Just for fun why did I buy this?

[fcwilt]

Hi,

There was a recent topic here the got my attention.

It led me to try an experiment to change the way one of my printers does something common.

The item shown uses a NEMA 11 stepper and has 100mm of travel. The one I am actually using has just 50mm of travel.

Before I finish my work and post pictures anyone care to speculate on what I have been up to?

Just for fun.

The first person with the correct answer wins...

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(make a drum roll sound in your mind)

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...the right to say they were the first person with the correct answer.

Frederick

[zapta]

@fcwilt, give us an hint, how will it be oriented?

I would use it to turn off the main switch when the print completes.

[fcwilt]

@zapta

A hint?

OK, it is used to move something out of the way so when printing no print area is lost but still allows the something to perform it's intended purpose.

Frederick

[bot]

Probing, tool alignment with a camera coming in and out, or purge bucket moving in and out of print area are my guesses.

[fcwilt]

@bot said in Just for fun why did I buy this?:

Probing, tool alignment with a camera coming in and out, or purge bucket moving in and out of print area are my guesses.

Well one of the words in your post is exactly what this experiment is about.

Frederick

[bot]

@fcwilt the first word?

[fcwilt]

@bot said in Just for fun why did I buy this?:

@fcwilt the first word?

Yes

[bot]

@fcwilt sounds like fun. I have been manually aligning my tools on the idex with a cheap USB microscope. so magnificent. You could use your little doo-dad to move the camera into the exact same position every time!

Or, a CNC-style tool pre-setter to measure tool Z offsets.

Or, a 3D-Taster style multi-axis touch probe to do Z and X/Y offsets.

[fcwilt]

@bot said in Just for fun why did I buy this?:

@fcwilt sounds like fun. I have been manually aligning my tools on the idex with a cheap USB microscope. so magnificent. You could use your little doo-dad to move the camera into the exact same position every time!

Or, a CNC-style tool pre-setter to measure tool Z offsets.

Or, a 3D-Taster style multi-axis touch probe to do Z and X/Y offsets.

Well your first word was "probing" unless I read it wrong.

Frederick

[bot]

@fcwilt hmmmm. probing is a vague term. I hope you're not thinking of placing anything in any dark places.

[fcwilt]

@bot said in Just for fun why did I buy this?:

@fcwilt hmmmm. probing is a vague term. I hope you're not thinking of placing anything in any dark places.

Nope - nothing like that - but was not your first word "probing"? The second item mentioned as tool alignment using a camera.

Did I misunderstand your post?

Frederick

[zapta]

@fcwilt said in Just for fun why did I buy this?:

OK, it is used to move something out of the way so when printing no print area is lost but still allows the something to perform it's intended purpose.

My answer below, encrypted with Google translate

Brosse de nettoyage de buse

[jens55]

Pebble wiper setup

[fcwilt]

@zapta said in Just for fun why did I buy this?:

Brosse de nettoyage de buse

I like that I idea - I may just try that as well.

Frederick

[fcwilt]

@jens55 said in Just for fun why did I buy this?:

Pebble wiper setup

What is a "pebble wiper"?

Frederick

[jens55]

@fcwilt, a device for cleaning printing nozzles. The purged filament is formed into a pebble for easy separation from the nozzle (no curling around of loose filament), disconnected from the nozzle and then wiped away to ready for the next purge operation. In the context of a tool changing printer, the height of the wiper assembly is adjusted based on the tool being purged which is why you have a very short reach adjustable stage.

[fcwilt]

@jens55 said in Just for fun why did I buy this?:

@fcwilt, a device for cleaning printing nozzles. The purged filament is formed into a pebble for easy separation from the nozzle (no curling around of loose filament), disconnected from the nozzle and then wiped away to ready for the next purge operation. In the context of a tool changing printer, the height of the wiper assembly is adjusted based on the tool being purged which is why you have a very short reach adjustable stage.

Interesting.

How is the filament formed into a "pebble"?

Frederick

[jens55]

@fcwilt, it is extruded onto a flat surface just underneath the extruder
https://lukeslabonline.com/products/pebble-wiper?variant=41218627371193

[fcwilt]

@jens55 said in Just for fun why did I buy this?:

@fcwilt, it is extruded onto a flat surface just underneath the extruder
https://lukeslabonline.com/products/pebble-wiper?variant=41218627371193

Well the link is interesting because it is also a clue to what I am experimenting with.

Frederick

[Yveske]

@fcwilt A cheaper, mechanical way of doing things
https://www.bigbrain3d.com/product/retractable-purge-mechanism/

[fcwilt]

@yveske said in Just for fun why did I buy this?:

@fcwilt A cheaper, mechanical way of doing things
https://www.bigbrain3d.com/product/retractable-purge-mechanism/

That is rather neat.

Frederick

[fcwilt]

Well I finished the first experimental setup and it is working, although with a limitation I believe is related to the 12 volt power supplies I used on this printer.

I will make a quick video Wednesday and post a link to it here.

Frederick

[fcwilt]

@fcwilt

Hi,

Here is a link to a quick-and-dirty video showing the mini linear guide at work.

Mini Linear Guide At Work

It was hard to get a good view - sorry.

Frederick