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Stand assembly/features videos:

Here’s my back story…I recently finished a my build of a large-format CNC milling machine. I’m currently trying to set up a side business for custom furniture/engraving/etc…One of my purchases was the Ultimaker 2 and I’m loving working in CAD and making functional parts with this machine.

I decided to make a stand-alone piece of furniture for specifically for the Ultimaker 2 as I needed all of my available desk space for other things. I wanted to build in some functionality as well as help with a few known issues.

Originally I only intended to make the one but it came out so well I felt others might be interested in something like this as well. My 1st stand was a glue-together affair and I realized that having people glue and clamp a stand together is kind of a big ask. I went back and pretty much did a total redesign of the stand so it could be sold in kit form and be put together with Ikea-style fasteners in about 10minutes.

After a couple of iterations I’m finally able to produce these stands with the tolerances I’m happy with.

**The built-in features:

  • Cooling fans that exhaust hot air away from the power block,
  • 3d printed bracing that doesn’t allow the machine to move and translate that movement into defects on the print,
  • Under-mounted filament spool holder w/ low-friction spool holder(Robert’s design modified for this application)…This allows you put the machine closer to a wall and eliminates the need to move the UM to change filament,
  • A built-in filament guide which channels the filament directly into the bottom of the extruder…This gives the filament a clean path and straightens it slightly prior to entering the extruder,
  • …and of course the added bonus of being able to put you UM wherever you’d like because the footprint of the stand is barely larger than the UM itself.

I’m including some pics as well as a 2 part assembly video(which also goes into features)…

I’m trying to figure out how to go about trying to sell this stand…via Etsy, personal website, or UM distributor…I’d like to get these stands out and into the hands of a few Beta testers to confirm the great results I’m seeing(put in hundreds of hours so far with this setup).

Ideally Beta testers would be within 2 hours of the Cleveland, OH area/are heavily active on the forum/are willing to write a review of the stand/and are willing to sign a NDA. My business email is: andy@makeshift-designs.com

I look forward to hearing from you. Thanks!!

Andy

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This is a great design! Let me know when your ready to sell,I may be interested in reselling!

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Neat build! Thanks for sharing. I’ll watch the video later to get more details, maybe you explain in the audio. I’m not sure I understand “3d printed bracing that doesn’t allow the machine to move and translate that movement into defects on the print” - I’m not aware of what kind of movement you’re talking about that could create defects in the print?

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Thanks Taylor! I still have to figure out shipping(hence the offer to beta test within 2 hours of my area)but will def keep you in mind. Do you have a internet store? Brick and mortar? Thanks again.

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Thanks peetersm…Appreciate it! Ok, I do go over this in the videos but basically the top of the stand has a lip…I designed/printed spacers that perfectly fit around the UM2’s feet and within that lip. When the UM is placed on top of the stand and into the feet the printer is “locked into” the stand. The idea is when you’re printing at higher print speeds the motion of the extruder head is not translated into motion of the printer itself. I hope this is helpful. Any other questions feel free to let me know.

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I don’t have an ultimaker but enjoyed the video. Nice!

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Thanks!

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I replied to your email :slight_smile: if I can suggest putting a fan in the stand that blows upwards (towards the UM PCB board) this will be a huge bonus! As we have 2 UM2 that run basically 24/7 the board does get extremely warm and sometimes the stepper drivers overheat and start skipping.

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This looks very nice. The only suggestion I would have which you may have already done is to make an adapter for loading the filament. I skipped forward in the video so apologize if this idea is incorporated.

One difficulty I foresee is getting the filament into the guide tube on the underside without squatting down low to get a look at the underside. It might be helpful to make a cone/funnel attachment for the tube so you could feed the filament in blind and just by feel. What I imagine is something like you have on an aerial refueling line from a tanker plane.

http://media.defenceindustrydaily.com/images/AIR_AARD_F-18_Refueling_No_Hands_lg.jpg

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This is a good idea! You actually don’t have to squat down to get a look at the underside. I realize it’s a long video =] The Bowden tube extends about 6 inches or so towards the spool. It’s pretty straight-forward. If you did indeed have to squat down and put your head inside the stand to try and load the filament through the underside of the shelf this would indeed be a great solution. Thanks for the input!

Andy

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That sounds good as well. Maybe try it both ways? Before the fan I installed the PCB board would get around 110-115 degrees Fahrenheit,I made a mount that connects to the cover for the PCB and a 40MM Blower fan than blows into the enclosure and the temperature never rises above 95.

The only thing o could think of is why the fan sucking the air away from the PCB is the metal shroud that goes over the PCB doesn’t actually touch the board so it won’t act like a heat sink so the heat will just sit inside,where if you have air blowing towards the board cold air always displaces hot air so it should push the warm air out between the enclosure and board.

A a few test with the fan both ways can get you a good idea :slight_smile:

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Great idea Taylor!..I would just need to make sure the power block for my fans could support the extra fan. I’m sure it would be a non-issue. A little extra wiring and a redesign of the top shelf should get us there. I will definitely consider this! I would maybe suggest firing the fan down and pulling heat away from the board instead up an up-firing fan. Reason being, there isn’t a lot of room for that air to escape due to the design of the UM2 itself.

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Quick question Taylor…What is the size/CFM fan you’re using to get your 20 degree drop?

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It’s a 50MM blower fan. Look on youmagine for “Ultimaker 2 cooling” there is a bracket that you print that the fan will connect to.

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Been using this stand for a couple of months now. Love it!

Here is a link to my review of it so far.