- Messages
- 20,168
- Location
- Springfield, Missouri
Around black friday I saw a Anet A8 on sale for $145 with free shipping from the walmart website, so decided to take the plunge and add a second printer to my line-up. I've been very happy with the current printer, but seems like I load up the table and have to wait until that job finishes before I can start anymore print jobs. For the cost of these printers, I see no different than adding another router or sander to my shop.
I also can setup the second printer with different filaments, such as PETG or ABS and not have to worry so much about getting clogs when going back down to a lower temp filament, which can happen as the hotter temp filaments don't get cleared out of the hot end and aren't at a hot enough temp to melt when they break loose and clog the nozzle.
So why is the labeled the AM8 Build? Well, someone on Thingiverse has designed a new metal frame for the printer, coined the "AM8" (https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:2263216), to help solve one of the inherit dis-functionalities of the A8, which is flex in the frame. When the frame flexes, the table gets out of square to the hot end and things don't print so well.
The metal frame has metal angle brackets on all the joints, but additional ones for mounting the motors and adding additional support have to be printed (using PETG), I'm also printing some additional upgrades that were used on my original printer (using PLA).
I printed the last of the parts last night and the metal frame parts should arrive today or tomorrow to start the build. There are a few parts that others have created improvements for, but just starting with the basic AM8 design for now. If I'm happy with the upgrade, I'll probably do the same for the original, maybe even expanding it to a 300 x 300 bed.
Stay tuned.
EDIT:
List of parts I printed and used in in the upgrade to an AM8:
AM8 Frame: https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:2263216
1_PSU_Mount.stl
1_Wire_Holder.stl
1_Y_Motor_Mount.stl
1_Y_Rod_Holder_With_Endstop.stl
1_Z_Motor_Mount_Left.stl
1_Z_Motor_Mount_Right.stl
1_Z_Rod_Holder_Left.stl
1_Z_Rod_Holder_Right.stl
2_Bottom_Tee_Plate.stl (only print one, the other will use the one from the Y Chain thing)
2_Top_Corner_Plate.stl
3_Y_Rod_Holder.stl
4_Bottom_Corner_Plate.stl
Anet_Board_Mount_No_Fan.stl (or the fan version, up to you)
The Y belt tensioner with the AM8 Frame file list broke on me, you may have better luck, but I chose the one listed below.
The LCD mount in the AM8 Frame file list works if you put the Anet Control board at the bottom of the frame where the cable is long enough, however it didn't work with the Y Belt tensioner that I chose below either.
Y Cable Chain adapter Tee plate: https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:2472832
Use the rest of the chain and plate adapter from this thing (which you may be already): https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:1915486
Mosfet single or dual mounts: https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:2457227
LCD Mount on top: https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:2528981
Y Belt tensioner: https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:2459058
Need a spring and 4x16 mm hex head bolt and nut, also a couple of washers to shim belt pulley.
Spool holder for on top, use 2040 version: https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:2537713
I also can setup the second printer with different filaments, such as PETG or ABS and not have to worry so much about getting clogs when going back down to a lower temp filament, which can happen as the hotter temp filaments don't get cleared out of the hot end and aren't at a hot enough temp to melt when they break loose and clog the nozzle.
So why is the labeled the AM8 Build? Well, someone on Thingiverse has designed a new metal frame for the printer, coined the "AM8" (https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:2263216), to help solve one of the inherit dis-functionalities of the A8, which is flex in the frame. When the frame flexes, the table gets out of square to the hot end and things don't print so well.
The metal frame has metal angle brackets on all the joints, but additional ones for mounting the motors and adding additional support have to be printed (using PETG), I'm also printing some additional upgrades that were used on my original printer (using PLA).
I printed the last of the parts last night and the metal frame parts should arrive today or tomorrow to start the build. There are a few parts that others have created improvements for, but just starting with the basic AM8 design for now. If I'm happy with the upgrade, I'll probably do the same for the original, maybe even expanding it to a 300 x 300 bed.
Stay tuned.
EDIT:
List of parts I printed and used in in the upgrade to an AM8:
AM8 Frame: https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:2263216
1_PSU_Mount.stl
1_Wire_Holder.stl
1_Y_Motor_Mount.stl
1_Y_Rod_Holder_With_Endstop.stl
1_Z_Motor_Mount_Left.stl
1_Z_Motor_Mount_Right.stl
1_Z_Rod_Holder_Left.stl
1_Z_Rod_Holder_Right.stl
2_Bottom_Tee_Plate.stl (only print one, the other will use the one from the Y Chain thing)
2_Top_Corner_Plate.stl
3_Y_Rod_Holder.stl
4_Bottom_Corner_Plate.stl
Anet_Board_Mount_No_Fan.stl (or the fan version, up to you)
The Y belt tensioner with the AM8 Frame file list broke on me, you may have better luck, but I chose the one listed below.
The LCD mount in the AM8 Frame file list works if you put the Anet Control board at the bottom of the frame where the cable is long enough, however it didn't work with the Y Belt tensioner that I chose below either.
Y Cable Chain adapter Tee plate: https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:2472832
Use the rest of the chain and plate adapter from this thing (which you may be already): https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:1915486
Mosfet single or dual mounts: https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:2457227
LCD Mount on top: https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:2528981
Y Belt tensioner: https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:2459058
Need a spring and 4x16 mm hex head bolt and nut, also a couple of washers to shim belt pulley.
Spool holder for on top, use 2040 version: https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:2537713
Last edited: