Category: 3D Printing

At the end of my last post in this series, we had added the lower cover and the hood limit switch, which didn’t feel like much progress.  This post focuses on the control unit covers and power switch covering issues 48 – 51 of 3D Create and Print by Eaglemoss Technology.  If you’ve skipped a part of this series you can start from the beginning, including details of the Vector 3 printer I’m building on my 3D printer page.

Despite the delay in opening this set of four issues, I was very excited to see these next parts.  The sight of the iconic white base covers and power switch immediately gave me the feel that the printer would look a lot more complete after adding them.  You may want to read through before starting, as I found some parts were easier in a slightly different order. Continue reading 3D Printer part 13: Control Unit Cover and Power

At the end of my last post in this series, we had added the z-shaft support and top and side covers, giving all three axes attached to the main cover and covered.  This post focuses on the lower covers and the hood limit switch covering issues 44 – 47 of 3D Create and Print by Eaglemoss Technology.  If you’ve skipped a part of this series you can start from the beginning, including details of the Vector 3 printer I’m building on my 3D printer page.

On first appearances, this looks like another straightforward build – but I’ve learned that sometimes simple steps can be more fiddly than you’d think with this printer!  If you’re a subscriber then this delivery also comes with the third binder, which we’ve been waiting for for a while. Continue reading 3D Printer part 12: main covers, hood limit switch

At the end of my last post in this series, we had completed the heater plate and sensors and reconnected the y-axis covers.  This post focuses on the z-shaft support and top and side covers, covering issues 40 – 43 of 3D Create and Print by Eaglemoss Technology.  If you’ve skipped a part of this series you can start from the beginning, including details of the Vector 3 printer I’m building on my 3D printer page.

Unpacking this set of parts was a little disappointing to start with, however by the end, this covers the working parts and gives a device that looks like it’s not far from being ready to print…¹ Continue reading 3D Printer part 11: Top and side covers

At the end of my last post in this series, we had attached the z-axis screw rod and made a start on the heater plate.  This post focuses on the build plate, covering issues 36 – 39 of 3D Create and Print by Eaglemoss Technology.  If you’ve skipped a part of this series you can start from the beginning, including details of the Vector 3 printer I’m building on my 3D printer page.

This set of issues also needs the heater sensor part from issue 35.  Unpacking this set of four gives two study plates that will form the build base and lots of interesting looking wires.

EDIT: if you do not have the protection coil or strengthening strip and have a metal clip instead of a plastic one, do not worry.  Eaglemoss upgraded these parts and delivered these for me with issue 70.  If you are a few months behind then you may already have the better parts. Continue reading 3D Printer part 10: Build plate

At the end of my last post in this series, we had finished the x-axis assembly and successfully tested the motor.  This post looks at adding the z-axis shafts and bearing, covering issues 24 to 27 of 3D Create and Print by Eaglemoss Technology.  If you’ve skipped a part of this series you can start from the beginning, including details of the Vector 3 printer I’m building on my 3D printer page.

As with previous steps, it’s slightly easier to put all these together in one go to save unscrewing components.  These steps should be familiar to you now as this is the third axis to be built.  There is one difference – the z-axis has 3 shafts rather than two. Continue reading 3D Printer part 7: Z-axis

At the end of my last post, we had started to build the x-axis assembly and got both shafts and the bearing block in place.  This post looks at adding the timing belt and the x-axis motor, covering issues 20 to 23 of 3D Create and Print by Eaglemoss Technology.  If you’ve skipped a part of this series you can start from the beginning, including details of the Vector 3 printer I’m building on my 3D printer page.

You’ll need to dig out the motor test circuit board and AC adaptor to completed these steps and they are very similar to that for the y-axis so should be fairly quick for you to go through.  If you’re a subscriber then this drop also comes with four packs of filament in different colours, which you’ll just have to keep somewhere safe until we’re in a position to use them.

Continue reading 3D Printer part 6: x-axis timing belt and motor

So, in my last post we completed the Y-axis motor assembly and tested it.  Issues 11-15 of the 3D Create and Print magazine will see us add the cover and bracket for the y-axis and start on the printer plates and feet.  If you’ve skipped a part of this series you can start from the beginning, including details of the Vector 3 printer I’m building on my 3D printer page.

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   Y-axis cover: This is a fairly simple 3-bolt step.  The only real gotchas here are to ensure that the cover is on the correct way round (so the slot in the cover is closest to the motor) and that the wires from the limit switch are not caught in any of the other parts and thread out through the slot.  Yes there are only meant to be three bolts at this stage 🙂  This is also one of the first bad designs I’ve noticed – the y-axis could benefit from an extra clip to secure the limit switch wires because, now they are hidden, they could easily be too close the the motor belt and get worn down.  Should the printer stop working, this will be one of the the first things I check.

Continue reading 3D Printer Part 4: Y-axis cover and plates