steven@thorstad.ca

Replicator 2 & 2X LCD Button

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We have designed a 3D printable replacement for a broken LCD control panels rubber button. Our version was designed to make use of the heads of some copper plated nails as a contact point. We have also included the CAD files so if you want to try to work in some conductive filament or some other item as a contact point it is easy to modify. Check out our Thingiverse post for more details. http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:784845

Replicator 2 Large Spool Spacer and Tube Holder

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We recently have designed some parts that make using a MakerBot large spool even easier on a Replicator 2. When using a large spool some people have the occasional issue with the spool catching on protruding pieces on the back of the printer. To help with this we have made a simple spacer that will fit over the standard spool holder and provide some extra clearance between the spool and anything that may catch on it as it prints. A second issue that is more apparent after installing the spacer is the filament taking a sharp turn into the guide tubes. This should be corrected in order to reduce the force required to pull the filament through the extruder. For this we have designed a tube holder/spacer that simply slides into the previous tube holders and creates a less sharp bend for the filament to feed along. This has the … Read more

Smart Extruder Tips and Tricks

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The following are tips and tricks that may prolong the life of your smart extruder: If your filament has dust or dirt on it, it is a good idea to remove this before printing with it. This can be done by using pressurized air to get the majority of it then using a filter to get the rest. We generally use a canola oil filter that both coats the filament and helps clean it off. This Universal Filament Filter on Thingiverse is a good general use filter that can be placed before or after a filament guide tube. Prior to loading filament be sure to trim the end of the filament so you have a properly shaped end on the filament. When you are unloading filament try to first do a short load filament and then right after go into your unload filament. This forces a potential jam towards the … Read more

Applying Kapton Tape

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When applying kapton tape to your build plate, it can be a little tricky to do. Making use of Kapton Sheets rather than a roll of kapton tape can make this process a little bit easier as they have a backing which helps with stopping them from folding over on themselves and they are cut to be the proper size. Wet Application Method You will need a few supplies to apply kapton tape to your platform: Kapton Sheet Soapy Water in a spray bottle Squeegee Acetone The first step will be to completely remove the previous sheet from the build plate. Once you have a clear build plate you will then want to peel the kapton sheet backing off and set it down sticky side up on a flat surface and then spray the sheet with the soapy water. Now that we have the sheet sprayed we can then grab … Read more