I am happy with the Rat Rig V-Core 4, but that doesn't mean I have nothing I'd like to see improved on it. Sorry for the long shaky format, I ramble and don't have a script.
I find myself wanting a 500 mm V-Core 4 IDEX (like I need another project) and this video was very helpful. I don't expect perfection and I know it's a kit, but this is presented as a premium no-compromise 3D printer and priced as such, so it's reasonable to expect some of these details to be addressed. A picture framing clamp is a good suggestion to limit the degrees of freedom when assembling square corners - tighten the two clamps on the fixed extrusion tightly, and snug the two clamps on the extrusion that's being pulled against the fixed extrusion enough to constrain the motion but allow the extrusion to be pulled against the fixed extrusion. From your comments and others I've heard, I'd be tempted to print some of the structural 3D prints myself from ABS or maybe ABS-CF, with thick outer perimeters, modifier reinforced solid thick walled holes to support fastener clamping forces, and maybe 50% to 80% infill to enhance overall crush resistance and resist deformation under load and repeated vibration. Print slower for enhanced layer adhesion. It was cool to see RatRig's print farm of chopped down V-Core 3 printers slamming out PETG parts, but it doesn't cost much more to spend a little more printer time on each part. Instead of replacing the parts with aluminum, I'd probably print them myself to be the best 3D printed parts they can be. For a $3K kit, we shouldn't need to do that. Edit To Add: I just checked the RatRig site and they state that the 3D printed parts for the 500 mm V-Core 4 are ABS and not PETG, but I think I'd still prefer to print my own. I also went through the kit configuration in a bit more detail and eliminated the 3D printed parts that I prefer to print myself, the few parts I could get slightly less expensive myself, and the parts that I wanted to upgrade - Meanwell power supply, Noctua fans, etc. The 500 mm IDEX kit was $2073 plus shipping, which is $150. I'd probably spend as much as buying the full kit but get a few upgrades. I'm definitely going through the process of making this real to talk myself into a big printer project.
Ya, I think MZV is pretty achievable, but as I nit picked, there is a LOT of room for error with the tolerances that will cause problems with the final shaper graph. I really feel like there needs to be more alignment tabs and things in place to fix some of these issues.
I was looking at AliExpress parts and it hit me, and take all this with a grain of salt because Ive still not received my printer... what if you left all of the bolts loose till the end that hold the rear motor mounts to the extrusion. First tighten up all of the others... the ones supporting the idlers, and the ones with spacers. Then see what kind of lateral movement remains. This would ensure the entire mechanism is square AND that only take lateral movement that is truly there to take. Forcing any plate away from the vertical extrusion could require the other one, once tightened, to create a bind again. Does that make sense?
I think I understand, and I tried quite a few approaches similar to what you said with varying degrees of success. I posted a follow up video where I think the problem really is just that the expected tolerances are too tight for what parts they actually send you.
@@xscorpion2 Ya, I watched all of your posted videos. And I appreciate it. It helps to have an analytical perspective on the build. It fits much closer to how I look at things. One other thing I was going to mention... How much room is there between the back horizontal extrusion and the backs of the extruders? The space where the 2 hybrid belts travel the full distance from left to right of the 'enclosure'? Is there possibly room for a pair of horizontally offset idlers near the center to reduce the total unsupported distance of those belts?
So, it appears that there is about 30mm between the back face of the 4028 fans and the inner (smooth) face of the IDEX belts. There is plenty of room for a belt idler system to support both belts-at least, that's what I saw when I used Fusion for the first time! And I wonder if the same idea could be applied to the Y axis belts. There it would be a matter of making room between the gantry supports and the Y axis sport extrusions Both of these adaptations would limit the harmonics induced in the opposing axiseses
Do you have the link to the new PTFE guides along the back of the printer? I cannot seem to find them, but the kink makes no sense to me and I'd like to reduce friction.
I find myself wanting a 500 mm V-Core 4 IDEX (like I need another project) and this video was very helpful. I don't expect perfection and I know it's a kit, but this is presented as a premium no-compromise 3D printer and priced as such, so it's reasonable to expect some of these details to be addressed. A picture framing clamp is a good suggestion to limit the degrees of freedom when assembling square corners - tighten the two clamps on the fixed extrusion tightly, and snug the two clamps on the extrusion that's being pulled against the fixed extrusion enough to constrain the motion but allow the extrusion to be pulled against the fixed extrusion. From your comments and others I've heard, I'd be tempted to print some of the structural 3D prints myself from ABS or maybe ABS-CF, with thick outer perimeters, modifier reinforced solid thick walled holes to support fastener clamping forces, and maybe 50% to 80% infill to enhance overall crush resistance and resist deformation under load and repeated vibration. Print slower for enhanced layer adhesion. It was cool to see RatRig's print farm of chopped down V-Core 3 printers slamming out PETG parts, but it doesn't cost much more to spend a little more printer time on each part. Instead of replacing the parts with aluminum, I'd probably print them myself to be the best 3D printed parts they can be. For a $3K kit, we shouldn't need to do that.
Edit To Add: I just checked the RatRig site and they state that the 3D printed parts for the 500 mm V-Core 4 are ABS and not PETG, but I think I'd still prefer to print my own. I also went through the kit configuration in a bit more detail and eliminated the 3D printed parts that I prefer to print myself, the few parts I could get slightly less expensive myself, and the parts that I wanted to upgrade - Meanwell power supply, Noctua fans, etc. The 500 mm IDEX kit was $2073 plus shipping, which is $150. I'd probably spend as much as buying the full kit but get a few upgrades. I'm definitely going through the process of making this real to talk myself into a big printer project.
There's a lot of deep sighs in the video. Hope you conquered all of the issues now. God speed
Great points. Your comments on the belts are amplified greatly on the 500, they can straight slap the extrusion at times.
I assume/hope you also did point Ratrig to this video or let them otherwise know about these issues?
I believe RR recommends mzv for both axis
Ya, I think MZV is pretty achievable, but as I nit picked, there is a LOT of room for error with the tolerances that will cause problems with the final shaper graph. I really feel like there needs to be more alignment tabs and things in place to fix some of these issues.
I was looking at AliExpress parts and it hit me, and take all this with a grain of salt because Ive still not received my printer... what if you left all of the bolts loose till the end that hold the rear motor mounts to the extrusion. First tighten up all of the others... the ones supporting the idlers, and the ones with spacers. Then see what kind of lateral movement remains. This would ensure the entire mechanism is square AND that only take lateral movement that is truly there to take. Forcing any plate away from the vertical extrusion could require the other one, once tightened, to create a bind again.
Does that make sense?
I think I understand, and I tried quite a few approaches similar to what you said with varying degrees of success. I posted a follow up video where I think the problem really is just that the expected tolerances are too tight for what parts they actually send you.
@@xscorpion2 Ya, I watched all of your posted videos. And I appreciate it. It helps to have an analytical perspective on the build. It fits much closer to how I look at things.
One other thing I was going to mention... How much room is there between the back horizontal extrusion and the backs of the extruders? The space where the 2 hybrid belts travel the full distance from left to right of the 'enclosure'? Is there possibly room for a pair of horizontally offset idlers near the center to reduce the total unsupported distance of those belts?
Actually... jumping into Fusion to see if I can measure
So, it appears that there is about 30mm between the back face of the 4028 fans and the inner (smooth) face of the IDEX belts. There is plenty of room for a belt idler system to support both belts-at least, that's what I saw when I used Fusion for the first time!
And I wonder if the same idea could be applied to the Y axis belts. There it would be a matter of making room between the gantry supports and the Y axis sport extrusions
Both of these adaptations would limit the harmonics induced in the opposing axiseses
Do you have the link to the new PTFE guides along the back of the printer? I cannot seem to find them, but the kink makes no sense to me and I'd like to reduce friction.
www.printables.com/model/1096065-ratrig-extended-ptef-guide
@ Thanks, that saved me a bunch of modelling work
Could you maybe link the gantry mounts? I’m quite interested in them since I have a little bit of dampening on the y axis
If you are talking about the core xy joiner, those are here:
www.aliexpress.com/item/3256807897014375.html
@@xscorpion2 Thank you so much!
Is it me or is there no foam tape on your panels?
It's just you, I went through all the provided foam tape, it's there, I promise.