THE PVCore 3D PRINTER
12/28/2016
BY RCJOSEB
PAGE 11 OF 107
NOTES AND THINGS TO BE AWARE OF:
CUTTING PVC:
The frame requires that the parts be of the same length with straight edges. I did not have any issues using a compound miter
saw with a standard wood blade and some scrap lumber as a fence/stop. A miter box and handsaw will work as well.
EPOXING PVC:
I used JB Weld ClearWeld 5 minute epoxy because it was recommended for use on PVC and does not need any primer. I found
it easiest to apply a thin coat of epoxy to the inside oi the connector, instead of the outside of the pipe.
ORIENTATION OF THE PVC:
Decide how you want the pipe and connectors to appear, i.e. barcodes facing inwards and try to orient all of the same way
before epoxying. If you are going to paint the frame, do so only after it is assembled and the epoxy has completely cured.
LINEAR BEARINGS:
The PVCore can be assembled using either metal 6mm linear bearings (LM6UU-M) or 3D printed 6mm linear bearings (LM6UU-
3D). There are some pros and cons to each:
BEARING TYPE
PRO
CON
Metal
Lasts longer than plastic
Can bind due to poor quality
If good quality, will be very smooth
Can be noisy
Plastic
Quiet
Lasts less than metal
Very smooth
Can warp and bind
I ran into binding issues with both types of bearings but was able to resolve them by polishing the smooth rods and reducing
any burrs or scratches. The 3D printed bearings worked very well for the Z axis, while the metal ones worked well for the X and
Y so I used a combination of both..
SMOOTH RODS:
Unless you can get the specific length, smooth rods (S6MM) will need to be cut to length.
Smooth rods can be cut using cutting oil and either a Dremel tool or a hack saw.
Regardless of the source, smooth rods should be polished and lubricated to prevent binding
Rods can be polished using a metal polishing compound, WD40 and waterproof/resistant high grit sandpaper.
12” THREADED ROD VS 36” THREADED ROD:
The Lowes that I went to had thread rods in 6”, 12” and 36” lengths. I chose to buy the 12” lengths because they felt stiffer
than the 36” lengths when I compared them using just the first 12” of the 36” piece. Buying two 12” lengths vs one 36” length
did not cost much more and I did not have to cut them to size.
