RepRap: Blog

Added a new video showing how to assemble the RepRapMicron PIKA V0.03 Axis Driver - the one with easier to install/replace anti-backlash bands. I get to set something on fire in this one too.

# posted by vik-olliver @ 7:18 AM 0 comments

Just saw an interesting post which uses wax as a force mechanism for milli/micro-scale actuation.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KF2R5GGfRHM

I have vague notions of doing something like this one day with the wax from an automatic greenhouse vent. Turns out, if you read the comments on the video and on Hackaday there are lots of reasonably common things that use wax as an actuation mechanism.

https://hackaday.com/2026/11/04/making-a-wax-motor-for-micrometer-level-control/ 

Here's a relevant quote.... 

"a gap of less than 5 µm was maintained over twelve hours, showing how precise this device can be if you can control the temperature that the wax is kept at. "

It is quite slow though - but food for thought.

# posted by OfItselfSo @ 8:54 AM 0 comments

Another YouTube video, on making and installing Drive Nuts and making Drive Screws if you don't happen to have M3 x 50mm plain steel or zinc plate cap screws hanging around. This one also shows the differences between the PIKA V0.02 and V0.03 frame.

https://youtu.be/CjuYhQDyJkw

# posted by vik-olliver @ 2:54 AM 0 comments

RepRapMicron PIKA has now left the current documented version behind and moved on to V0.03 - so if you want to get the files for building V0.02 you'll have to get them from before the V0.03 tag.

This happened because the PIKA Axis Driver is now sufficiently different to the MAUS Axis Driver that they no longer fit. The good news is that the PIKA driver is a lot cleaner, has fewer confusing holes, has easily replaced/installed tension bands, a simpler system for attaching Z flexures, and gives you a way to access all the stepper motor screws.

Changes a dropping piecemeal at present, but I've made a temporary downloadable of Printables https://www.printables.com/model/1894754-pika-v002a-sideband-axis-driver. Latest files look like this:

Thanks for debugging, Jon!
 

# posted by vik-olliver @ 9:28 AM 0 comments

I've dropped another video. This one describing how the screw-driven Axis Driver does its thing: https://youtu.be/LRabtyVBjJM

# posted by vik-olliver @ 3:33 AM 2 comments

Sneak peek. I'm planning on removing a bunch of extraneous screw holes in the PIKA Axis Driver. They just confuse people, make the frame weaker, and increase the print time. While I'm at it, I'm thinking of changing the way the backlash bands attach to the framework, making it easier to assemble and possible to change the bands without dismantling the whole thing. Also might make it easier to assemble in the first place. If anyone objects, let me know. Photo of the planned changes:

# posted by vik-olliver @ 8:49 PM 0 comments

For those wanting to know more about RepRapMicron in video format, I've started putting them up on YouTube. The first two are more setting the stage. This first one explains the basics of what it can do:
youtu.be/JwNy73c8Wak

The second one gives a broad overview of the modular parts by trearing a RepRapMicron apart:
youtu.be/Chl6i1mCL2k

I've  been asked how the heck the reduction mechanism works, so I'll cover some of that next.

If you're after the UV Head details, the wiki section for that is now ready:

# posted by vik-olliver @ 8:22 AM 0 comments