I've pulled the trigger and begun amassing parts to build one of these bad boys. Andy, I'm really excited about what you've done here!
And, like you zoltan, I've got the hair-brained plan of using NEMA 23s instead of NEMA 17s. I realize it would be much easier to just buy the 17s, but the 23s were a gift and the whole project blossomed from an effort to do something cool with them.
As far as modifying the STLs is concerned, It's easy enough to import the STLs into Sketchup (it just requires a plugin, and it's all free), and you can then change everything about them from there.
I've spent some time doing modifications, and while I have something I'd like to try out, I'm not certain that it will be convenient for anyone but me.
I am not a Sketchup whiz. My go-to tool is OpenSCAD, and if I find myself changing anything else, I'll likely just redo the whole part there, because I found it very frustrating trying to modify the imported STL without breaking all types of manifold.
Anyway, here's what I've done:
In order to fit the bigger motor, I had to pull the mounting face in by 10mm. I also had to make the whole thing taller, and extended the foot to compensate. I moved the holes for tool access, and am concerned that one will impede with a screw head, but I'm not changing the !@#$ thing at this point. And depending on the order I build it in, it may or may not pose a problem. Note that the 10mm move of the motor could impact the alignment of the belt with everything else.
My motors have a bigger gear already on them--almost exactly the size of a 608 bearing. So I changed the top bracket, pulling the bearing inboard by 3mm to help alignment and enlarging the hole to fit a M8 bolt. I'll be using fender washers and a skateboard bearing to hold the top together, I think.
Since I've pulled things inboard, I lengthened the belt mount on the Rod Carrier, in hopes that I can catch the belt there. The location is still wrong for my wider belt setup, but moving it would get in the way of the screw mount. So I figure I'll tackle that more once I've seen if the NEMA 23 mount will work.
Check it out here:
thingiverse.com/thing:372175
And, like you zoltan, I've got the hair-brained plan of using NEMA 23s instead of NEMA 17s. I realize it would be much easier to just buy the 17s, but the 23s were a gift and the whole project blossomed from an effort to do something cool with them.
As far as modifying the STLs is concerned, It's easy enough to import the STLs into Sketchup (it just requires a plugin, and it's all free), and you can then change everything about them from there.
I've spent some time doing modifications, and while I have something I'd like to try out, I'm not certain that it will be convenient for anyone but me.
I am not a Sketchup whiz. My go-to tool is OpenSCAD, and if I find myself changing anything else, I'll likely just redo the whole part there, because I found it very frustrating trying to modify the imported STL without breaking all types of manifold.
Anyway, here's what I've done:
In order to fit the bigger motor, I had to pull the mounting face in by 10mm. I also had to make the whole thing taller, and extended the foot to compensate. I moved the holes for tool access, and am concerned that one will impede with a screw head, but I'm not changing the !@#$ thing at this point. And depending on the order I build it in, it may or may not pose a problem. Note that the 10mm move of the motor could impact the alignment of the belt with everything else.
My motors have a bigger gear already on them--almost exactly the size of a 608 bearing. So I changed the top bracket, pulling the bearing inboard by 3mm to help alignment and enlarging the hole to fit a M8 bolt. I'll be using fender washers and a skateboard bearing to hold the top together, I think.
Since I've pulled things inboard, I lengthened the belt mount on the Rod Carrier, in hopes that I can catch the belt there. The location is still wrong for my wider belt setup, but moving it would get in the way of the screw mount. So I figure I'll tackle that more once I've seen if the NEMA 23 mount will work.
Check it out here:
thingiverse.com/thing:372175