First time owner, need advice

Share your hardware improvements for your HIC i3, the good and the bad!
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boiler02
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Joined: September 3rd, 2017, 10:15 pm

First time owner, need advice

Post by boiler02 »

Well I just entered into the world of 3D printing by purchasing a Hictop 3DP-11-ATL. I saw the posts on upgrades, but it was started over a year ago and some things in the kit have been upgraded on its own. Well, at least the power supply was upgraded to a 24V / 15A. Should that be sufficient for the heated bed, the motors, et al - or should I still plan on upgrading that too? I've already ordered replacement linear bearings (the ones that came in the kit are rough moving on their own) and plan on putting in a bowden tube. Any other hardware upgrades recommended?
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Roberts_Clif
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Joined: March 25th, 2017, 8:17 am
Location: Washington, State USA
3D Printer(s): Hictop 3DP11/12

Re: First time owner, need advice

Post by Roberts_Clif »

I have Hictops 3D Printers. I have a 12Volt 20A using the exact same bed. I have most original Stepper motors one on the Z-Axis went out and so had to replace Both. The linear bearings from the factory do need to be replaced. 3DP11 - That means no Proximity Sensor for Z-Axis if so you need one.

My posts have 3D prints for the Power Supply and LCD. Designed a 2 Piece cover for the Controller that snaps on or off with a fan bezel.
There is a thicker Smooth rod supports bracket as the thin metal one does not hold the smooth rod, adjustable slide for the Proximity sensor.

The Twins
The Twins-2.jpg
Have a question feel free to ask we just might have an answer. Though it seems you are heading in the right direction,
and I do not want to overwhelm you. When you are ready there are plenty here to help and Marlin firmware is well tested.
boiler02
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Joined: September 3rd, 2017, 10:15 pm

Re: First time owner, need advice

Post by boiler02 »

I've seen the recommendations that say to replace the wire between the power supply and the control board with new 12AWG wire. I've got some spare 12AWG speaker wire; I'm assuming that in most cases wire is wire, so that should work, yeah?
reibuehl
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Joined: February 9th, 2016, 9:56 am
Location: Stuttgart, Germany
3D Printer(s): Ultimaker 2

Re: First time owner, need advice

Post by reibuehl »

In general AWG12 wire is AWG12 wire, so you could use the speaker wire as it is the same gauge. Just make sure that you are not near any hot parts with the speaker wire. If you need to be close to hot parts, e.g. a heated bed, then wires with silicon insulation are better.
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Roberts_Clif
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Joined: March 25th, 2017, 8:17 am
Location: Washington, State USA
3D Printer(s): Hictop 3DP11/12

Re: First time owner, need advice

Post by Roberts_Clif »

Although silicon wire is the best, I used other myself routing the wire down the side of the controller leaving a small loop on top.
To the T-Slot then routing the wire inside the T-Slot around the back to the power supply keeping it away from any heat source.
I printed some 2020 clips that I found on thingiverse to clip the wire into the T-Slot

https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:832279
https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:2068654
https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:349692
Last edited by Roberts_Clif on September 4th, 2017, 7:26 am, edited 1 time in total.
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Roberts_Clif
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Joined: March 25th, 2017, 8:17 am
Location: Washington, State USA
3D Printer(s): Hictop 3DP11/12

Re: First time owner, need advice

Post by Roberts_Clif »

Oh by the way there are many sources for 3D Printable models

https://www.thingiverse.com/
https://www.youmagine.com/designs/latest
http://www.yeggi.com/
https://www.myminifactory.com/
https://pinshape.com/

And many,many more

Free Cad Software

ThinkerCad
openScad
FormZ

has a learning curve, though my favorite lots of You-Tube video to help get you going.
Fusion360 Free
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