MakerBot

From ivc wiki
Revision as of 14:04, 19 January 2011 by Ivc (talk | contribs) (→‎Electronics)
Jump to navigationJump to search

The MakerBot is an open source 3D-printer. Great for experimenting with designs and small manufacturing. The latest model, Thing-O-Matic, has improved accuracy and expanded electronics.

Schematics

Electronics

All the electronics is neatly hid away under the build platform, including the power-supply. The overview below shows all the components and how they are all connected.

MakerBot Electronics complete.png

Symbols

All the components below has been compiled into a Frizing library to be used for prototyping. The original illustrator files is in the second link.

Motherboard

The main board connects the Arduino controller with an external USB-interface, a SD-card slot, drives the stepper-controllers and extruder controller.

MakerBot Electronics motherboard.png

Extruder

Has inputs from the thermalcouple temperature measuring probe, power MOSFETs to drive the main heater to melt plastic and heat the assembly board. Auxiliary connections for controlling the automated assembly plate and heat sensor for the board temperature.

MakerBot Electronics extruder controller.png

On top of the extruder is the feed for the plastic, driven by a DC-motor from the extruder controller. The heat element is a long piece of metal tube to keep the heat and melting process even. Two heat resistors exerts heat onto the main metal block before the plastic is extruded through a narrow nozzle. The thermocouple is mounted on the main block.

MakerBot Electronics extruder motor.png MakerBot Electronics extruder.png

Stepper Controller

To drive the stepper motors, a controller can control the motion of the axis down to an accuracy of 1.8 degrees per step. The operation can be fine tuned using 4 potentiometers on the controller. Two dip-switches determine the type of stepper-motor that will be attached.

MakerBot Electronics stepper controller.png MakerBot Electronics stepper motor.png

End stops

Each axis has an end-stop to signal when its at the farthest/closes range.

MakerBot Electronics endstop.png

Heaterboard

To keep the plastic from shrinking during the printing process, the base where the object sits is heated by a copper maze on the board. A thermistor underneath is monitoring the temperature. On the automated model the base can roll out when the object is finished.

MakerBot Electronics heaterboard.png MakerBot Electronics heaterboard motor.png

References