Printrbot Talk Forum

by **SilverFingers** » 2013-Jul-Sat-00-Jul

Would it be as simple as buying longer rods and replacing them?

I think I'm going to head to Lowe's later this week and pick up some longer rods.

Should they be made out of a certain type of metal?

**Sponsor**

by **Bob-StPaul** » 2013-Jul-Sat-00-Jul

Does Lowe's sell smooth rod? I don't recall seeing smooth rod at any hardware store...

by **JonS** » 2013-Jul-Sat-01-Jul

by **SilverFingers** » 2013-Jul-Sat-08-Jul

Interesting. Let me know how it goes

by **SilverFingers** » 2013-Jul-Sat-08-Jul

by **mrsamnc** » 2013-Jul-Sun-18-Jul

by **gyronictonic** » 2013-Jul-Sun-21-Jul

You can use 8mm drill rods too. It's not chrome plated but it's definitely cheaper. Since you are only replacing the Z, you don't have to worry about wear n' tear.

http://www.mcmaster.com/#88625K67

by **JonS** » 2013-Jul-Mon-00-Jul

Here's the status. I increased the z height by 3.5-inches. I installed a double nut system with compression spring (using Alaster's bracket: ) but found that there was too much tension throughout much of the travel for the stepper. It got a bit better after some lubricant, but still wouldn't move over the full range.

I've reverted to the original, single bolt configuration for now. I think I'll try a weaker spring.

It's mostly working now, after resolving an issue with a loose GT2 pully on the y-axis that strangely decided to show up after the first test print (I installed it a week or so ago and it was fine). I now have one remaining issue which is that I can't go above 130mm even though I set the print area height in the printer settings to be higher than that. I'm stratching my head over this one. It's not mechanical interference. Repetier just won't allow me to go higher (the z shows up as red if I try to manually go above 130mm).

by **JonS** » 2013-Jul-Mon-10-Jul

Okay, now I find that (after measuring the height) I'm only actually going to 100mm!

A quick search shows that Marlin has a parameter for travel limits. I wonder if it's set to 100mm on the printrbot version of the firmware.

by **RetireeJay** » 2013-Jul-Mon-11-Jul

I think that all the Printrbots share the same firmware. There is a hard-coded limit, but it is at least 200mm because the PB Plus can go that high. There's a whole long thread in this forum about extending the Z axis even further for modified Printrbots
viewtopic.php?f=21&t=2239&p=28820&hilit=z+axis+height#p28820
- but I think you should be able to reach 200mm without modifying your firmware.

by **JonS** » 2013-Jul-Mon-14-Jul

by **SilverFingers** » 2013-Jul-Thu-13-Jul

So I got my rods from McMaster Carr, and it wont let me go further than 100mm either. We need a fix for this!

by **getSurreal** » 2013-Aug-Mon-17-Aug

They must have flashed a bunch of printrboards for the Jr. and sent them out for everything. My Printrbot Plus v2 would not travel the full distance on the z axis and one of the motors directions was flipped (y axis I think) until I reloaded the latest firmware. Try reloading the latest printrboard firmware.

by **mrsamnc** » 2013-Aug-Thu-08-Aug

JonS, how's it going? Any luck pushing through the 100mm barrier? You're like Chuck Yeager for us PBJR owners. :lol:

by **JonS** » 2013-Aug-Thu-11-Aug

No update yet. I've been otherwise occupied. I need to try the new firmware that lwalkera posted.

I'll see if I get time this weekend to give it a go.

by **JonS** » 2013-Aug-Sun-22-Aug

I can now go beyond 100mm in the Z-axis!

My Y homing is all messed up, so I've got some work to do to sort that out.

Something that's strange: I've set my maximum height up in the Printer Shape configuration tab in Repetier, but while I can go above 100, Repetier shows the height in red. Where's it getting that 100 soft limit from?

by **JonS** » 2013-Aug-Tue-00-Aug

I had to reverse my y-axis plug (and change back to positive calibration). Everything is working now.

I how have up to 7-inch of z-height!

by **Lemm** » 2013-Aug-Tue-01-Aug

And what have you done in fact ? Firmware update or just setting the limits in Repetier higher ?

by **JonS** » 2013-Aug-Tue-01-Aug

by **Lemm** » 2013-Aug-Tue-02-Aug

thank you for the summary

by **mrsamnc** » 2013-Aug-Tue-13-Aug

Yes! Thank you! I'm adding this to my mod list for sure!

So what X/Y/Z lengths are you going after? What length did your Z rods end up being cut to? The 800mm rods are quite pricey.

by **JonS** » 2013-Aug-Tue-15-Aug

by **lwalkera** » 2013-Aug-Tue-15-Aug

by **JonS** » 2013-Aug-Tue-22-Aug

Here's my first 7-inch tall print!

Previous biggest owl versus Mega-Owl!

by **Lemm** » 2013-Aug-Tue-23-Aug

wow and printtime ??

by **JonS** » 2013-Aug-Wed-00-Aug

by **DJNOS1978** » 2013-Sep-Thu-07-Sep

Why is everyone only extending the z-axis? Is the x and y limited to firmware? Why not just "flip" it?

by **mrsamnc** » 2013-Sep-Thu-07-Sep

by **DJNOS1978** » 2013-Sep-Thu-09-Sep

So it is very possible, although more difficult, to extend the x and y axis also? Is the firmware the limit to how big a printrbot can be?

by **REPRAP SQUAD** » 2013-Sep-Thu-10-Sep

Yes the firmware has a hard limit to my knowledge. I do know that the simple has a limit as well as the plus. The simple extensions that they recently added require a firmware update.

by **REPRAP SQUAD** » 2013-Sep-Thu-10-Sep

I would assume that you could load up the new firmware that is designed for longer axis's on the jr v2. That should allow you to at least e tend to the size of the new larger v2. At least tgats what I would do and save myself a huge firmware headache.

by **JonS** » 2013-Sep-Thu-10-Sep

Extending any axis requires a firmware change. So once the z axis has been extended the new firmware would allow extension in the other axes too.

The reasons I only have extended my z axis? One, it only requires new off-the-shelf metal rods that can easily be cut to length (it doesn't require construction of a new x,y carriage); and two, I had only recently installed my new heated bed and borosilicate glass plate and I didn't want to throw them away and buy new ones.

by **Lemm** » 2013-Sep-Thu-11-Sep

by **DJNOS1978** » 2013-Sep-Thu-11-Sep

I was under the impression from reading the forums that the firmware is the same on all printrbots, except for the simple. Is this the case?
If not then I assume you would need specific firmware??? I also was under the assumption that 8x8x8 was the max print on all printrbots due to the firmware. But I saw someone had a z-axis at like 24". What sets this?

by **REPRAP SQUAD** » 2013-Sep-Thu-13-Sep

They have an even larger z axis then that. Its called the super z. Im not sure of the size of the jr v2 bjt I know its the same as the LC since it took its place. At Printrbot. Com they list under specification the size of the models. Theres all kinds of different firmware. The simple has atleast 2 different firmwares, jr is different as on of its axis is the opposite of other bots, the plus has its own and also Printrbot will soon be releasing even more firmware for the Printrbot plus v2.2 and v2.3, which makes your plus even wider. Also the plus has another one for the lcd/dual extruder setup and soon to have 1 for the triple extruder setup. Thats not even including all the non-official branches of firmware.

by **DJNOS1978** » 2013-Sep-Thu-14-Sep

I will go read some more. But from what you are saying....Any modification will need new firmware. How would I know which firmware to get? If I wanted to go for the super z axis what firmware is suggested? Is it in the package?

by **mrsamnc** » 2013-Sep-Thu-15-Sep

by **lwalkera** » 2013-Sep-Fri-15-Sep

The unified firmware on the printrbot github page will work with all current bots with or without LCD or Extrudrboard. All you have to do is set your limits and calibration, then save them to EEPROM.
https://github.com/Printrbot/Marlin/rel ... unified-v2

Printrbot Talk Forum

Extending the PBJR Z axis

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