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The Quintuple R... Radical RatRig Refit Rebuild - V-Minion Version


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So my little RatRig V-Minion is on the bench and ready for an update.

On the menu for upgrades is...

Here's the printer as it is today. I added a Klipperscreen and a 3D printed electronics enclosure that the printer can lock into the top of. Available on Printables from Squirrelbrain.

R5_01-Before.thumb.jpg.0e0d397b472e0335c8a57e1c3f0f31ef.jpg

Y Axis drag chain mod. This mod can be found on Printables from Squirrelbrain and is compatible with the Vector3D breakout PCB.

R5_02-DragChain.thumb.jpg.ed593926562800343e4c137293076136.jpg

Vector3D breakout PCB and enclosure. I ordered this a few months ago from Vector3D in the UK. Kit contains all the hardware required with the exception of wire, I have plenty so no issue there. p.s. I had to solder all of the components onto the PCB.

R5_03-BreakoutPCB.thumb.jpg.23c88af4c7af601341be0127fce7f0e5.jpg

Lastly, I will be upgrading the exisitiing toolhead to the new EVA 3.0 version. A new Rapido Hotend will replace the old Dragonfly HE which I have had zero issues with TBH. I also have 2 Rapido's running in both my 2.4 and RatRig V-Core so it's a known quantity. I also have a new Super Pinda probe that I'll install as well.

R5_04-Toolhead.thumb.jpg.13b4ac95aa1c0c08b330094fe1dc32f1.jpg

Links to the V-Minion mods just in case @mvdveer takes a peek at this post.

V-Minion Drag Chain Mod

Electronics Enclosure / Base

Vector3D Divider PCB and other mods (If you plan on printing your own V-Minion parts out of ABS or ASA (supplied parts are PETG) he has parts that are optimized for ABS as well).

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Posted (edited)

Did a little work yesterday...

Printer removed from base unit. The base unit is from Squirrelbrain and is available on Printables.com. The entire box is 3D printed and with the exception of a handful of fasteners... there's nothing else to source. As you can see... the wiring is less than optimal.

R5_05-Disassembly.thumb.jpg.b2e4c3226faee1e892b4eccb3684df6b.jpg

 

Base unit opened up to reveal my most excellent wiring aka stuffing LOL. I used a 5V buck converter to power my R Pi 3A+ I also needed a few extra USB ports than the 3A gave me so I also added a USB hub as well. And that's the goal here... get this box and all the other wiring organized.

R5_06-RatsNest.thumb.jpg.dcbbde76d1bd14b7fb3aa61a50c25e53.jpg

 

Time to disassemble the old toolhead. So... a lot of dust collected and a nut that that didn't seat properly. I really like RatRigs, especially this little one but man... do I hate all the captured nuts that won't stay captured. Fortunately the RatRig folks caved into user demand and created a heatset insert version for the new EVA 3 toolhead.

R5_07-Dusty.thumb.jpg.2b4410268c536ace230b0a192230afd5.jpg

 

What's left of the old toolhead.

R5_08-OldToolheadDisassembled.thumb.jpg.ca8896943d5cd33c5a0c79b60e776188.jpg

 

OK... Let's install some mod's already!!!

First up is a drag chain mod for the Y Axis. TBH, I think this should have been implemented from the start. @mvdveer, This, is something you should implement on your V-Minion build. 

R5_09-DragChain.thumb.jpg.ff22f763029627adf4ff21082966cea9.jpg

R5_10-DragChain.thumb.jpg.a0daeb961ec8ae5dda2f592a5282fc3f.jpg

R5_11-DragChain.thumb.jpg.fe72a71cb603ff226d318f40ba72262b.jpg

 

Next up is the breakout PCB or as Vector3D calls it, the Divider PCB. I downloaded the STL's for the enclosure and also a re-designed Y-Endstop mount as the old one gets in the way.

R5_13-Y-Endstop.thumb.jpg.0108ac64c9f2284a9d93b480be9d4edd.jpg

 

Here's roughly where the Divider PCB will live.

R5_14-PCBLocation.thumb.jpg.bd05add448591285cce609fda9400cc8.jpg

 

And... with the cover. Way too much squish on the 1st layer... I'm printing a new one because my OCD won't let me install this. 

R5_15-PCBwithCover.thumb.jpg.734f69af5c64dc407a4bd29f8969e22d.jpg

 

Lastly, I got the new EVA 3 toolhead installed. I'm reusing the extruder and fans and I'm upgrading the probe to a Super Pinda and the hotend to a Rapido.

R5_12-EVA_3.jpg

Edited by Penatr8tor
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7 hours ago, Penatr8tor said:

I think this should have been implemented from the start

Thanks for the Lin - have already downloaded the files and will definitely incorporate in the build

 

7 hours ago, Penatr8tor said:

I'm printing a new one because my OCD won't let me install this. 

Glad it is just not me - Bearded OCD GOM's - This title is growing longer by the day 🤣

 

7 hours ago, Penatr8tor said:

I'm upgrading the probe to a Super Pinda and the hotend to a Rapido

Think I will be going this way as well - thanks for all the tips

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OK... The printer part of the project is completed, Electronics enclosure / base is next.

Here I've got the Y motor and endstop connected and also the bed heater and thermistor. I also have the PCB base temporarily mounted so I can get the correct wire lengths.

R5_16-DividerPCBwiring.thumb.jpg.1aa305f7960bf9ffa47fd6bd610bfcca.jpg

 

Reprinted the cover, this time without elephants foot. One of the things I really like about Polymaker filament is that I can get the same color in both PLA and ASA/ABS. For example... the motor mounts are printed in purple ASA and the cover is printed in purple PLA.

R5_17-DividerPCBwiringCover.thumb.jpg.c434fffc01358f33cf18402d5d067608.jpg

 

Getting close, a few more to go...

R5_18-DividerPCBwiring-Umbilical.thumb.jpg.0e51c907a8ddf203dee11f823ab0e174.jpg

 

Here I have the umbilical running down to the divider PCB. Along the way I picked up the X and Z motor cables and fed them into the techflex where they exit into the Divider PCB. 

R5_19-DividerPCBWired.thumb.jpg.a14988a384ac9b5f26331a04aee13ed6.jpg

 

And a close up of the fully connected PCB. I blew the dust off of my shrink tube printer and added labels to all of the wires while they were cut.

R5_20-DividerPCBWiredCloseup.thumb.jpg.9db28e127662ec7c689c9cfdf5114792.jpg

 

As I worked I often tested the Y axis to make sure I'm not pinching or running into anything.

Y at max travel.

R5_21-DividerY180.thumb.jpg.0b268457d30d146371c8ad343d86fc6f.jpg

 

Y at min travel

R5_22-DividerY0.thumb.jpg.410298b2383d1b02b3fc949464ad1019.jpg

 

Finally Here's 4 photos of the completed V-Minion printer. Enclosure / Base will be next.

Front

R5_23-PrinterOnly_Front.thumb.jpg.4e48bf8a5d9be0097315faa9f9938901.jpg

 

Right

R5_24-PrinterOnly_Right.thumb.jpg.31004a23a6d059c1a2c50e9b28e320c1.jpg

 

Rear

R5_25-PrinterOnly_Rear.thumb.jpg.1abd49df841cb60913dfb2a0b02e5ac9.jpg

 

Left

R5_26-PrinterOnly_Left.thumb.jpg.7b6acd58fe7d26b5f622b710ba5e48e3.jpg

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OK... Where did we leave off... Oh yes... Wiring.

Here I have the umbilical that goes between the printer and the electronics enclosure.

R5_21-DividerPCBHarness.thumb.jpg.4127bfbda88f797290d37ff6f248b69d.jpg

 

Wires routed and ready to button everything up.

R5_22-ElectronicsEnclosure.thumb.jpg.a885103be3642bb31a83f0e829e0567a.jpg

 

Obviously, I did some cleaning up of the wires where they exit the tech flex and plug into the printer. Things were getting a bit cramped. I had an issue with the Y end-stop and I'm currently working thru an extruder issue. I might have a bad crimp somewhere or a terminal that got pushed out of the connector. I will find it and I will fix it, no big deal. Everything else is working as expected and I should be printing by the end of the day if not sooner.

 

 

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OK, Got everything running and printing! In hindsight... It was a good upgrade. I counted approx. 120 crimps give or take and I can now proudly claim that I am proficient at crimping JST, Microfit, Ferrule and Dupont terminals. Now it's back to printing and finishing up the old Switchwire next. 

R5_23-Complete_Front.thumb.jpg.8639563008d6e47c74f003d90f33ca21.jpg

R5_24-Complete_Right.thumb.jpg.e96991cfce35566b77575486091627d1.jpg

R5_25-Complete_Rear.thumb.jpg.b48f7f3f0b2b15826c8d88a9c86e116b.jpg

 

 

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1 minute ago, claudermilk said:

Because you know they say "Crimpin' Ain't Easy"

True Dat!!! LOL

TBH, It's not that bad really now that I've developed some crimping chops. Maybe there's an opportunity to create a crimping tutorial. 😆

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7 hours ago, Penatr8tor said:

because it's just so impressive.

Indeed they are - great, great prints

 

7 hours ago, Penatr8tor said:

And here are my print speeds in OrcaSlicer.

Thanks for sharing - will file that away, to use when the time comes. (Still got to build the V-minion - just need to get the time to do it)

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@mvdveer I'm telling you... the V-Minion is the little printer that could. It's so stout and solid that you can really push it and it still prints great, no matter what. I think you will see when you build yours.

p.s. I was using a version 1.x of RatOS on it and when 2.x came out it required a full re-install. So this time around I just did a clean RatOS install on a new sd card. I'm now getting used to the RatOS install and it's really quite nice compared generic Klipper. I just flashed the latest version using Pi Imager, plug in and power up. Then I connect to the RatOS hotspot the imager created and I'm prompted to insert my wifi credentials. After that just hop on a PC and run klipper as usual. Select your build from the Dashboard and it's done. If you've changed things up and add a Rapido or something else like I did... just comment out the old item and uncomment the one you have. They have pretty much every piece of hardware already configured and ready to go. Very impressive IMO.

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37 minutes ago, Penatr8tor said:

They have pretty much every piece of hardware already configured and ready to go. Very impressive IMO.

Sounds like it - cannot wait to get this up and running, but suspect it will be a while. Work VERY busy and will be for the next 4-6 weeks.

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Had to add a couple more print examples because... I'm always blown away by how good this little guy prints.

Obviously, flat stuff is easy and even a crappy setup will net you pretty good results... the jeep on the other hand is a bit more challenging.

Print_Test_01.thumb.jpg.7097ab6ecce2c7b7519699941e40c02f.jpg

 

This is the print bed side. I chose this closeup under bright light because it reveals everything. The jeep was printed at the same speed/s as the bearded skull. Print time was ~3.5 hours. When I downloaded this file from Printables there was a user that uploaded a Prusa MK3 g-code file that had a 10.5 hour estimated print time. I laughed and said... "Yeah, my little RatRig is going to smoke that time". 😅

Print_Test_02.thumb.jpg.038fcd36e68aa30c1e16936c5c957c2a.jpg

Print_Test_03.thumb.jpg.618c5f99da459eda6414dd05f4714101.jpg

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