I found a good deal on a Makita router and I’ve also been using the 18V version for a bunch of stuff so I thought I’d finally pick one up to take a stab at fixing my spindle issues.
At the same time, I decided to use up some remaining 3mm filament by printing the parts to upgrade to a Primo. I also decided to drop the footprint to 300mm x 300mm to stiffen it up a bit. I’ve left the tubes and belts long so I can easily re-configure everything back to ~500mm x 500mm if needed.
Printed all the parts without hassle, except for one particularly unfortunate attempt at the core. I started the ~30 hour print and was discussing it with a friend of mine. They asked what happened if the power went out and I said that the part would be scrapped, but that I wasn’t really worried because in ~10 years of 3D printing I’d never actually lost a part due to a power cut.
Definitely can’t claim that any more.
Using an off-cut of a fibreglass wire pulling rod to keep the Z cable assembly under control.
All in all, probably 3-4 hours to take it all apart and re-assemble it, then another 2 hours of re-crimping everything with JST plugs. Very glad I put the connectors on the steppers and end-stops because it made removing and replacing the wiring loom zero effort. The biggest issue with the crown was finding a working pen and then getting it to stay in the holder. The diagonals of the square around the outside of the crown are within 1mm without any compensation from the dual end-stops.
I’ve mounted the Makita router in it now and made a few basic test cuts in some spare MDF with a properly ruined 1/4" end mill without any drama. Still need to figure out some projects to stretch its capabilities a bit.
These are the same motors, bearings etc. from the original 2016 kit which have seen the printed parts for the original design, then re-printed Burly parts that was when it was finally assembled and made first cuts and now finally evolving it further to a Primo.
The original aluminium rails still look great, I just rotated them so the bearings are all on fresh spots and away it goes.