Simple 1401 Assembly For kits produced between 1/15/14-6/1/14. This guide is for kits with the Fan Shroud. Instructions for metal and wood extruder (and bed) included below. Written By: Brook Drumm TOOLS: Phillips Screwdriver #2 (1) 5/16" wrench (1) 2.5mm Allen Wrench (1) 1.5mm Allen Wrench (1) Hammer or Rubber Mallet (1) Wood or Super Glue (1) Threadlocker Blue (1) 1/16" Allen Wrench (1) Micro Cutters (1) Needle nosed pliers (1) utility knife (1) Ruler (1) 2014 help.printrbot.com Page 1 of 39
Step 1 Simple Maker's Edition v3 (Model 1401) This guide is for the 2014 Printrbot Simple. If your kit is stamped with a "1405" on wood part #7. Please see Simple 1405 Assembly Laser Cut Wood Diagram. If you are assembling Simple with the wood bed and extruder, you will have the 2013 wood plate. If you have the Alu Extruder and bed, this wood plate will not be included in your kit. 2014 Printrbot Simple Bill of Materials (1-15-14) Download Simple Maker Firmware, should you need to flash your board in the future. How to Reflash Firmware 2014 help.printrbot.com Page 2 of 39
Step 2 Your Printrbot Simple wooden pieces will come in 5 plates that you will then need to use a utility knife to separate. You will use a utility knife to cut one side of the wood, flip over the plate, and cut through the opposite side of the tab. Make sure to cut the plates apart on a surface that will be okay to have knife marks in it. New line.note - Do not snap the pieces apart with your hands as the wood will tend to remove top or bottom layers of the plywood. NOTE- You can use a nail file or sandpaper to smooth the connection points in the wood. 2014 help.printrbot.com Page 3 of 39
Step 3 Zip tie your bearings on the base plate bringing the zip tie up through the bottom of the plate. Where to put the nub of the zip tie? Place it in the exact placement as photo #2, toward the front of the Simple (green boxes). 8 - zip ties 4 - LM8UU Bearings Tip - place 8mm smooth rod through the bearings as you tighten the zip ties to ensure alignment of bearings. Step 4 2 - M2 10MM screws, end stop with 6" wiring, base Use 1/16" or 1.5mm Allen Wrench to tighten these screws. NOTE: The "gator mouth" is open towards the longer end of the base. Take X-axis wiring under the base of the Simple. Set this piece aside to begin a new step. 2014 help.printrbot.com Page 4 of 39
Step 5 Use End Stop with 3 inches of wiring. 2 - M2 10mm bolt In order to get the end stop into position as shown in photo #2, you will need to take the opposite end of the end stop (white terminal end) and feed through the top of the slot in part #8 (red box). Bring part #18 up through the bottom of part #8. This will allow the end stop to screw into part #18. Tighten end stop onto wooden assembly with screws. 2014 help.printrbot.com Page 5 of 39
Step 6 2 - rubber tubing 2 - sandpaper pulley Dab some super glue onto the rubber tubing. Place the sandpaper pulley onto the rubber tubing until it is flush with one side of rubber tubing. Once dry move to next step. 2014 help.printrbot.com Page 6 of 39
Step 7 Once dry, press the rubber tubing onto the motor shaft of one of your large motors. X axis will be a large motor and the Y axis will be a small motor. NOTE - the X axis motor pulley will need to be pressed about 2-3mm past the motor shaft (red box). It is a good idea to label the motor for later steps in the build. Be sure to zip tie the base of the rubber tubing onto the motor shaft to prevent slippage. 2014 help.printrbot.com Page 7 of 39
Step 8 Go ahead and do the Y-axis (small) motor as well. You have probably noticed that there are two small motors pictured in these instructions. You could have received one with a black connector and the shorter motor shaft OR yours could have a white connector and a longer motor shaft. If your Y-axis motor has a black connector, you will want to push the black tubing all the way down on the motor shaft. Shown on the left, photo #2 - black square. If your Y-axis motor has a white connectro, you will want to leave about 5mm of space on the bottom of the motor shaft. Shown on the right, photo #2. Label your Y-axis motor. Step 9 4 - M3 10mm bolt X axis large motor Attach motor to Part #9 with four M3 10mm bolts. You will want to make sure that the wiring is going off of the left side of part #9 as shown in red box in photo #3. 2014 help.printrbot.com Page 8 of 39
Step 10 2 - M3 16mm 2 - M3 Hex Nut Secure part #9 to part #8 with two M3 16mm bolts and two M3 hex nuts. Step 11 4 - M3 10mm bolt 1 - large motor Attach Z axis large motor onto part #8 with four M3 10mm bolts. NOTE - Make sure the wiring is coming off the motor toward the middle in part #8. Now would be a good time to label the Z-axis motor. 2014 help.printrbot.com Page 9 of 39
Step 12 2 - M3 16mm bolt 2 - M3 hex nut Take X axis/z axis assembly and mount onto part #7 with two M3 16mm bolts and two M3 hex nuts. NOTE - Make sure to route the wiring for the X axis end stop through the hole in part #7 for the Z-axis motor, shown in photo #3 (red box). 2014 help.printrbot.com Page 10 of 39
Step 13 Wiring Managment Step Because there is so much length on the large motors, we will need to manage them so your Printrbot Simple looks nice and neat. Individually wrap each motor's wires. First make sure about 4-5 inches of length comes out of the hole on part #8 as shown in photo #2. You can use three fingers for wrapping as shown in photo #1. Zip tie each batch of wiring. Take the Z axis' zip tied wires and press into the gap between the two motors, shown in photo #2. Take X axis' zip tied wires and place on the side of both motors as shown in photo #3. 2014 help.printrbot.com Page 11 of 39
Step 14 Attach power adapter onto plate (wood part #5) with zip tie. You will want to back the nut on the power adapter off enough for the zip tie to fit in between the nut and the plastic housing. Zip tie nub is on the same side as the power adapter. See photo #2. Step 15 Close in wiring from step 12 with part #5. 5 - M3 16mm screws 5 - M3 Hex Nuts Make sure that the wiring for the power adapter is routed through the provided slot before securing with M3 screws (red box). 2014 help.printrbot.com Page 12 of 39
Step 16 Attach part #6 with M3 16mm screws. 5 - M3 16mm screws 5 - M3 Hex Nuts Step 17 4 - Zip ties Before you zip tie the electronics board on to the wood it is easiest to connect the Power adapter (red box) and the Extruder Power (green box) while the board is loose. Only use three zip ties at this point to attach electronics board (orange circles). You will attach the final corner later in this build. NOTE: The zip ties do not need to be extremely tight. The Printrboard should be secure with snug zip ties, but too much tension could put undue stress on it. 2014 help.printrbot.com Page 13 of 39
Step 18 Once base assembly is together, time to connect the two end stops to the electronics board. The Z-axis end stop can be identified as the one with the 3" wiring, much shorter than the other end stops. Connect the Z axis end stop to the electronics board "Z-STOP" (red box). Connect the X axis end stop to the electronics board "X-STOP" (green box). Step 19 Install the 10" smooth rods. Use hammer or rubber mallet to get smooth rods through the two wood plates. Make sure to provide support under the bottom plate so you don't blow out the bottom of the plate, shown in photo #2. Once the rods are seated flush with the bottom side of the base take two M3 10mm bolts to lock the bars in place. Photo #3. 2014 help.printrbot.com Page 14 of 39
Step 20 4 - M3 Hex Nut Locking 1 - M3 10mm bolt Screw the M3 10mm up from the bottom of the print platform. This screw hits the X-axis end stop so do not screw it all the way into the wood seating the head of the screw completely. You will want to leave some length on the screw as shown in photo #3. Take the four M3 locking hex nuts and press them into the bottom of the print platform in the engraved corners of the piece with a pair of pliers or channel locks evenly. NOTE - Be sure to face the nylon portion of the locking hex nuts out of the wood. Step 21 4 - Zip ties 2-6.5" 8mm smooth rod Make sure the M3 10mm bolt is on the left as you assemble the bed platform, shown in photo #3 (red box). Nubs of the zip ties should be facing the center of the print platform. 2014 help.printrbot.com Page 15 of 39
Step 22 1 - M3 10mm bolt 1 - M3 hex nut Begin the fishing line installation with the right side (green box). You will want to get your line with a knot to put on the head of the M3 10mm screw. Create a loop and twist the line around itself a few times. Then bring the end back up through the loop. Step 23 1 - Zip tie 1 - M3 16mm bolt 1 - M3 Hex Nut Press the M3 hex nut into the engraved portion of wood piece with a pair of pliers or channel locks. Slide #21 onto #22 as shown in photo #2. 2014 help.printrbot.com Page 16 of 39
Step 24 Since you've already tied off the right side of your fishing line on the print platform, you will now measure 9-1/8 inches. This length will the point at which you will tie off the new X axis tensioning assembly. NOTE - Tie the knot on the bottom side of the tensioning assembly. This way it will clear below the print platform (Part #2). Step 25 Once you've tied off both sides, you will want to wrap the fishing line around the sandpaper pulley two full wraps. If you've measured the line at 9-1/8 inches you should have to stretch the tensioning assembly onto the left side of the print platform. Take the zip tie and secure the tensioning assembly onto the print platform using the slots at the end of the assembly. Screw the M3 16mm bolt clockwise to tighten the fishing line to remove any slack in the line. (line should be fairly tight) 2014 help.printrbot.com Page 17 of 39
Step 26 4 - M3 20mm screws 4 - bed springs 4 - nylon spacers Attach the Metal Bed onto #2 with four 20mm M3 screws. The four nylon washers will seat between the head of the M3 screws and the metal bed (photo #3). This is the print bed so you will want to space the two wood pieces with four bed springs. Thread the four 20mm M3 screws into the M3 locking hex nuts pressed into #2. If you do not have the metal print bed, substitute wood part 1. You will not have the nylon spacers included in your kit. 2014 help.printrbot.com Page 18 of 39
Step 27 8 - LM8UU Bearings 16 - Zip Ties Zip tie nubs should all be on the same side of part #11. Notice in photo #3 (green box) that the top left zip tie nub is in a different location than the rest. You will want to copy this assembly. Tip - place 8mm smooth rod through the bearings as you tighten the zip ties to ensure alignment of bearings. Step 28 4 - M3 10mm Make sure motor wiring points down toward the base of the Simple. This is the only axis that gets a small motor. 2014 help.printrbot.com Page 19 of 39
Step 29 2- M3 10mm screws 2 - M3 Hex Nut 2 - M3 16mm bolt 1-6-32 3" screw w nylock nut Attach part #17 onto #13 with one M3 16mm bolt and one M3 hex nut. Then attach parts #17 and #13 to #12 with another M3 16mm and hex nut. Step 30 2 - M3 10mm bolt 1 - Delrin Acme Nut 1-3" 6-32 bolt 1-6-32 Hex Nut Locking Attach Delrin Acme Nut onto part #12 with two M3 10mm bolts. Screw 3" 6-32 bolt through part #12 first and then through part #17. Put one 6-32 locking hex nut on the end of the 3" bolt. 2014 help.printrbot.com Page 20 of 39
Step 31 Y-axis end stop installation. 2-10mm M2 screws Use a 1.5mm allen wrench to screw two M2 10mm bolts attaching Y axis end stop onto part #11. Make sure the end stop opens up as your attaching it to #11, photo #2. Step 32 3 - M3 16mm bolt 3 - M3 Hex Nut Make sure to route the Y axis end stop wiring down past the bearing as shown in photo #2. Attach the delrin acme nut assembly onto #11 with three 16mm M3 screws and three M3 hex nuts, photo #3 (green circles). 2014 help.printrbot.com Page 21 of 39
Step 33 1-1/4" Acme rod 1 - Vinyl Tubing 1 - zip tie Thread acme rod into vinyl tubing and secure with zip tie, photo #2. Thread acme rod into delrin acme nut, photo #3. Step 34 1 - M3 16mm screw 1 - M3 hex nut 3 - M3 10mm Attach #1 onto #14 with one 16mm M3 screw and one M3 hex nut. If you do not have the 2014 Metal Simple please take this detour to the 2013 Extruder Guide. 2014 help.printrbot.com Page 22 of 39
Step 35 Attach the base of the Aluminum extruder onto #1 with three 10mm M3 screws, paying attention to the orientation of the base in photo #1. Step 36 3 - M3 16mm screw 3 - M3 hex nut Attach the previous assembly to #3 with three 16mm M3 screws and three M3 hex nuts. 2014 help.printrbot.com Page 23 of 39
Step 37 Take the 625 bearing and place in the slot of the Aluminum extruder arm. NOTE - You may have received ONE BLACK POST and #6 washer, rather than the two brass posts shown in photo #1. If so, click here to see an exploded view assembly diagram of the Alu Extruder. Take one 16mm M5 screw and insert through the 625 bearing threading into opposite side of the Aluminum extruder arm. NOTE - only one side of the extruder arm is threaded. Insert M5 screw through smooth side of arm and thread through opposite side. Step 38 Insert 1.5" 6-32 screw through the provided hole in extruder arm (photo #2). Place 3/4" spring onto 1.5" 6-32 screw. 2014 help.printrbot.com Page 24 of 39
Step 39 Thread 6-32 hex nut onto 1.5" 6-32 screw as shown in photo #1. Insert the two brass posts into opposite sides of the larger opening in the arm (photos #2/#3). Set this assembly aside to use in later steps. Step 40 1 - M3 16mm screw 1 - M3 Hex Nut Attach #10 to #3 with one 16mm M3 screw and one M3 hex nut, photo #2. 2014 help.printrbot.com Page 25 of 39
Step 41 4 - M3 16mm bolt 4- M3 Hex nut Attach #4 to Y axis assembly with four M3 16mm bolts and four M3 hex nuts (red circles). Take one zip tie and insert through small slot in #10 and then through small slot in #3, photo #2. NOTE: Do not tie off the zip tie yet. Leave it open as pictured. Step 42 2-6.5" 8mm Smooth Rod Place Y-axis assembly onto Z-axis smooth rod, photo #1. Insert the two 6.5" 8mm smooth rod into the horizontal bearings for Y-axis (red boxes). Secure #3 to smooth rods with four zip ties, photo #3 (green boxes). 2014 help.printrbot.com Page 26 of 39
Step 43 Take the clear vinyl tubing zip tied to the acme rod and press onto Z axis motor shaft. Secure onto motor shaft with a zip tie, photo #2. Step 44 1 - M3 10mm screw 1 - M3 16mm screw 2 - M3 Hex Nut Fishing Line Take one M3 hex nut and press into part #22 evenly. Press #21 onto #22 and orient the pieces as shown in photo #3. 2014 help.printrbot.com Page 27 of 39
Step 45 1 - M3 10mm screw 1 - M3 Hex Nut Put 10mm M3 screw into hole on #3 (green circle) with M3 hex nut on opposite side of wood. Tie two knots on the head of the M3 10mm bolt (same as the X axis). Once completed with knots, tighten the 10mm M3 screw onto wood. Step 46 Measure 11-1/8 inches of fishing line to tie two knots on #22. NOTE - It may be helpful to make a mark with a pen at 11-1/8 inches on the fishing line. Then you can use that mark as the place to tie #22 at rather than trying to hold a ruler while tying. 2014 help.printrbot.com Page 28 of 39
Step 47 Wrap around the Y-axis sandpaper pulley two full times off the top of the pulley. Step 48 Place #22 at the end of #3 as shown in photo #1 and secure together with the zip tie already in place. Tighten the zip tie on part #22. Insert a M3 16mm bolt into the hex nut in #22 and turn clockwise to tighten fishing line. 2014 help.printrbot.com Page 29 of 39
Step 49 Y-axis motor wiring plugs into "Y-MOT". Z-axis motor wiring plugs into "Z-MOT" X-axis motor wiring plugs into "X-MOT" NOTE: Be sure to align wiring colors as pictured. If your motors are plugged in backwards, they will run in reverse. Step 50 Another picture of X-MOT and Y- MOT 2014 help.printrbot.com Page 30 of 39
Step 51 4 - M3 16mm Screw 4 - M3 Hex Nut Use 2.5mm Allen Wrench to tighten fan onto wooden piece from the back of the fan into the wood NOTE - Pay attention to the orientation of what direction the fan wiring is coming of the fan as you screw together and that the sticker is facing toward #3 for proper airflow. Now is the time to route the fan wiring through the slot in #1 (photo #2). Step 52 Fan Shroud Directions Pay close attention to orientation of the photos in the next few steps to ensure proper assembly or check out this video tutorial. Begin by folding the tabbed mounts up (photo #1). Now fold up the sides (photo #2/#3). 2014 help.printrbot.com Page 31 of 39
Step 53 Fold over the last full side (photo #1). Fold inward the little side tab (photo #2). Step 54 Take the two little tabs and fold them inward (photo #1). Insert the two little tabs into their corresponding slot which is shown in color in photo #1. Tabs should snap into the slots. 2014 help.printrbot.com Page 32 of 39
Step 55 4 - M3 Hex Nut Take fan shroud and press onto the M3 16mm screws on part #3. Secure fan shroud into place with the four M3 Hex Nuts. Tip - It can be difficult to thread the Hex Nut on the 16mm screw. Hold the M3 Hex Nut in position, back out the M3 16mm screw, and then thread the 16mm screw into the Hex Nut. Step 56 Run fan and large Kysan (extruder) motor wiring through the slot in #15. NOTE - make sure wiring is facing the same direction as shown in photo #2. Secure the extruder motor onto the extruder base with one 20mm M3 screw (red circle photo #3). If you do not have the 2014 Metal Simple please take this detour to step 4 the 2013 Extruder Guide. 2014 help.printrbot.com Page 33 of 39
Step 57 Proper drive gear alignment. Make sure the serrated portion of the drive gear lines up with the hole in the base of the aluminum extruder. Photo #1 - misaligned (red circle) Photo #2 - properly aligned (green circle) Step 58 Once the gear is aligned properly, place a small amount of blue threadlocker onto the set screw of the drive gear (this will ensure that the set screw does not vibrate loose during printing). NOTE: Be sure to thread the set drive gear set screw on to the flat side of the motor shaft as pictured. 2014 help.printrbot.com Page 34 of 39
Step 59 1 - M3 22mm Secure the arm (assembled earlier) of the aluminum extruder onto the extruder motor with one 22mm M3 screw. Again, see this diagram if your kit came with one black post and #6 washer. Step 60 Press the hot end up through the provided hole in #1 into the base of the aluminum extruder. If it is difficult to slide into the aluminum extruder base, pry the opening wider with a flat head screw driver (green box). NOTE for Cartridge hot ends - Make sure the cartridge portion of the hot end is facing the same direction at photo #1. If it is not facing this same direction, it may bump the housing of the Simple and limit your Y axis print volume. BE CAREFUL NOT TO STRESS THE CARTRIDGE WIRING AT THE POINT WHERE IT MEETS THE BLOCK (yellow circle). cartridge style hot end / ceramic style hot end 2014 help.printrbot.com Page 35 of 39
Step 61 Secure the hot end into the base of the aluminum extruder with one 20mm M3 screw. Step 62 Plug extruder motor wiring into "E-MOT", making sure that the plug is flipped opposite of the other three axes. See photo #2 for a diagram of the board with full wiring. Note that the extruder motor, "E- MOT" is wired backwards or "flipped opposite" - BLUE, YELLOW, GREEN, RED - top to bottom. If the extruder wiring does not match this picture the filament will be pushed out of the extruder rather than pulled down into the hot end. 2014 help.printrbot.com Page 36 of 39
Step 63 Take the hot end power lead and plug into power extension. Photo #1 shows the power lead from a Ubis Cartridge hot end. Plug hot end power extension into "EXTRUDER" on board. Photo #2 shows the hot end power lead for the Ubis Ceramic hot end. Step 64 Take thermistor lead from the hot end (clear insulation) and plug into thermistor extension (black and white insulation). Plug thermistor extension into "T- EXT" on board. 2014 help.printrbot.com Page 37 of 39
Step 65 Plug fan extension into "FAN" port on printrboard. Having trouble connecting the fan cable to the fan extension? click here Step 66 Take a zip tie and take all of the wiring. Secure them together with the zip tie to part #E5. It is VERY IMPORTANT to secure the hot end power and thermistor with the zip tie, particularly if you were supplied with a cartridge style hot end in your kit. This step alleviates stress on the fracture point of the hot end. 2014 help.printrbot.com Page 38 of 39
Step 67 Simple build finished. Great job! You're not quite done though. There are a couple more steps on your journey to 3D printing glory....i know, it is sort of like beating a level in Mario Bros, when the bad guy runs off with the Princess again. See the software guides on Repetier, Windows Drivers, and other software to connect to your Printrbot and get started. Make 3D printing friends. JOIN OUR FORUM! It's a great place to discuss your build, get troubleshooting help, and share your own insights. We would love to see you become part of our community! For more information, check out the Printrbot Simple category page. This document was last generated on 2014-07-28 02:31:04 PM. 2014 help.printrbot.com Page 39 of 39