MendelMax Build Notes

Notes from the Mendel Max Build, Jan 19, 2013: Actions performed:

• Tapping all of the Al extrusions took considerable time. Everyone should be tapping together, or the pieces should be untapped. Note: This step could, and perhaps should be performed ahead of time if we have a larger class. Tapping one set takes approximately 1 hour for one set. Use power taps with a cordless screwdriver in the future.
• The heated platforms needed the lead wires soldered on. This step takes approximately 15 minutes per kit to strip the wires, tin them, and solder them to the build platform.
• The steel rods for the bearings needed to be cut and finished. It took approximately 3.5 hours to do this for four printers.
  • Use a hacksaw for cutting.
  • Use lathe to end finish and cut chamfer.
• Loading firmware to the Arduino boards was the next step. Step takes approx 1 min per board.
• Two pieces of Al extrusion per kit need to be marked, punch, center drilled and drilled with through holes. This took about an hour for four kits. Setup time takes most of the time for this effort.
• Soldering limit switches together as a prep work. It took about an hour for three kits.
• Cutting MDF for bed support. There is a lot of setup and cleanup time. Only a few minutes of actual cutting per set is required.