15 November 2025

Things are definitely going well at the moment, and I'm learning a lot. Although the first lesson is to triple check an order when placing them on eBay were there are dozens of parts buried in the one listing. I'd sorted the bits for the synchroniser for the z-axis on the 3D printer, and then realised I'd ordered the wrong bore size for one of the pulleys. Added the right one, but then deleted the belt rather than the wrong pulley. Did not notice until I'd paid! So cancelled order and tried again ... and some how managed to only order 1 pulley instead of two. The second is now on it's way, so attacking the bottom of the X5SA will have to wait until next week.

I'd tried to tidy the X axis on the S30 laser cutter to get a few more mm's range, but there is no way to reach the 40cms quoted. I ended up reversing the bolts on the carriage so that the nuts are on the outside and that actually gives another 5mm, but I'm still working out why instead of 390mm, the machine stops at 388mm. I suspect because it uses -2mm for the home function. Another job then is to try 392mm on the machine setup. The MAIN reason for wanting the extra space was that the FreeLaserFiles layouts actually need 385mm, but due to the 2mm discrepancy, I only had 383mm and the parts on the very edge were miss cut. I've almost completed the Modular Base, although I messed up one section and had to cut a few replacement parts, but at least I can do that! The new batch of MDF needs a little more power to cut through and I've been running two passes at a faster speed because one pass at half that speed was not cutting through cleanly. I do think I need a single pass setting as the second pass seems to widen the top of the cut. We will get there. Still trying to decide if I pay for LaserBurn in 19 days time when the trial runs out. Yes it does the job, but having to bounce between W10 and Linux is irritating when everything else is already on the Linux machine, including controlling the laser cutter via Universal Gcode Sender. It's just generating the g-code I need to crack ...

The fumes from the new MDF are also a little problematic, so the 3D printer has run a hood and duct adapter for a 92mm fan and I just need some 76mm ducting to get them out of the window. It is nice just manufacturing bits I need rather then buying them in. Next step will be to tailor parts to better fit the job, but the stock models will do for now.

Another job that was running on the 3D printer was a section of the Liberator model. It has completed and is not bad, but the surface finish could be better. Once the z-axis mod is completed, and I fit better tensioners to the x and y belts along with checking the electronics I run a second pass at the smaller layer height to compare. That was a 24 hour print though.

I am also going to HAVE to move the rest of the kit out of the garage. There was half an inch of water in there yesterday! Along with water ON the bench. Plastic sheeting will help short term, but the garage at Pershore was bone dry last winter, so I had not anticipated just how bad this one could be. There was a repair appointment booked, but NO notification or phone calls as has happened with previous appointments. That and I am not going to sit over in the garage all day waiting for someone to turn up. Best solution is to downsize further and save the cost of the garage anyway since stuff is getting damaged by the damp! Now if I can just sort using the loft ... but that has been pushed back another month ...