{"id":375,"date":"2012-07-16T20:22:07","date_gmt":"2012-07-16T20:22:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/jtechphotonics.com\/?p=375"},"modified":"2020-06-30T14:45:24","modified_gmt":"2020-06-30T20:45:24","slug":"the-building-of-makerbot-5458","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/jtechphotonics.com\/?p=375","title":{"rendered":"The Building of MakerBot 5458"},"content":{"rendered":"

Over the past year we at J Tech Photonics have just loved having a 3D printer.\u00a0 I helps out for rapid prototyping of products and allows our engineers to create quick custom designed solutions for our customers.\u00a0 We have even upgraded it to be a\u00a0Laser Cutter<\/a>\u00a0as well!\u00a0 Over the last year the machine has produced numerous parts for projects and has made some pretty cool fun stuff as well (check out the pliers)!<\/p>\n

We have had these pictures lying around for awhile now, so we decided to put them up as a new post to the blog.\u00a0 So enjoy looking\u00a0at the\u00a0creation of the MakerBot 5458!<\/p>\n

MakerBot 5458 – A Picture Odyssey<\/b><\/p>\n

\"1<\/p>\n

The lab bench is set up and ready to go for assembly!<\/p>\n

\"Parts<\/p>\n

The parts are all\u00a0laid out and ready to go!<\/p>\n

\"3<\/a><\/p>\n

Assembling the heater board and cutting the roller for the automated motor on the build platform.<\/p>\n

\"4<\/a><\/p>\n

The finished automated build platform.<\/p>\n

\"5<\/a><\/p>\n

Starting putting together the Y stage.\u00a0 It is actually both the Y stage and the X stage, the X stage rides on the top rails.<\/p>\n

\"6<\/a><\/p>\n

The finished X and Y stage showing the automated build platform riding on the top.<\/p>\n

\"7<\/a><\/p>\n

Starting to put together the stepper motor and the front plate of the extruder (MK6).<\/p>\n

\"8<\/a><\/p>\n

Starting the nozzle with the heating element.<\/p>\n

\"9<\/a><\/p>\n

The base of the extruder put together.\u00a0 There was some super glue involved, so in front of the fume extractor it goes!<\/p>\n

\"10<\/a><\/p>\n

Putting in the thermocouple for temperature monitoring.<\/p>\n

\"11<\/a><\/p>\n

Extruder MK6 completed with wrapped nozzle and kapton taped.<\/p>\n

\"12<\/a><\/p>\n

Starting to put together the body with the laser cut wood pieces.<\/p>\n

\"13<\/a><\/p>\n

Getting the rod stops on and finishing the body assembly.\u00a0 There are a lot of little screws to deal with…<\/p>\n

\"14<\/a><\/p>\n

Putting the electronics on the bottom, X-Y-&Z stage in, and wiring the entire system.<\/p>\n

\"15<\/a><\/p>\n

All finished!\u00a0 Now calibrating the system with a test cube making sure everything is aligned and can print a 10x10x10 cm cube.<\/p>\n

\"16<\/a><\/p>\n

There are some pretty cool things you can print out including a working pair of pliers!<\/p>\n

\"17<\/a><\/p>\n

Flash forward 8 months!<\/b><\/p>\n

We have updated the\u00a0MakerBot to be even better than the original.\u00a0 Some additions include:<\/p>\n