Good Morning,

Does anyone have a solution to fix the Roller Release Mechanism? I work at a community college and we have the printer built and working on trying to fix the drive pulley issue from the new video and also waiting on new rollers.

A problem that crept up on our printer is that on the left side the MDF has worn and will not hold the Roller Mechanism tight. I've tried tightening the bolt and nut as a temporary fix, but I find that the slightest bump of the grab bar sends the Pressure Rollers down on the drive rollers. A dangerous condition if someone isn't careful. We noticed this in the video build and it was mentioned that the wearing down of the MDF would help the release action from the springs to operate more smoothly. This is a little too smooth. As I realign the pullies I have a block of wood supporting the rollers so they don't come crashing down and misaligning the drive rollers, or smacking my hands.

Any thoughts. The printer is definately drawing the interest of students. Can't wait to get this up and running for a couple of projects this semester.

Rob

 

Thanks for the reply. I meant to snap a few photos of the condition. I tightend the bolts, but it looks like the hook of the candy cane shape might be a little too worn.

 

Thanks for the response. Its not the candy cane shape on the small interior side it is the part that is the shape on the main wall of the printer, not an easy replacement. Trying to think of a part that could be added to reinforce where the bolt slides in the slot. I'll upload a photo, I think i can get a goot shot through the left access panel.

 

Here are two shots of the Pressure Roller slot. The first one of the left side one is showing the most wear and posing problems - it has trouble staying in the locked up position. The right side seams to be fine.

Overall the mechanism becomes racked quite a bit and it is tough for one person to operate the mechanism, feed the material, keep the material in place and try to get the mechanism to lock. I'll go back over the build vid next week to check to make sure the right things are tight. Thanks for the support! It is much appreciated!


DSCF3105-sm by aechacc, on Flickr


DSCF3107-sm by aechacc, on Flickr

 

Your line is correct. Thanks.

From the build video it was noted that the mechanism is tight and would need to be worn in. During the first few tests and working with the mechanism, bits of MDF did come off. I saw the same thing beginning to happen on the right side. I assumed that this was normal wearing.

Given the parts I don't know how to release the tension of the springs to not cause further damage.

My solution would be to cut a slot in the 1/4" MDF for a washer (of some determined outside radius) to be seated with liquid nails. Would this work?

 

FYI: Thin CA applied to MDF will harden it making it very difficult to wear.

 

Thanks Mark! Thanks Flashsolutions! I'll use CA to back it up.

 

For safety I would drill a hole to size and fit a piece of dowl rod below to rod lever in to ensure it can't drop. Make it so it can be easily removed when your ready to lower the pressure rollers.

 

Mark and Trish thanks for the replacement. I am now spending the morning taking apart the machine to replace the part. It isn't as easy as you suggest. One thing that is irritating is the sound of square nuts dropping to the table and I have to get them back into difficult places. I am only going to replace the damaged side because I don't even want to touch the side with controller cards.

 

Who puts the a screw head location behind another part? I have to take apart 3 other pieces to get to it. Redesign for #4. It is the pully support location on the left side that should be adusted up or down so it isn't burying a screw head for the main gainry.