#AnetA8 #AM8 #3DPrinting #3DPrinter #PEI #PLAPrinting #ABSPrinting
In this post I share the details of the first of two significant upgrades to achieve better quality prints overall and be able to print with ABS filament. The first major upgrade was to swap the Anet A8 original acrylic frame with an aluminum frame. As I mentioned in my previous post, the Anet A8 makes good prints out of the box, if assembled properly. The acrylic frame is not rigid enough to reduce the inherent wobble and vibrations of the Anet A8. The forum recommended printed braces to assist with wobbling and vibration didn’t deliver any noticeable improvement for me so I decided to research for a relatively inexpensive metal frame that would deliver improved rigidity and reduced vibrations. I found my solution posted in Thingiverse. Follow the link to find the bill of materials, build guide and STL files. A pretty straight forward design requiring no metal cutting and fairly simple assembly with relatively easy parts to print and readily available hardware.
Before I started the AM8 modification, I finished dressing the upgrades I made from the get go while assembling the Anet A8 out of the box. That included soldering for terminals to the new 14 Gauge Silicone Tinned Copper Wires, printing a bracket to hold the Dual Mosfets (video below) and new stands for the controller board, a thumb-saving extruder button (great upgrade!) and a holding bracket for my upgraded power supply, which happens to be the same for the AM8 aluminum frame.
Below is an image of the Controller board and MOSFETs mounted on the original Anet A8 acrylic frame.
Once all these upgrades were printed and mounted with the electronics, I proceeded to dressup the wires with either split loom conduit or the spiral wire wrap that came with the Anet A8. I prefer split loom conduit for multiple bundles of wire because it’s easier to add and remove as needed.
Below is the Mean Well Power Supply bracket that was used in the Anet A8 upgrade and later the AM8 aluminum frame modification. I had to drill a couple of new holes on the acrylic frame but it was no big deal. I like the fact that it was not a throw-away-later temporary solution.
Having completed the initial upgrades and dressed up the wiring, I was ready to safely get started printing the parts for the AM8 aluminum frame modification. If you downloaded and read the instruction carefully you won’t miss (like I did) the recommendation to print at least the motor mounts and structural braces out of ABS for its durability and better resistance to heat.
Below are the smooth rod holders.
Next are the bottoms corner braces…
Later, the Bottom T-Braces…
Followed by the Top Back Corner Braces…
… the Top Corner Braces in ABS, here on my next try after a power outage! :-(Notice the 3M PEI sheet already applied onto the Borosilicate Glass).
Below is one of the original motor mounts I printed in orange PLA.
Once all parts were printed, I proceeded to assemble the AM8 aluminum frame using the recommended hardware by its designer.
And finally, the fully assembled aluminum frame, with the ABS motor mounts and top braces in black. Orange pieces were printed in Orange PLA.
One more image of the final assembly and fully functioning printer.
In my next blog, I’ll share the 3D Printer Enclosure build.
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