User:Lmartin iii/ENES-100/Finish: Printhead Changer

Week3 Narrative
My goal this week was to get the 3D printer working and to prepare for Project Day as well as the project Finish.

Early in the week I was able to hook the printer, with the new print head adapter attached, up to Mr. Dolge's computer that has the Pronterface software that controls the printer. Mr. Dolge gave me a brief introduction to the Pronterface software, and how to navigate the interface. I also downloaded and installed Pronterface on my Mac from a link on the RepRap Wiki page (see below). Initially there were errors recognizing the printer. I kept getting an error dealing with the baud rate, but we were able to increase the baud rate and enter the refresh code, M999, which caused the printer work. I was then able to move the printhead along the x and z-axis, as well as heat up the nozzle. There was a problem though because the nozzle didn't retain the desired temperature. It would heat to the set temperature point, but would decline after that….it wouldn't hold. I used a multimeter to test the continuity of the electrical connections on the printhead. I got good readings on the connections.

The next time I tested the printer the nozzle was able to heat up and hold the set temperature. The next thing to test was the printhead stepper motor and it's ability to extrude. It was set to extrude at 5.0 mm @ 100 mm/min, but when I selected extrude I kept getting an error that read 0. Like there was no filament in the printer. I eventually reentered the "5.0" mm then selected "Extrude" and it began to work.

Also, I soldered a female D-Sub connector to the paste extruder. I was able to acquire two larger screws (#8 x 1-1/4"), that I cut down to 1/2", to secure the adapter plate to the paste extruder.

During Project Day presentations I was able to set up the printer and get it working. I did notice that whenever the heated extruder was disconnected from the base it caused an error in the software, and needed to be refreshed after the head was reconnected. When the paste extruder was attached it didn't work at all. I kept getting an error about the extruder not being connected. Need to determine what is causing the error. May need to do some reprogramming.

Sources:

http://www.reprap.org/wiki/Printrun

http://koti.kapsi.fi/~kliment/printrun/