Extruder Assembly Basic

[peterjames]

This is the only diagram featured on the sumpod site for the BASIC extruder assembly.




After having a chat with Richard from sumpod.com I was able to easily identify the parts shown. I'm posting pics of my sumpod here to help others whom may be having difficulty.

Its not mentioned in the guide but I used 4 x M6 nuts to tighten the assembly together as it was probably assumed you should do so.




My grub bearing doesn't roll at all like id expect a ball bearing to do, it seemed very securely stuck, though Richard informs me this wont be a problem as its role is just to add a bit of pressure on the plastic filament as it is pulled through.

It also helps to bare in mind to fit the motor with wires facing down (in regards to the push fitting). This just makes it easier to guide the wires down the groves in the backplate of the sumpod. The wires can be held by the small white plastic clips, screwed into MDF, you can see where the clip should sit in the grooves.

I tightened the assembly so that the two MDF blocks touch, There is enough of the M6 bolt sticking out for the assembly to then be inserted into the top of the back panel of the sumpod machine.



Hope this is helpful to the forum

[jason]

thanks for this but my extruded is nothing like this
only common parts are motor and push fit connector...
the mdf parts no where to be seen..
I have a hobbed pinion an ali part tapped to fit the pushfit and a powder coated part and ball bearing..all assebled ok but no mounting hint.

[AndyP]

Jason,
That sounds the same as mine - the ali block is drilled at the same spacing as a stepper motor? I had a plate of the same black stuff as the bed, drilled for the stepper and also for the back mdf panel of the printer so sandwich that plate between a stepper and the ali block and bolt the lot to the back of the printer in the same position as the original mdf thing.
Incidentally I have put over a kilo of pla through mine so far and the extruder hasn't missed a beat - howa that for tempting fate?
Andy

[jason]

andy.. the extruder i got was just like photo on sumpod page two parts one plane ali one powder coated steel. one ball ended spring screw one pinion. one bb race ...

almost exactly like photo etc..
no plate to take motor ..
and what plate for table?..mine is just mdf..
as to the hot end...I think i am missing some bits since there is no way of coupling the new hot ends- cold end to the pipe (bowden?)
and the mdf block for the old hot end seems completely un related to the hot end I have.
I am close to bining the lot.....
i mean down load you assy instructions ..fine .. but modify the build with out updating those instructions...grrrrrrrr!
sorry but most of my patience was used up in the order -promise--delay--promise-- delay just getting the damn thing...


any guess which limit switches are ...firmware look like x- y+ z+...but this doesn't work..
where does yours home?
.

[AndyP]

Jason,
My extruder looked like this

I seem to remember it was missing the hole for the filament to enter the extruder so I just drilled one.
and then mounted


I had no end of trouble getting homing to work and admit I can remember very little of the process - just experimentation I suspect since I know sweet fa about these things.
I added an extra switch on the Z axis with an adjustable stop such that when the switch trips the print head is the correct distance from the table to start printing - like this

You can also see the table which is an ali sandwich material and I have covered it with Kapton tape.

Sorry I can't help with the hotend since mine is the old one, the Bowden just pushes into the "quick fit" connector but it could be anything that the tube was a tight fit in
The hassle of waiting 10 months and then useless instructions has taken the joy out of this completely which is a real shame because I think the basic printer is great. I have put 2 kilos of pla through mine experimenting and tuning and it has worked faultlessly and repeatably which is almost more important.
The resolution is not good enough for what I want to do but I suspect this a feature of the technology rather than this model.

[jason]

thanks for your reply..more than I got or expected from s---p-d...
just have to make my own way....


like you say takes all the fun out of it...

[AndyP]

My basic homes with the print head bottom left of the bed and at the correct height to start printing ie about .2mm above the bed.
settings are X_HOME_DIR -1
Y_HOME_DIR -1
Z_HOME_DIR 1

I know I had to make drastic changes axis steps per unit so what works for me is
88.701, 88.701, 800.00, 455
this is for a basic with rack and pinion drives for X and Y
Cheers
Andy

[teekaytk]

after experimentation my settings are

#define DEFAULT_AXIS_STEPS_PER_UNIT {170,170,3200.00,120.0}

I dont know why they are differnent from other people. I had to calibrate it manually. not use any formula to compute them

[jason]

thanks all

[ratmonkey]

Your steps/mm are so diffrent, because of your microstepping settings.
I think you missed to remove one of the three jumpers per axis to define the stepping.
They are located under the stepper drivers on the sanguinololu.

Three jumpers are for 1/16 microstepping. Suggested is 1/8 microstepping. This is with the first two jumpers on high and the third on low.

[jason]

just noticed in andyP photo above an ali plate on work table....is this an addition or is another part missing from my kit...the table component mentioned in the parts list...
I despair of this thing.. maybe i should give up and buy a proper kit like reprap.. at least there you expect to have to find the bits for your self..

[ratmonkey]

Just hang on. The Sumpod is realy nice if you manage to build it...
The mentioned ali plate on the worktable is the printbed-cover.
It should come with your kit...

If it is not there, you could use a thin sheet of mdf from your local DIY-store.

[jason]

I have certainly given up on sumpod if not on THE sumpod.
normally if I was buying a product i would have complained about delays and (in) completeness of kit when it arrived.
but just before it did arrive i got a message that richard is / was seriously ill and was taking a break..phillipa ( his daughter ?) actually expidited my order ( which had been "dispatched" some 3 weeks earlier) ..but never collected ( according to dhl or whoever)...so I was just gratefull to recieve any thing after 5 months ( CF. 5 weeks).. ..
no reply ( 1 month) from either richard or phillipa to email as to missing / superceeded components.. yet same day response is possible nagging for payment at point of order..
I give up on sumpod.
I can and will re engineer the bits I have but feel if I wanted to do that I might have bought a different box of freerange bits...I would bet no two kits of sumpods contain the same set of components ...

[ratmonkey]

Nov 4, 2013 6:15:13 GMT -5 jason said:

I would bet no two kits of sumpods contain the same set of components ...

That might be true... ;D