Drop in Paxtruder for MakerBot

thingiverse

This design is an adaptation of the Paxtruder-0.2 (http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:1125). The idler wheel broke two weeks ago, prompting the experimentation with the Paxtruder design. Initially planned as a weekend project utilizing available acrylic and 1/2" thick acetal for pusher, it was completed later after ordering parts from McMaster-Carr. The objective was to have a drop-in replacement for the existing extruder hardware that uses current MakerBot components. The design allows use of existing dino mounts (MK3 and MK4) and extruder head hardware. Assembly pictures are included for easy follow-up. Pusher is cut from 3/16" Delrin using Epilog 35W laser cutter with specific settings, air assist recommended. Acrylic parts are cut from 1/4" acrylic, except the topmost layer from 1/8" for fitting between dinos. An insulator retainer is added to ensure proper alignment. Basic testing shows promising results compared to idler wheel design; minor tweaks needed. Note that motor wiring orientation should be considered during assembly. A kit with laser-cut parts and required hardware can be purchased from the creator's website (http://www.built-to-spec.com/blog/laser-cutting-services/).