Any idea how to extend the build volume of a ThingOMatic without rebuilding the

3D Printing
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1

Any idea how to extend the build volume of a ThingOMatic without rebuilding the entire printer?

2

Is there physically any room inside the case for the extruder to move more? I don’t seem to remember any.

3

The extruder doesn’t move, the bed moves.

(One of many bad design decisions made by Makerbot. If the head moved, the usable build volume would be 2-3 times as big in each dimension.)

4

What, in both directions? Wow. Yeah, now that you mention it, I do remember that.

I’d say scavenge the motors and electronics (if you cant sell it for more than that, which you probably can) and start again.

5

How much extension are you looking for vs how much effort?

When I use (http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:14747), it expands the Z-axis range to 125mm, where it almost (but not quite) falls off the drive screw, so increasing the Z-axis beyond that will require replacing the Z-axis motor/lead screw.

If you’re using the stock aluminum build plate, your X and Y limits are 120 mm, but unless you use a narrower carriage, you won’t get the full 120mm on the X axis. Conversely, the full Y travel will run off the front and back of the build plate. A custom build plate (and heater board) might net you another 10mm on Y, and a custom carriage might net another 10mm on X, but you’ll also have to notch the front face frame to allow the build plate to run out to full Y extension.

You could try (http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:11601) which should give you the theoretical maximum for X, Y, and Z axis extension.

Any extension beyond that is going to require longer rods, belts, and drive screws, and you’ll need to increase the spacing of the Z guide rods, which will also require a wider Z platform. Frankly, at that point, building a new printer from scratch is easier.

6

Mine didn’t come with any aluminum plate. I’m looking for a way to expand X and/or Y.
I could rework it into a Type A Series 1 style machine but that’s something I don’t want to do before I have the #Makibox as a second printer. (Sold my old RepMan a few month ago).

7

@Marcus_Wolschon The TOM printhead doesn’t move because the original extruder was large and heavy. They changed that design as soon as they had a working small extruder … unfortunately for those of us who own TOMs, that design change couldn’t be retrofitted.

8

I’m currently planning to just scrap the ToM and put it’s tool-head and extruder control board onto my second CNC mill as an alternative tool to use.
It would be limited to “just” 4000mm/min with the current steppers as it’s a heavy ball-screw device but would allow to have only one machine in one transport-case while travelling.
Also still waiting for the Makibox HT (and Ramen filament recycler).