CAD models for MK3 parts  

Re: CAD models for MK3 parts

Thank you very much for a really good job 😎
EDIT:
STEP-files imported and converted in Autodesk Inventor, saved, then imported to Autodesk Showcase 😎
Thank you jzkmath!

Any chance that you could share the Inventor converted parts/assemblies? 😀
I have to go through the same process from STEP files...

Re: CAD models for MK3 parts

I noticed that there is no Revision# modeled into this set of parts. Looking at Ron's video, the LCD mounts should have R9 on them, but alas they do not? Are these really the most current revisions of drawings from Prusa?

Re: CAD models for MK3 parts

there is a Revision on the STL files.

BTW: i found the spring sheet DXF. I was looking in the i3 Folder, 😳

Re: CAD models for MK3 parts

Area51, you have got PM 😎

Re: CAD models for MK3 parts

I noticed that there is no Revision# modeled into this set of parts. Looking at Ron's video, the LCD mounts should have R9 on them, but alas they do not? Are these really the most current revisions of drawings from Prusa?

I think that FreeCAD doesn't actually import the text, so when I converted to STEP the revision text is absent.
I posted a tutorial on YouTube showing how I converted to STEP, so that future revisioned scad files can be converted if you feel the need.

Re: CAD models for MK3 parts

STL files contain an triangulated mesh which is mostly worthless for further CAD work. In Alibre, I can just view those, but not connect constraints for assemblies or project geometries. Alibre inherited an STL importer from Geomagic, which sometimes works and at least results in selectable geometries. For most parts however, you need at least step or iges. Freecad can load SCAD (openscad is installed) and export step, but some models like the x-end-idler seem to be... corrupted? difficult? I saw the mid-tier Solidworks license ($5.5k) also has an STL importer IIRC.

BTW attachements of anything else than jpg images don't seem to work here.

- Martin

Alibre also has an STL importer but it is pretty lame and fails on just about everything with any complexity.

Re: CAD models for MK3 parts

And BTW3 has anyone plans to change something specific?
I intend to try the volcano hotend in order to get large, less detailed stuff faster. If one does not want the nozzle to be 8.5 mm lower (because of the longer heating zone), this means the hotend (and maybe extruder as well) has to be shifted up by that amount, which is a massive rework on the most complex parts on this printer. AFAIK Stephan is working on that (separate thread in "improvements"), maybe I try a quick fix first to see if quality suffers too much or if it would be still OK with the volcano before attempting a full redesign of the extruder.

- Martin

I currently have a MK2S Multi Material and I'm thinking about a design for an MK3 with a single Bowden style extruder for a lighter print head and possibly faster print speeds.

Murray

Re: CAD models for MK3 parts

...
Alibre also has an STL importer but it is pretty lame and fails on just about everything with any complexity.

Ironically this is a leftover from the recent Geomagic history and will possibly disappear soon when their license for the STL importer exprires. I'd prefer a decent Step importer - this is also not something Alibre is really good at.

- Martin

Re: CAD models for MK3 parts

...
I currently have a MK2S Multi Material and I'm thinking about a design for an MK3 with a single Bowden style extruder for a lighter print head and possibly faster print speeds.

Murray

I have the impression that any bowden extruder must be much worse for small details (with lots of retractions) as there is a lot of play inside the bowden tube. Direct drive is better for most motion systems... It's just that these heavy stepper motors are probably the worst possible choice for a moving printhead. A small DC motor (BLDC preferably) with gear and encoder would be the much better choice. I remember looking into a Stratasys FDM machine and this is exactly what they used. Of course closed loop BLDC (maybe even field oriented) control would be hopeless with this 8 bit microcontroller. On the other hand, it's about time they throw this dinosaur over board. Cortex M4F processors with monstrous calculation power cost about nothing...

Can you compare speed/quality of the MK2S with direct drive and MM (bowden) extruders? As I said I'd expect the former to be much better in terms of retraction accuracy, but I only had a MK2S.

- Martin

Re: CAD models for MK3 parts

...

I currently have a MK2S Multi Material and I'm thinking about a design for an MK3 with a single Bowden style extruder for a lighter print head and possibly faster print speeds.

Murray

Do you have your MK3 yet ? with the new stepper drivers it accelerates a lot faster than an MK3, on the first few prints i was suprised how fast it moves.

Re: CAD models for MK3 parts

Do you have your MK3 yet ? with the new stepper drivers it accelerates a lot faster than an MK3, on the first few prints i was surprised how fast it moves.

No, at this point the MK3 is in the future. But thank you for the report. Along with Martin's point I'll have to rethink my idea about using a Bowden.

Murray

Re: CAD models for MK3 parts

I second the idea of real cad files then having those dumb stl - files, they are almost useless when you try to modify or try to use them for making new things. I am using Solid Edge, which is similar to Solidworks. I can import stl files but its a messy timewaste and i always end up in completly remodeling from scratch, thats why i really prefer getting step data or at least scad which can be converted into step.
I understand that some people just dont want to give away their models for reusing and want just that other can print but not modify, thats ok, but then it doesnt protect anything from remodeling anyway, it just waste the time of those who are doing it. But the idea of open source and giving data away for improvements should always end in giving away the cad model data. Only these formats, like step, parasolid or acis is cabably of being imported into a mechanical cad system.

Re: CAD models for MK3 parts

I second the idea of real cad files then having those dumb stl - files, they are almost useless when you try to modify or try to use them for making new things. I am using Solid Edge, which is similar to Solidworks. I can import stl files but its a messy timewaste and i always end up in completly remodeling from scratch, thats why i really prefer getting step data or at least scad which can be converted into step.
I understand that some people just dont want to give away their models for reusing and want just that other can print but not modify, thats ok, but then it doesnt protect anything from remodeling anyway, it just waste the time of those who are doing it. But the idea of open source and giving data away for improvements should always end in giving away the cad model data. Only these formats, like step, parasolid or acis is cabably of being imported into a mechanical cad system.

One of the other things about being open source is utilizing software that is free and open source. For Prusa research, they use openSCAD and KiCAD. Unfortunately, openscad doesn't export STEP files, so you have to use something like freeCAD to do that.
Luckily, I have put out a tutorial on YouTube, and converted just about every part of the printer.

Technically, people are supposed to share their designs under this license, (which I read before posting my version)

I'm pretty sure Prusa only posts the STL files so that people can easily replace them or print their own without modification, not for a mechanical CAD system.

Re: CAD models for MK3 parts

I have converted most of the printed parts into STEP format and posted them on Github.
You can view them here: https://github.com/jzkmath/Original-Prusa-i3/tree/MK3/Printed-Parts

Unfortunately, some of the OpenSCAD files I was unable to convert using freeCAD. If someone wants to attempt to fix them that would be much appreciated.
Also, two of the OpenSCAD files are actually incorrect, ('x-end-idler.scad' and 'x-end-motor.scad') I have posted a picture of what I mean, so PR might want to fix that.
- Einsy-base.scad
- x-carriage.scad
- x-end-idler.scad (broken)
- x-end-motor.scad (broken)
- z-axis-top.scad
x-end.PNG

I am working on a SolidWorks Assembly, so I will post a copy of that in "pack and go" format once I finish it.

Did you ever get the X-end-idler working? This never converted well for me (just surfaces) and now I found a problem with that part that needs a simple fix but can't get a step for it. Are you posting your step conversions somewhere? I can contribute mine.

Re: CAD models for MK3 parts

I have converted most of the printed parts into STEP format and posted them on Github.
You can view them here: https://github.com/jzkmath/Original-Prusa-i3/tree/MK3/Printed-Parts

Unfortunately, some of the OpenSCAD files I was unable to convert using freeCAD. If someone wants to attempt to fix them that would be much appreciated.
Also, two of the OpenSCAD files are actually incorrect, ('x-end-idler.scad' and 'x-end-motor.scad') I have posted a picture of what I mean, so PR might want to fix that.
- Einsy-base.scad
- x-carriage.scad
- x-end-idler.scad (broken)
- x-end-motor.scad (broken)
- z-axis-top.scad
x-end.PNG

I am working on a SolidWorks Assembly, so I will post a copy of that in "pack and go" format once I finish it.

Did you ever get the X-end-idler working? This never converted well for me (just surfaces) and now I found a problem with that part that needs a simple fix but can't get a step for it. Are you posting your step conversions somewhere? I can contribute mine.

Actually, yes I did. Turns out that You need the x-end.scad in the same folder as the Idler and Motor holder for it to work. Once I put it in the same folder it worked perfectly. It is now on the Github, Thingiverse and GrabCAD for download as a STEP.

Re: CAD models for MK3 parts

Just wanted to let everybody know that I added the new Heatbed Covers to the CAD model, as per the changes in 3.01 of the manual.
I will be getting my printer in the next few days, so if there are any changes to the design that you want me to include in the SolidWorks version (and STEP), leave a comment on the thingiverse version so I will get notified about it.

Just giving a heads up!

-Jonathan

Re: CAD models for MK3 parts

Just wanted to let everybody know that I added the new Heatbed Covers to the CAD model, as per the changes in 3.01 of the manual.
I will be getting my printer in the next few days, so if there are any changes to the design that you want me to include in the SolidWorks version (and STEP), leave a comment on the thingiverse version so I will get notified about it.

Just giving a heads up!

-Jonathan

Thank you for learning os how to convert from OpenSCAD to step 😀
Just tried it yesterday on a MK2S part and after some fiddling I got a nice step model.

I used to start with the STL files and convert them to STEP with FreeCAD, but the result from SCAD is far better... 😉

Re: CAD models for MK3 parts

there are SCAD and STL files in the zip file download at https://www.prusa3d.com/download-printable-parts-stl-mk3

Re: CAD models for MK3 parts

Just wanted to let everybody know that I added the new Heatbed Covers to the CAD model, as per the changes in 3.01 of the manual.
I will be getting my printer in the next few days, so if there are any changes to the design that you want me to include in the SolidWorks version (and STEP), leave a comment on the thingiverse version so I will get notified about it.

Just giving a heads up!

-Jonathan

Time to get busy. New updated parts on GitHub. 🙂

Re: CAD models for MK3 parts

I converted a bunch. Had to hack SCAD freeCAD flow to get some clean. Let me know if you want to add to your collection.