VertexEvo Rev.2

cults3d

This is the 2nd revision of VertexEvo. In this post I will cover only what's new in this version. Please follow the link above and read all cons and pros of such a major modification of Vertex K8400 prior to deciding to move forward. After this, and a number of previous upgrades (see my other posts) the print volume reached new maximum: X=192mm, Y=218mm, Z=194mm per nozzle. The distance between e3D nozzles is 23mm. I finally got rid of the original connector PCB that was always a constrain in printhead design. I created custom connector PCB and placed X-stop sensor on it. PCB is attached to the back of printhead and is barely visible. I have few spare PCB boards and can sell them assembled for the price of parts (about 15$ USD) + shipping. If there will be demand for bigger quantities, I foresee the price going down. The main cable and X-stop cable connector layouts remained unchanged, so you can just plug them into new PCB. Attached image specifies the function of each connector located on new PCB. PCB is mounted to the back of main Thing with a single M3x6mm screw and is also "sandwiched" between top and duct Things. Right and left XY clamps house LM8LUU 8mm Linear Bearing Ball Bushing 8x15x45mm, which are aligned with the clamps from the side facing the motors (see attached images). Lower bushing in the main Thing is the original from K8400. Upper bushing is LM8LUU 8mm Linear Bearing Ball Bushing 8x15x24mm. Most of the screws used in XY clamps are M3x12mm. X_visor mounting screw is M3x16mm. Belts are directly attached to the left side of the main Thing. Four M3x30mm socket head screws and 4 self-locking M3 nuts are used to tighten the belts. Belt ends are locked the same way as in revision 1. I slightly changed the shape of the motor mounts and also added holes to their back sides for maintenance purposes. If you drill the back panel in the spots aligned with these holes, you can slide Y-rods out through them. This makes it much easier to remove and reinstall print head; no need to detach front corners and motor mounts anymore. Right motor cap got a new hole aligned with the screw of clamp1 Thing. Front corners and front corner caps were also updated. Again, for ease of maintenance I relocated several screws. I also added one mounting hole to each corner for M5 screws. Corners were slightly pulled back because of belt tension and extra screws help to keep them straight. The downside is - you need to drill 2 extra holes in the front panel for these screws. Printhead temperature sensor connectors that come with e3D are directly plugged into the PCB. Just cut off locking clip of the connector to gain extra space. e3D fan wires should end with small black connector as shown on the image. This connector passes through the holes in main Thing and in PCB. e3D fan is attached with two M3x16mm screws. M3x12 screw (and upper e3D fan screw) connects e3d_fan_mount to main Thing. There are 2 more holes to mount e3D fan with 4 screws in total, but I found that 2 screws are sufficient. Other screw sizes: - e3d_clamps to main - four M3x12mm screws - top and duct to main - four M3x12mm screws - filament fan to duct - four M3x16mm screws - cable_clamp to top - two M3x16mm screws Y-stop sensor visor is published here. X rods: D=8mm L=295mm Y rods: D=8mm L=320-330mm Belts: 125cm (49") each Along the top of the front and side panels you need to add 25mm x 3mm (1"x1/8") aluminium bars for enforcement. Update 24-Jun-2018 Uploaded new revision of left_motor_mount and clamp2 for it. The reason of change - lower screw of the clamp was "hidden" behind the belt and was difficult to reach. Update 25-Jun-2018 Yesterday I had to replace polyurethane GT2 belts the 2nd time in about 10 months. Quick web search showed - this is a common problem with these type of belts. The steal threats inside the belt break and then belt starts to stretch. Next time will try carbon fiber enforced belts from Gates. Update 11-Oct-2018 I started working on Vertex-H design. This will be H-bot with MGN-12H rails and single 9mm GT2 belt. You may want to wait until this new project is completed and then choose between VertexEvo and Vertex-H. Here are the details https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:3145721 Update 26-Dec-2018 Vertex-H project was a success. Please read the description here and choose which of these 2 MODs will work the best for you.