Preparation
Before we start building, we need to do a few things to make the process go a bit more smoothly. Follow the instructions on this page closely, because this will make the whole process easier.
Estimated Time: 45 minutes
Documentation
First step: read the documentation, so nothing is unexpected. Read it all the way through, from beginning to end, before you start putting anything together.
Then, go ahead and start following the instructions on this page, followed by each of the other build steps.
Software
First off, we’ll gather and install the software and drivers required for the Thing-O-Matic to work with your computer.
Kit Contents
Open box and separate contents into piles.
Make sure that you keep everything well-organized; there’s nothing worse than losing a small but essential part!
Tools
Most of the tools needed for assembling a MakerBot Thing-O-Matic are included with the kit, but there are a few other common tools you’ll need.
This page will give you a comprehensive list of everything you might need.
About t-slots
Many parts of the Thing-O-Matic use a special construction: a combination of interconnecting slots held together by a nut and bolt. This page will give you a primer about how to properly make these connections for many years of service.
Laser-cut Parts
Take your laser cut wood parts. Find the small notch along each cut and apply gentle pressure to pop out all the cut pieces.
Take a cloth and wipe down the edges of all the cuts to remove the residue from the laser.
Build Platforms
Open the bag for the Heated Build Platform Aluminum Plate.
Identify the pieces of the Automated Build Platform (ABP) and put them aside. You’ll be building the Heated Build Platform configuration.
Metal Rods
Remove metal rods from bags. Both bags and rods will be greasy. Slit the bottom of the bags to remove rods. Wipe each rod down with your rag.
Stepper Motors
Locate the stepper motors.
Prepare the X and Y stepper motors.
The motor pulley for the Y-Stage should have a 1/4 inch offset.
The motor pulley for the X-Stage should have a 1-2mm offset.
Tighten one of the screws against the flat edge of the rod. You’ll be adjusing the height later when the motor is in the bot.
This is how you adjust the idler pulley:
Tape wires
Take the kapton tape and wrap the stepper motor wires every 5 inches.
Wires
Remove the wires from the Automated Build Platform box and use the kapton tape to tape these wires together.
Assemble Idler Pulley Stack
- Idler
- 3 M4 25mm bolts
- 12 M4 25mm nuts
- 3 bearings
- Allen wrench
- pliers
Take an M4 25mm screw and bearing, Next take a nut and the allen wrench. Hold the nut with your fingers and turn the allen wrench to tighten the nut against the bearing. Put another nut on the screw. Take the wood idler piece with 3 holes. The bearing goes towards the back, tighten to the wood with 2 more nuts. You’ll need pliers to tighten.
You should have a bearing, two nuts, the wood and two more nuts.
Complete Idler Rib Assembly
Repeat this process 3 more times. The finished piece should look like this:
Tighten
The nuts should be tightened against each other to “lock” them in.
Y-Stage Front and Back
- 2 press fit/linear bearings
- Back piece of Y-Stage (Makerbot logo)
- Front piece of Y-Stage (Makerbot logo)
The press fit/linear bearing will only fit in one hole of the Front and Back pieces. Put the linear bearing in the wood where you see the red circle with the black M and turn the piece over. Gently apply pressure to fix the bearing into the wood. Do the same for the other piece.
X-Stage
- front piece of the X-Stage
- back piece of the X-Stage
- 4 press fit/linear bearings
Using a file, sand down the center slot about 1 mm. Then sand down an additional millimeter at the center of the slot. This will provide
clearance for the belt as it moves through this gap.
Fit the bearings in the pieces, turn over on a flat surface and gently press into place.
The Bottom and Top of Z-Stage
- Bottom of Z-Stage
- Top of the Z Stage
- 4 press fit/linear bearings
To fix the bearings in the holes, place them in the holes, turn the wood over and lay on a flat surface. Gently apply pressure to push the bearings into place.
Pay attention to the orientation of the bearings.
Both sets of bearings must be in the down position.
Locate the Z-Stage Motor
Your Thing-O-Matic will come with the Moons Stepper motor. This is the stepper with the rod attached to it.
Bolt the Z-Stage Motor Flange to Top
- Stepper motor flange
- Z-Stage Back
- 4 M2x10 bolts
- 4 M2x10 nuts
The Moons stepper motor flange will be on the Stepper Motor rod.
Attach Flange
Insert 4 M2x10 bolts (you’ll find these bolts in a small bag).
Insert the bolts through the nut as shown. When assembling the Z-stage the flange should face upward.
Place an M2 washer on the back of each bolt. Screw a nut onto each bolt and tighten. It is essential that the flange is attached tightly. Vibration during printing will loosen up the nuts and bolts. This is a difficult piece to adjust once it is in the bot.
Attach thumb wheel
Locate two thumb screw knobs and two M5 bolts. (You’ll have three if you have a Stepstruder MK6+ in your kit.) You’ll find these parts with the Stepstruder kit. Using two pliers press each knob onto a M5 bolt as shown below. 2 of the bolts are the same size. One will be longer.
24 Comments so far
Rich Thall
Install the Software
Identify your parts
Gather tools and
About T-slot Construction
near the top are broken links.
Robbie
The links on this page are still broken. I get 404 errors.
Keith T.
Stepstruder Mk7 kit has only 2 thumb wheels in the kit. And the M5 bolts are slightly longer than in the picture.
James Mossman
Same as Keith T — only 2 thumb wheels in my kit. Do we need 3?
Scott Leslie
My MK7 kit matches Keith’s. Only two thumb screws at 22mm.
Joe P
Only have 2 thumb screws
Jon D.
The Y stage prep image looks wrong, they look lie Z stage parts, I would recommend using this image, http://makerbot-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/03_y_front_back_outside1.png as it shows the orientation of the fit bearings better.
Robert M.
Check Y-Stage Assembly for better photo of what the idler should look like with the bearings attached.
Robert M.
Best way to make these thumb wheels are in a vise. Partially thread a nut on the bolt first so you don’t damage the treads.
Dan C
Wow, you’re issues have helped me! Thanks Jon D. for showing the correct image for the Z-stage! Also only have 2 thumb wheels, and can’t find the bolts to match that picture.
Konstantin P
In Section “Build Platforms”, the following sentence doesn’t make sense to me:
Exchange the belt piece and bolts with the two holes from the ABP parts.
Vivek
Hi – any answer to the “2 thumb wheel” questions? I only have two and like Dan C I can’t find the bots to match either. There another graphic I could see with the elements? I feel like I’m missing something…
Mark Z
Screws for attaching Z axis nut use T-6 torx wrench.
Agree with Konstantin, that sentence doesn’t make sense to me either.
Mathmout
And let’s go!
Makerbot Dualtrusion build – Automated Build Platform (ABP) | artbot2
[...] for the build are available here or here! Confusing isn’t [...]
MikeA
Building My makerbot. Had a couple questions/misleading directions in here for the latest machine:
1) My T-O-M seems to have parts for the ABP and the “generic” X axis. There doesn’t appear to be any link here on Makerbot in this article to the ABP build. It looks like there is only enough bushings to build one or the other.
2) There were also only two screws for the MK7 extruder…where is the 3rd one?
Red L
hi. my montor flange is is attached to moons stepping motor rod. so i need to remove it inorder to screw it on to z-stage flat piece is that correct? but how do i remove it?
could someone advise please. i hv finish everything except this…
BCage
Similar to others… I have two thumbwheels and no M5 bolts. I looked at the parts list and no M5 bolts or thumbwheels are listed… has anyone gone ahead and determined if this is a problem?
AndrewO
Two thumbscrews here as well… I think they’re M5.
Thanks everyone who said to look on the Y-stage page for a better view of the idler. Those definitely seem like they should be part of these instructions.
Question about the Kapton tape: I have two rolls. One’s wider than the other. Am I supposed to be using one for these steps and saving the other for later ones?
Also, a fairly major problem I’ve run into is that one of the M2 nuts that I need to attach the Z flange seems to be defective. It almost looks like it wasn’t threaded. Are there any spares in the kit? If not, spares would be really appreciated, especially for the tiny, easily lost, cheap components.
Ethan
Sorry about the confusion here — Kits with Stepstruder MK7 will have only two thumbscrews.
Yes, this build sequence does not contain instructions for the Automated Build Platform — we’ve found that most people seem to be choosing the HBP for the best in build quality and reliability. If you plan to use the ABP, you can find instructions here: http://wiki.makerbot.com/thingomatic-doc:automated-build-platform-v2-0
Also, always contact support@makerbot.com if you’re missing parts or need clarification.
Txoof
I’ve put together a supplemental guide that compliments what you can find here. It clarifies some of the bits that I found particularly confusing. It follows the MBI guide for educators with a few additions to resources from my experiences, forums and comments.
You can find it over at my blag: http://www.txoof.com/2011/12/building-makerbot-table-of-contents.html
Greg
Are the plywood parts finished ? in addition to improving resistance to moisture and humidity, this would make the surface tougher and more resistant to gouges and scratches. However, with something of this dimensional accuracy I would be concerned about coating the parts myself – the tabs could become too thick, and larger pieces could warp a bit, if the finish soaks in and swells the wood a little.
So, if they are not finished, do you recommend doing this, and if so, how? Perhaps a couple of light coats of spray urethane? Pardon me if this topic is already discussed; I did look around for a while before commenting.
Melody
@ Greg — The plywood parts are not finished, but they do tend to hold up pretty well. For some info on how some MakerBot users have painted or stained their bots, check out this discussion on the MakerBot google group.
Rob
Anyone use ‘Locktight’ screw thread locking liquid, usually blue colour… on any of their bolts?