1 Y75 F1000 (move to rear) G1 Z20 F1000 (raise to 20mm) G1 Y-75 F1000 (push part) G1 Y75 F1000 (move to rear) G1 Z1 F1000 (raise to 1mm) G1 Y-75 F1000 (push part) This will push any parts forward sweeping trough the platform at 50mm, 20mm and 1mm. A small ramp can be added so that the parts fall out of the machine. To print another or the same part just copy all of the code and paste it at the end of the file. Of course this will only work with parts that are taller than wider that detach easily from the build surface. Still this has saved us countless hours of machine time by allowing overnight batches of small parts to be printed. Video of use: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fpt5O9cnST4&feature=youtu.be Regards