Its been a while

I have been looking and looking at this. Every part is sitting on my bench staring at me!

I need to make the pulley system. I don't have the wood parts to build these. I need to make the parts.

My fear of screwing it up is keeping me from completing it. I hate this. I go out there and pick up the parts and think about ways to make the pulleys. I am stuck because of fear.

Well I will get something done today. Probably testing all the electronics. Fear!!!!

I will also post pictures of the completed things. That always helps me move forward.

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Bootloader and issues

I am using Windows

So I have finished building all the pcbs.
I finished the USBtinyISP.
I have installed the drivers for the USBtinyISP and check the device manager to see if they are running correctly.
I have JP3 closed (did not have before and AVRDUDE did not connect to Target
I have the 6 pin connected
I have installed and run AVRDUDE. AVRDUDE is now working because I closed JP3
GDBserver/serial now works.

Now that is working. whew!

Next I will add the next step actually bootloading

All electronics done

I have all the electronics parts completed. But, and it is a bit but. On the USBtinyISP I soldered the USB connector on the back side of the board. So I have bought a new one.

I should have paid more attention to what I was doing. Listening to music and thinking while working is not good for me. Oh well. And my laptop is in the shop getting its power connector fixed. Taking pictures is going to have to wait. AHHHH!!!

I will place all the electronics on their mounting.

Surface Mounting Components

I will never use leaded solder again. It pops and sends little pieces flying. What a disaster. I cleaned off the board as much as possible and redid it with non-leaded solder.

Motherboard is complete

Well things work better when I use better tools. I got a heat pencil. Boy did that make the job easier.

Tomorrow I will build the AVRprogrammer. I will also post pictures tomorrow.

Nice.

Third time is a charm

Well, I received the motherboard (3). Tomorrow I will solder the surface mounted part. I will take pictures and post them here. Wish me luck.

The second Motherboard

Well I burnt another pcb. I soldered the parts perfectly, but the board, well burnt. Oops.

Front

I have decided to buy a hot air soldering pen. This should solve my problems with surface mounted parts. I had good luck with the hot air paint stripping gun, but it lacked fine control. I could not get the bridge of solder off. The pen should allow for fine control.

I ordered all the physical parts for the cupcake. I like working with Makerbot. They are helpful and supportive. They have an easy store and great instructions.

Looks like I need the right tools for the project in order to get the proper results.

When I get the parts I will post pics of my progress.

Extruder Controller Board part2

Well, I finished the board. Boy, I suck at soldering. I got it done.

Soldering is very Zen. It requires patiences, focus, determination... Those are skills that are developed.

Well I guess I am developing them. This time, not once did I want to destroy the PCB. Usually, I envision myself just beating the stuffing out of the poor PCB. Before that...

I am going to give it the once over and take some pics. I have concerns about those capacitors.

Well, during the final check I found several components that were not soldered. While heating it up again I moved the capacitors. I finally got the capacitors soldered. But now, all the plastic parts have this ergonomically spongy shape.

The capacitors are solid. I can lift the board with each of them.

Here are some pictures of the final product. Looks better every time I look a it.





Yeah, its all done.

This is a well thought out PCB. I want to thank the people who made this board.

Next I will build the motherboard.

Extruder Controller Board part1

First Download Instructions
Extruder Controller Board v2.2

Ok, Open Package

Ok, All surface mounted parts on. Now I need to heat it. I slept on it.

That popping sound was very unfamiliar and resulted in the popping of tiny components.(AAAHHHHHHH)Those big capacitors just slid off. They are hot to the touch. (AAAAAHHHHH)

So I have reset most of the components I have 3 left. One is an IC. At what temp is this stuff suppose to melt and does that melting result in hardening.

This is not easy. There is no way to start over. The parts would need to be labeled and secured. I need to recheck everything. Check every joint. I don't see any other way to solder these pieces.

I am concerned about reheating the board.

Ok, I got it working. I used a meatloaf pan (high sides) and my heat paint stripping air gun. Its a hot low air hair dryer. I also used a meat thermometer. It took seconds. The blobs melted and cleanup is easy. Let the whole thing cool where it is.

I hope I did not cook it with the heat plate.

I actually like that better than soldering. Once I got the idea of how to handle the heat. Using the heat gun and meatloaf pan made it much easier to control the heat.

Now it is time to use the soldering iron to finish the board.
Whew!

I have a concern about R2. It is missing and I need to look it up.


I don't know what this is. On my board there is a space for something, but there is not a description of this anywhere.

This is a picture of mine


Ok, According to Zach and Adam, that space is to remain empty. Good. This evening I will continue with the build. This is great.

Reprap Check list

Major concepts involved in the build.

1) Get the software up, done. This is 2 pieces of software.
Art of Illusion. 3d animation suite.
Reprap Conversion AOI file to Reprap data.

I've even played with the AOI and built some simple things. Nice. The conversion software is quick. So on to the electronics.

Makerbot is where I got my parts. They have kits. These kits start off easy and get much more interesting. Its a good thing I started with the Opto-stop board. I needed to, let's say, become re-acquainted with soldering again.

Make sure the kit has all the parts and assemble in order!!! The kit instructions are on a link written on the front of each bag.

I have not actually soldered with the new solder paste yet. I have the Extruder controller that uses surface mounted parts. Lets see how this works. (Solder paste works.)

What I have done so far.
5/6 Opto End Stop
3 Stepper Motor Driver 1.2
1 DC Motor Driver 1.1
1 PWM Driver 1.1
1 Arduino Breakout shield 1.4
1 Temp Sensor 2.0
1 Extruder Controller 6/24/09

I have not powered any of these boards up.