Rigidbot 1
This machine was purchased third-hand as a small project to gain a deeper appreciation for the progress of 3D printing technology. A long-discontinued printer with system metadata dating its firmware installation to August 2014, it is a historical artifact in the realm of 3D printing.
= Upgrades =
Mechanical Tune-Up
Prior to obtaining this printer, it had sat unused for a long period of time. To begin this machine’s refurbishment, it was scoured thoroughly of all dust and print residue, the nozzle and bearings were replaced, and all leadscrews and rods were given fresh lubrication.
Marlin 2.0 Firmware
The archaic Marlin 1.0.0 firmware was many years out of date, missing many of the important features and updates added in subsequent versions. To begin this machine’s refurbishment, the printer was upgraded to Marlin 2.0 to provide it with the advantages of the current firmware.
Tank Extruder Mount
Despite its surprisingly competent direct-drive system, this machine did not meet modern printing capabilities due to its lack of cooling fan support. In order to improve print quality, the printhead was rebuilt using linear bearings and a 3D printed tank extruder mount. This design allowed for the mounting of twin radial fans, with bidirectional part cooling resulting in better overall print quality.
PID Tuning
With new firmware and a redesigned printhead, the thermal profile of this machine’s hotend had changed significantly. By connecting a controller and repeatedly cycling the printer’s heater cartridge with cooling enabled, updated gain constants were determined and written into the printer’s firmware. With a well-tuned PID algorithm, the printer can now more quickly and accurately reach and maintain its intended temperatures.
Textured Build Surface
This old machine sported a plain brushed aluminum build platform, an outdated and ineffective surface for printing on. To remedy this, the platform was equipped with a BuildTak textured print surface to provide better adhesion when laying down prints.