Community Favorite Useful Tools

While you're waiting for your Robo to arrive, here is a shopping list of things you might want to have on hand.

-Dial indicator (analog)
-Digital Calipers
-Cricut spatula
-Jars for your ABS glue
-Blue painters tape
-Acetone
-Aquanet hair spray
-A nice firm level place to mount it.
-activated carbon air filter
-Flowers for your significant other (you're going to be spending some time in the doghouse for devoting too much time to your new hobby)
-Coffee (for when you need to keep going)
-Beer (or something harder for when you're so incredibly frustrated because your print failed for the 4th time in a row)
-c-clamps/vice for gluing parts together
-exacto knife

 

could you maybe get us a link for each of these things on this list? To a site like amazon or something?

 

a lot of it is just hardware stuff, but I'll put up the links to the first three.
-Cricut spatula: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000NP1ESO/ref=oh_details_o01_s02_i00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
-Calipers: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000GSLKIW/ref=oh_details_o00_s00_i00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
-Dial Indicator (get an analog one. not digital.): http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000NPPBVK/ref=oh_details_o08_s00_i00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Also, a few that I forgot:
-Shear Flush Cutters (little wire snips) http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000IBSFAI/ref=oh_details_o01_s00_i00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
-needle nose pliers
-good sharp tweezers or hemostats (got mine from the scrap bin at work, sorry)

Probably more to come as I think of it.

 

Precision bed leveling and nozzle height adjustment. That, the cricut spatula, and perhaps the beer are the most important things on here.
I level my bed to within .001" before every print.

I started a thread on this in the calibration forum. When I get the spacing on the xaxis rods, I'm going to design an indicator jig for the robo. I'll upload the design and also keep a few on hand for speedy delivery to people who are having a lot of trouble getting started.

 

Yes, that's why I suggested the analog, but it probably doesn't really matter much. Most people seem to be using a Harbor Freight digital dial indicator.
Personally, I really like to be able to watch the needle move and you lose that with a digital gage, which I think has a resolution of 0.0005".

 

The accuracy actually doesn't matter in this case since you're not performing a measurement, you're just seeking to match a reference point all around the plate. Resolution is really important though.

I'm sure the digital one will work just fine. A lot of people use them. This is just one of those cases where the more old fashioned and slightly cheaper tool is going to be better at doing the job and easier to use. I like the community we have going here so far so I wanted to make a point to recommend the tool that I believe is best for the job.

 

Here is a list of AMAZON items - links - prices

Digital Caliper -$15.99
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000GSLKIW/ref=ox_sc_act_title_7?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=A2ZSTDEXO9VTZF

Analog Dial Indicator - $9.90
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0007CP8I0/ref=ox_sc_act_title_6?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=A1E8TEI9CXEX51

Cricut Spatula - $4.54 - this is an addon so it ships with something else no shipping charge
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000NP1ESO/ref=ox_sc_act_title_5?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER

Micro Shear Flush cutter -$7.25
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000IBSFAI/ref=ox_sc_act_title_4?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER

SE 6Pc General Purpose Tweezers Set, Size Approx 4 1/2in-7in - $4.42
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000VC57P0/ref=ox_sc_act_title_3?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=A3NUNNXXHUJDMF

2 oz jars 12 pack- $8.25
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B005MIPIES/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=A2ZZNV62MA3J50

METAL lids for jars 12 pack - $2.15
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B005MIPJ2E/ref=ox_sc_act_title_2?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=A2ZZNV62MA3J50


just over $50 plus shipping.....just ordered it

 

There is some kapton on the protoparadigm site:
http://www.protoparadigm.com/130mm-polyimide-tape/

A few more tools to add to the list.
For part finishing and removing supports:
Dremel
Diamond abrasive bits http://www.harborfreight.com/20-piece-18-shank-rotary-diamond-point-tips-69653.html
diamond abrasive needle files http://www.harborfreight.com/10-pc-diamond-needle-file-sets-6989.html

And here's a link to some good cheap clamps. Wrap the ends in teflon tape so you don't glue them to your parts!
http://www.harborfreight.com/12-ratchet-bar-clampspreader-68975.html

Can you tell that I made my first visit to Harbor Freight Today?

 

how often do you have to replace Kapton tap