MakerBot Industries

The MakerBot Relay Board Kit v1.0

In response to the growing power-needs of the CupCake CNC community, we have released the MakerBot Relay Board Kit v1.0. This kit allows you to use relays for power control. This super-easy-to-build kit is two mechanical relays that allow a 12v ATX power supply to run power to anything. We’ve been using it to power the Heated Build Platform!  We have had some cases where the HBP’s power draw causes the MOSFETS of the Extruder Controller to burn out- this fixes that issue, and gives you lots more power to spare!  Basically with this baby attached, you could power your HBP, and a Christmas tree of LED’s or a giant 12v motor, practically anything that needs 12 volts of juice!

We’ve been joking around with what to call it, because it clicks when the power is on, -rather satisfying feedback-  but all the names we came up with were awful, so we stuck with the Relay Board.

http://store.makerbot.com/electronics/electronics-kits/relay-board-kit-v1-0.html

Hi fellow Operators,

We have received a number of requests asking when we will have brass Heater Barrels, PTFE  Thermal Barriers, and Spare Parts Kits back in stock.  We had an unprecedented run on these items, folks bought a LOT of them all at once, and we sent them out to MakerBot Operators all over the world. Due to long lead times, are now waiting for a resupply.  We expect them to be available in the store again in several weeks, and we want to thank you all for your patience, and apologize for the delay!  We work hard to keep all our items available, and we are adjusting our operations to support the growing demand we see for machines and parts.

I saw a post recently discussing whether or not you needed to replace the barrel and barrier if you were having some warping, or plastic leaking out.  The short answer is no, you don’t have to immediately replace them, if they continue to extrude!  Some of our longest-printing extruders have had some crazy blooms, like the one you may have seen on CBS.  The ABS eventually forms a seal, and can sometimes self-correct the problem!  So as long as it keeps extruding, you don’t need to swap it with a new barrel or barrier.  Run it ’til it quits!

Hose Clamp Hack

Another solution to warping or bulging of the PTFE barrier is an old plumbers hack-  the Hose Clamp!  You can head down to most hardware or plumbing supply stores and get a nice metal hose clamp, and tighten it around the joint between the heater barrel and PTFE barrier.  This can control warping and contain some of the pressure that causes bulges.  It also acts as a great heat sink, which helps cool the entire hot end assembly.

Thanks again for your patience and happy printing!