My modification / upgrades

Vertex 3D Printer Vertex - Your printer, creations, and ideas for im
1

Hello

I just wanted to make a thread with my upgrades / modifications to the Vertex K8400 :slight_smile: For inspiration and warning :slight_smile:

Z rod top bearing
Because it made a horrible vibrating noise when traveling fast. It was a resonance vibration in the loose upper end of the rod.

Z axsis bearing: thingiverse.com/thing:635751

Heated bed:
I bought a custom heat bed mk3 from Marlark from this site :slight_smile: I had trouble getting a true surface directly on the heatbed, so i put the original glassplate on top. Now the bed assembly is 13mm thick, and i had to modify som bulldog clips to hold the sandwich together. Cut and weakkend with pliers.
Lessons learned:

  1. To much force in the clips bends the glass plate.
  2. Thermal paste between the heat bed and glass plate is really needed. (I could keep my finges on the glassplate at 60 degress before, after the paste it burns my finger after 5 seconds.)

My bed is a sandwich of:

  • Original framework, modified with springs, so it can compress enough.
  • 2mm cork for insulation
  • Custom heatbed mk3
  • Thin layer of thermal paste
  • Orginal glassplate

Here you can see the modified bulldog clips, and the glass plate is white from the thermal paste.

From underneath:

The heatbed is controlled via a reprap.me power expander. reprap.me/heatbed/power-expander.html
Mounted in this enclosure: thingiverse.com/thing:693271
imgur.com/Wp8qotn,JtIC1m3,I4QETD … ,JB3SujS#6

Remember, the gauge of the wires must be less than 12AWG or more than 5mm2. Otherwise the wire will get hot!

SMD thermistor i used was this one: reprap.me/heatbed/thermistor-smd-1206.html

Cover for display electronics:
thingiverse.com/thing:720269

Cover for main board:
thingiverse.com/thing:904477
Really nice, but I have taken of the orignial PSU, so now it is quite loosely fitted.

Driver Heatsinks from reprap.me reprap.me/electronic/heatsink.html

Fan duct for 80mm fan for mainboard cooling: Designed by myself :slight_smile:
thingiverse.com/thing:921191

From the side:

From bottom

LED lights from biltema:
connected to PSU directly.
biltema.dk/da/Fritid/Camping … 000028425/

New PSU.
Instead of the flimsy original PSU, i replaced it with a beefy 13,4V 50A PSU.

What to come:

  • Triangular waste bin
  • Cover for 40mm bottom fan (now an empty hole)
  • Mount for webcam
  • Some smart filament spool exchange thing. (Thinking about a 30mmx100mm spool holder, with a set of larger adapters, that can be put on, without using tools.
2

[quote=“SlowFoot”][quote=“Fer”]…

  • Some smart filament spool exchange thing. (Thinking about a 30mmx100mm spool holder, with a set of larger adapters, that can be put on, without using tools.[/quote]

This one works fine.[/quote]

Thank you.

But then i would need 3 sets of spools, as i have 3 different filaments. (Make that 6 in the future with dual heads.

My thought is to make a base spool holder. For my smallest filaments. (From reprap.me) 30x100 Spool holder, and mount that permanently on the Vertex. The print a set of adapters, to click over the small one.An adapter for my E-Sun filament and my Velleman Filament.

3

That is a very good point! Will make this modification also :slight_smile:

4

Hi Fer, nice topic. I have a few questions/comments:

I bought a custom bed from Marlark too but I haven’t assembled it yet. I understand the functioning of the thermal paste, but is that a once only thing or do you have to apply this every time?

I made this and indeed the PSU mounting-bolt is needed, but I think I have to make the little snaps something bigger so the bolt isn’t necessary anymore.

Maybe another little tweak to straighten out your filament tube above the fitting? :slight_smile:

5

[quote=“svdv”]Hi Fer, nice topic. I have a few questions/comments:

I bought a custom bed from Marlark too but I haven’t assembled it yet. I understand the functioning of the thermal paste, but is that a once only thing or do you have to apply this every time?

I made this and indeed the PSU mounting-bolt is needed, but I think I have to make the little snaps something bigger so the bolt isn’t necessary anymore.

Maybe another little tweak to straighten out your filament tube above the fitting? :slight_smile:
[/quote]

I have a little headroom issue, but when i have fixed it a clip like that is really a good idea.

I do not remove my glass plate, as long as you dont remove it, it will be a one time solution. If you remove it, you might have to replace the paste.