Add On Parts

Has anyone designed and printed any ad on parts to make their printer work even better? I have seen a few filament guides and universal filament dust cleaners, but any Root Specific Items?

I haven't even looked.... I printed the filament holder that is thinner than the one that came with the printer, but have not taken the time to install it yet. I'm still pretty new at the 3D printing, and don't detect nearly as many issues here than my delta printer.
I'm stuck putting the cobblebot together, but the only thing that I can think of to improve the root would be to have decorative skins you could put on it to give it different looks. lol

I'd be interested in seeing some detailed photographs of the mightyboard connections of a Root Plus. I'm wondering if the controller is the same on both models and, if so, whether it might be possible to add the USB port that the Root Plus uses to a Root -- and whether it would work with the existing firmware, or whether that would require a firmware change.

Aside from the replacement filament guide I printed (http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:41645) and the fact that the clips were a bit too tight before I bent them out, I'm not feeling any other pain with the unit's hardware design. Now the software, on the other hand.....

You are on your own my friend when it comes to modifications to the electronics. I guess it says something about the machine if we aren't running around creating modifications for it.

Do you think the Root or Root Plus would benefits from a shroud and Extra cooling fans? BTW I hate those bed clips and am going to just remove them.

I don't know if those would help or not?

Two of mine lost a nut during printing, so I just use small bulldog clips.

Anybody want to take a try at designing something that can hold a sharpie marker against the filament to add color to it as it passes through? It's a fun way to change the color and create variation in the print.

re: Extra cooling fans

I've proven to my satisfaction that extra cooling definitely improves the PLA print quality on the Root. I bought one of those USB fans (powered by the nearby computer), built a simple base for it the same height as the print bed and pointed it right at the nozzle. The overhangs are definitely improved. I'm sure a focused stream of air directed directly at the tip would further improve the print quality. This fan system will work: [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.] -- but until I get that installed, I just turn off the fan for the preheat cycle and the first couple of layers.

What are the physics behind rapid cooling to help with Print Quality? I will need to give this a try since I have the laptop right beside the printer.

Asphalt wrote:What are the physics behind rapid cooling to help with Print Quality?  I will need to give this a try since I have the laptop right beside the printer.

Rapid cooling can help to solidify the molten filament quickly so that it fixes its shape rather than drooping, which could help with finer details and especially bridges and overhangs. The negative is that it could result in poor adhesion between layers, and possible warping due to temperature variations.

I'm looking at the opposite and want to build an enclosure for the printer, basically essential for good results with ABS by holding in the heat and blocking drafts.

Overhangs, got it. It makes sense for that aspect.