For me, 1/32 stepping is "quieter" than 1/16 which is much quieter than 1/8 stepping. Something like the Gecko 251 (I use it on my CNC router) would be great as it automatically moved from 1/10th to lower microsteps depending on the speed. However, A $61 251 versus a $13 DRV8825 doesn't work out ;)Quote
revwarguy
Not trying to be argumentative, but if there is a need for 1/32, I don't quite see it.*
(* actually, implementing a closed loop stepper system with an encoder might be a good reason for it, but I don't think putting a $150 encoder on a $20 stepper is likely on these inexpensive 3D printers.)
There is so much headroom on the X5 and Smoothieboard (runs at 120MHz) that the choice between 1/16th and 1/32 doesn't require sacrificing top travel speeds. Also, the X5 is smaller than the arduino board by a small amount and there is no stacking of a RAMPS (a la CRAMPS).
As for an update on the build:
Build notes:
Some build notes:
- My belts ended up being 70" long. The Z_max height is 390mm.
- Interesting my calculator gave me 170.99mm for the delta radius. The actual value is 172.5mm.
- I build my diagonal rods with the 12" rods from tridprinting, not cutting. Diagonal rod length measure (with a steel rule but already mounted on the printer) at 340mm.
I do need to find some sort of springs or bands to put on the rods...they rattle a bit due to the stick-slip of the 2020 and PLA. - I am using stepper dampers on the motors and mount tape on the bed/glass tabs. This guy is super quiet. except for the rods :/
- I did not realize that I could adjust the delta radius with the M665 command so I was updating the config then resetting the X5. This was as painful as calibrating in Marlin (compared to Repetier FW and Host) as Repetier would bitch since the com port disappeared and so I'd have to kill Repetier then unplug the X5 (it's USB powered right now) then replug it, then restart Repetier host. Smoothier Gcodes are here
- After calibrating and getting good flat travel I tried printing a test piece (a 100mm square 3 layers thick). I thought it was my hotend expanding a bit when hot because I had to adjust my endstop offsets by over 0.6mm each. Turns out, a PLA mount on this hotend with no fan (never needed a fan on the MG V3) is not a good idea. I will cut a net mount from Birch ply like I have on my original mK.
- I printed a final calibration part (4mm square with a 2mm square cutout) before bed last night. A 2020 extrusion is tight but does fit. Outer dimensions are 40.14mm x 40.10mm and inner is 20.06mm x 20.12mm and height is perfect at 1mm. I plan to play with the diagonal rod a bit but for a first round that's pretty good IMO.
Progress photos:
I completed the assembly and most of the calibration. The printer is in a "not decided" state so sorry for the homely look of it.
I bought 5' of 6mm/4mm ID tubing for a 3mm filament Bowden tube. I'm not cutting it until I decide if I am going to use 3mm or not. So it's draped over the machine and I think is the cause of some serious ooze.
The X5 is screwed to a mounting plate. Happily, the plate which I designed to slide into the slots of 1515 extrusion are able to "hook" in the slot and let the mount hang at an angle. This is temporary until I decide what I want to do. Right now I am running all motors (yes extruder too) at 1/32 microstepping. Yes overkill I think, and I plan to experiment with other setting so I can compare.
This is my old MakerGear V3 0.5mm nozzle from my Prusa i2. It's not liking the Bowden and oozes some very fine stringers all the time it's not printing. Also, I have to print at a low 180C with this one.
This is to show my endstops. The wires run in the inner slot of the 2020, I may change this on the sliders design to be the back slot instead.
This is the Wades extruder I designed for mounting to 1515 and 2020 abstracted from Greg's and other's enhancements. I liek that it's compact and quiet. I was not able to use an 8mm bolt because all of mine, the head was off center. So I used some 8mm threaded rod and 4 M8 nuts (I have a lot of both from my previous Sells and Prusa Mendels).
-Jay