Round 2.....Build!

Well, after several days of trying to make the cast parts I have usable I started to look else where for a solution. I found it in a couple of places. I found Joshua Updyke off of forums.reprap.org making a good amount of the RP parts via a CNC. Either the parts were exact duplicates or were modified to be simpler and easier to mill.

Here are some pics showing some of the parts I got from him:










This allowed me to build a good part of the frame:







After seeing how good his parts were, I decided to order the Z-motor mount and tensor bracket and the y bar clamps from Josh. He is quick on getting the parts made and tells me I should have them within a week or so.

Parts Galore!

Well, I went this morning to the post office to pick up my package containing the RP parts for the Mendel I am building. I open the package, with a huge grin on my face, to realize how much work I have to do to get the parts into working order. (I was told about this when I bid on the items) Here are some pics of the parts to see what I am talking about:







and here is an after pics:



So that is 4 pieces down and what 94 more to go? Its alright though, the parts are easy to sand and drill so this shouldn't take me to long.

X-mas in July... well, March!

It has begun. Today I started to receive all the parts I need to start building a Mendel RepRap.

I received the bearings I ordered from VXB.com. As some of you might know, they have a special deal on a kit containing all the bearings you need for a Mendel machine. It costs only $49.95. I saved about $15.00 going this route. They arrived all oiled up and looking pretty durable. But only time will tell. Thanks J-Dubs for getting this setup for us.



I also received, which I wasn't expecting, the nuzzles-barrel-barrier setups I ordered from Reifsnyderb. Each setup cost $25.00 but I think its worth it because this is what I call the "business end" of the machine where you want to have the best setup to get the best results. The pieces were machined with great detail and come together nicely. I hope some time next week when the ceramic heatcores arrive, I can test out the setup and see how well it extrudes



-Matt

My Wade's Geared Nema17 Extruder

Well, I talked to RustySpoon1121, from the RepRap forums, and he was able to get my extruder kit into the mail today.

Here is an overview of the extruder:

• Uses an Nema 17 stepper motor
• Uses a gear ratio of 33:14
• Has adjustable tension springs to get a good grip on the filament

It is being sent priority so hopefully I will get either by Saturday or Monday the latest.

To get a more detail look at the Wade extruder run over to this link:
http://objects.reprap.org/wiki/Geared_Nema17_Extruder

New blog and first post.

This is my first post for my new blog about my journey building a working Mendel machine. Let me try to get everybody up to speed with where I am at with my build.

Ordered
I have order about 99% of everything I need. Only thing I am missing is an extruder, which I should be ordering either today or tomorrow. I am looking at getting the "Wade's geared extruder" mainly because of its simplicity but also how nicely it works.

Have
Of everything I have order the only things that I have physically is all the hardware expect for the bars/studs, which should be here by Monday, and the thick sheets aka the build platform and the electronics platforms.

Built
Because I barely have anything there isn't really anything to build. Hopefully my RP parts should be here sometime early next week. They are coming from Southern Ireland. At that time I will start taking pictures and start my build.

So stay tune and wish me luck on this project which I think as well as many others might change the way we live our lives.

P.S. I know this blog is a little plain and boring but as I start my build I will change things and make this blog more nice to view.