Solved Replacing plastic platform. Need advice

I got my ROBO 2-4 years ago with this plastic base plate that was warped since day one.
As i heat the bed, it gets warped more.
So today i finaly deciced to take it all apart and replace the base with something else.
I dont want to pay hundred dollars for enough aluminum or slightly less for regular metal, but i want to replace it with BETTER plastic that will not warp from the heat of the bed and from tension of the belt etc.

any advice ?

 

You can get a sheet of aluminum about the same size for $20 at Amazon if you know how to machine the hole pattern needed yourself. If so, I can give you the link. An option that I'm looking at for a future project.

Is your printer back together and working? If so you could print one in two pieces out of petg or something similar. May need to add a couple more bolts to secure it to the deck. I think it would be doable. You can probably split it in a place other than the middle. Just for not rigidity with the Y motor.

 

Well the aluminum plates went up a bit since I bought it. It's $26 now.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00WZQGGEG/ref=ya_aw_oh_bia_dp?ie=UTF8&psc=1

You could also try a good sheet of hardwood that you seal. Not sure if it would warp on you though.

 

Thanks @WheresWaldo that link has some great prices

 

ordered.
thanks !
I was not able to find prices like that. All i found was around $70-$100 for piece like that.

 

This is where I order all of my Aluminum for machining, and I have always had good luck. Like @WheresWaldo said they are inexpensive and quick shipping.

 

Done.
I needed the following
$26 for the plate
$40 used drill press
$10 1" hole saw
$20 hole saw guide
And few drill bits matching the size of previous holes +-$20.
So around $100-$120 worth of repair.
Totally worth using this into ROBO production line instead of that TOXIC plastic that was warped since day one i got the printer.
It was nothing but trouble.
I had motors tilted. Bolts that hold the bearings tilted.
After upgrading the heat pad, generated heat made old plastic plate deform even further.

Entire thing is sitting on that plate, why not make it STURDY enough to ? It wasn't enough at the beginning.
Thats modern engineering for you.





By the way, if any body cares why i have Y Motor on the left:
I did it to create allot more room for the wires to bend around under the bed. That way i dont need any wire managment, there is plenty of room for the wire to bend smoothly without breaking off.
More on that at http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:439036
If you want my black X stabilizers seen on the picture, get it here http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:621929
or visit my thingyverse page

 

Shipping cost makes it more expensive then the one from amazon.
i doubt they are faster shipping then amazon.
I got my plate in 3 days

 

Wow! Nice work. Glad to see it finished so soon.

 

Oh... On the left side, are you wireless about the limit switch wires being pinched? The original plate has a small squire cut out for those wires to go through.

 

I also like your thought around moving the Y axis motor. With my design I was actually looking at moving things around so that the belt for the Y axis attached in the muscle of the bed instead of off to the left side. Not sure if that will help any, but my theory was it would give a more even motion or force on the bed assembly. Probably silly, but seeing you move yours around a bit makes me at least one to try to go off the template Robo design a bit. Again, nice work. It's also nice to make the connection with you. I've seen your designs on Thingiverse before and just now put your name together. Nice work on your other projects as well.

 

I also wonder if the aluminum will provide a bit of a heat sync for the motors. Yeah the amazon plate is a tad bigger, but my OCD was able to cope with that ok. I do like Midwest Steel since you can get closer to the exact sizes sent to you that you need. I have some other aluminum projects that I will use them for in the near future. Nice to know that they have daily specials to keep checking on.

 

Your plate is warped as well? Man...I should take a closer look at mine. Tapping is a great idea. Can take everything off from the top instead of having to open the bottom plate and secure the nuts when putting things on or taking things off. I think this mod is going to get more popular now.