Shapeoko 3 - Assembly Instructions (preliminary)

[Fablicator]

Just assembled mine with the new instructions.

A few things I would change:

Leave off the springs until the machine is completely assembled. Tightening the spring without tension constantly popped the spring out from between the bolt head and spacer. I wasted a lot more time here than I should have.

Mark which sides the wires come out of the stepper motors. I had to refer to the old instructions for that.

I missed having the screw sizes listed in the drawing. It would have been much easier than having to read through the text for reference all the time.

On each page (or just one master page) show the screw profiles at 100% scale. That way, you can just hold up a bolt to the picture see if its the correct one.

[BennettBenson]

Brilliant idea Fablicator on having a full scale drawing of the screw sizes.

Notes:
Page 6 doesn't have the screws needed at the top of the page like page 5 does.

[BennettBenson]

Page 15 lists this part:
11⁄4” Standoff

My kit included 1" Standoffs (qty 4) so this should read:

4 x 1" Standoff

[BennettBenson]

From page 20:
Start the installation of the Z-axis motor by first mounting the motor to the X-axis plate toward the bottom of it’s adjustment slots with 4x M5x16mm button-head cap screws and M5 hex nuts,, just like the other motors installed so far.

Then loop the z-axis GT2 belt around the GT2 pulley, and press it onto the motor shaft. Ensure that it’s in the correct orientation, wtih the shoulder of the pulley towards the motor.

The motor (pulley) should be inserted onto the shaft such that a 5mm hex wrench should fit behind it. Then tighten the two shaft set-screws.

[Whiplash]

I'm assembling mine now and I'm having trouble with Page 13 - Assembly #4 - Z Axis Carriage Plate. The angle that's been chosen to depict this assembly has overlap with the (part #/BOM number) 12 and 7 screws leading into the V Pulley and GT2 Pulley. I'm having a really hard time determining which point the GT2 Pulley is supposed to mount. (My unit is different as well - my plate has more holes in it than what is represented here.)

I can't find an image from an angle that clarifies this point of assembly. I *may* have it right, but two screw heads have very little clearance from each other over the path this assembly will travel so I doubt my guess is correct.) I'm also trying to figure out if the GT2 pulley is supposed to be fixed or if it's supposed to be able to rotate freely - if it's supposed to rotate than I am definitely missing something.

A different angle and/or an exploded view would clear this up. In the meantime, any guidance, or a picture of this piece from the front and back would clear up my question.

[AnonymousPerson]

Do any of these help?

S3 Z-axis plate photo - 1.jpg (309.79 KiB) Viewed 3684 times

S3 Z-axis plate photo - 2.jpg (280.21 KiB) Viewed 3684 times

S3 Z-axis plate photo - 4.jpg (298.51 KiB) Viewed 3684 times

In the pics, you might notice some of my bolts are black instead of silver. I've replaced a few bolts that I was wearing out the hex socket (from taking things apart and putting them back together).

Btw -Sorry for the very crappy image quality. Using a phone camera and it's bad lighting at the moment (dark outside).

[AnonymousPerson]

S3 Z-axis plate photo - 5.jpg (325.01 KiB) Viewed 3684 times

S3 Z-axis plate photo - 3.jpg (280.31 KiB) Viewed 3684 times

[Whiplash]

Thanks! That was totally what I needed to see.

[AnonymousPerson]

You're welcome.

[edwardrford]

Another Update! v1.93 Here: http://bit.ly/1iAfiJQ

-Edward