Embedded Files
12 July 2020
The downside of the mount I created is that it can't be printed on the MPMD. It's too large. To fix that, I modified the design so that it can be printed in two parts and assembled. The new design is on Thingiverse.
The assembled design
The right-part design
The left-hand part design
The left and right hand parts printed out on my MPMD. It's a tight fit putting them together and installing it on the printer so, make sure all the support material is removed.
The parts assembled. The keyed shape holds them together. Although you could use glue to make the bond stronger, it's not necessary.
25 June 2020
The Monoprice Mini Delta 3D printer is the first 3D printer I owned. It's about as inexpensive as one can get in 3D printers and it can print many fun and useful things, as long as the limitations that come with being on the extreme lower end of the 3D printer price spectrum are understood. I've since upgraded to a higher end printer, but I still use this one from time to time and I've added a few upgrades to increase its usability. The lighting system is one such upgrade.
The Monoprice Mini Delta 3D Printer. Although it's not apparent from this picture, one of the downsides of this model is the difficulty to fully illuminate what it is printing using light from outside the printer (e.g. a desk lamp). All the metal that surrounds the print bed, in addition to the print head, prevents that.
The LED lighting bracket I came up with. The bracket needed to be able to fit around the the extruder motor shown in the picture on the left. I also didn't want to have a different design for each side of the printer. This design will mount securely on all sides. The downside of this design is it is too large to print on the Monoprice. I'm working on a modified design that the Monoprice can print. Both designs are on Thingiverse.
The completed lighting system. It is set up to attach to the printer's power supply and run in parallel with the printer. Since LEDs draw so little current, the effect on the printer's operation is negligible. The wires connecting the lights to each other are about 4.5" long. The length to the in-line switch and connectors is about a foot or so. It's a tight fit, so make sure all support material is removed before installing it.
This is the in-parallel connector and in-line switch assembly. I went with soldering my connections and then covering them with heatshrink tubing. I like soldering.
The lighting system installed on my printer. As can been seen in the picture, the bracket fits neatly around the extruder motor and doesn't interfere with the bowden tube. I printed it in black PLA because I wanted it to blend in with the printer as much as possible. Other upgrades shown are a glass build plate, thermal grease between the OEM build build plate and the glass, retaining clips for the plate, and a shield to stop stray filament bits.
Here is how well a job is illuminated while the printhead is printing and thus blocking some of the light. Still good lighting.
This is a picture of the lighting system in operation. As can be seen, the build plate is illuminated quite well. The only light in the picture is coming from the LEDs on each side of the printer. Some hot glue holds the wire, that goes down to the switch, in place. I'll probably come up with some other way (e.g. a zip or twist tie) to hold that wire up later.
Bill of Materials (I purchased all of these online at All Electronics in Van Nuys, CA)
3 LED's (CAT # LS-123WW) These put out a warm white light that I find easier on the eyes. They also have a cooler white light version available.
About 3' of light gauge zip wire. (CAT # WRB-18) I probably used closer to 2' but, no more than 3' should suffice.
In-line switch (CAT # THW-1) I chose this one because that was what they had available.
2.5mm large I.D. power plug (CAT # DCLID) This is what plugs into the printer,
DC power plug convertor. It converts 2.5mm to 2.1mm (CAT # DCA-1) I got this for the female end that the power supply can connect to. It was what was in stock at the time. The male end will, hopefully, come in handy for another project.
Heatshrink tubing 1/8" (CAT # HUG-18B)
Another view of the illuminated build plate that also clearly shows how the lighting system connects via the power supply. In the background, attached to the power supply, is a red on-off switch that is also an upgrade. It can be purchased on Amazon under ASIN: B00RUV75D2. The switch is a good upgrade to install because turning the printer on and off by plugging and unplugging the power supply from the printer will eventually wear out the contacts.
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