Wait. Stop. Reverse That!!

So, we got the first batch of heated platform kits out today. We put together a nice packing list…went through and carefully checked off each item…it went great…almost. In a moment of truly uncompromising brilliance we left the nichrome off the packing list and shipped the heated platform kits without it! The nichrome!! This was brought to my attention as I was sitting down for dinner. That turned into a very quick meal and shortly thereafter I was on my way downtown to the main post office with several little Priorty Mail boxes in hand. Hopefully the nichrome will arrive with the kits.

As soon as the Heated Platform instructions are posted I will get back to the Modular plastruder parts. Cool new stuff to hack your plastruder will be available soon…

A few heated platform kits are were available on the Platforms page. We should have more available in a week or two. Thank you for your support!!!

Heated platform with kapton film build surface (nod to nop.head)

First, we start with 4″ × 4″ by 1/8" ceramic plate.

Then it goes into the laser where it gets branded and prepped for drilling.

Then, YOU work your mojo and put the kit together (details soon) to get this…

…and this

Put the pieces together. Puff out your chest. Print!

Black Acrylic build surface mounted on ceramic platform (use a clear or translucent surface to see the temperature strips)

Prototype glass build surface and ceramic platform mounted on modified Y carriage.

The heated platform/build surface attaches and detaches from the carriage just like a standard build platform but NO wire tether!! It’s designed to work with the heated platform firmware modifications, an external controller (we’ll have one soon) or just control it using G-code through the 12V Fan or Valve port on your extruder controller.

Print hard and prosper! (or something like that)

PLA is here and quickly being embraced by the MakerBot community. PLA is a super cool material with a translucent crystalline appearance. Unfortunately the reports are coming in and many people are having trouble getting it to extrude. I’ve already invested many hours testing various configurations in order find some straight forward solutions. I’ve been posting these results on the MakerBot Google Group to try and help botters through the learning curve. I’ve also just created a PLA Printing page here on MakerGear. It is a bit sparse at the moment but will be frequently updated in order to get everyone up and running as quickly as possible…

It is frustrating to watch new botters struggle to get their bots printing. Now, there are the typical start-up learning experience issues and then there is struggling. It is frustrating to watch the struggling because after having built dozens of nozzle assemblies, I can practically do a 0.50 nozzle assembly in my sleep. I mean I’ve got it down pretty much to a science. And, I know that once I’ve assembled it, it will work. So, I’m going to do a trial offering of a nozzle assembly exchange program and (maybe) a full plastruder swap. The general idea is that you send me a dysfunctional nozzle assembly with working parts (thermistor, nozzle, barrel, and insulator are all good – extra cost for bad parts) and I will send you a known working nozzle assembly. It will work for you or you get a refund (some small print will need to go here as there can be printing problems unrelated to the nozzle assembly itself). Since it still takes a while for me to go from start to working assembly, I need to figure out how to price this…

Watch for the nozzle assembly exchange program details in a day or two…send your thoughts to exchange@makergear.com, @makergear (twitter) or post a comment here by clicking on the title.

Sorry…but it is really tough to pass up a cliche of this caliber!!

This is our new ceramic heater core – part of our new modular approach to extruding plastic. It is an M6 threaded brass core wrapped in nichrome and then coated with ceramic adhesive. Screw it on. Attach your hook-up wire. Power up.

Heater core kits are available now. Kits include:

-Brass core
-Nichrome wire
-Ceramic adhesive w/brush and popsicle sticks
-Hook-up wires
-Crimp connector pins (male and female)

Fully assembled heater cores will be available soon.