Makerbot Replicator 2
Upgrades
https://3dprinting-blog.com/category/makerbot-replicator-2-upgrades/page/6/
Extruder, hot end upgrades
Replace plastic extruder parts with CNC metal parts https://www.fabberworld.com/makerbot-2-2x-extruder-upgrade
E3D v6 hot end
EZstruder
Build plates
Glass build plate should be 3mm thick
Heaters https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eure74A9HNc
Heated build plates
Reason: heating the build plate allows use of ABS filament and promotes build plate adhesion with all filament types
DIY: get a 1/4" aluminum plate, cut to size and check for warp and mill or surface grind if needed?
This one has a glass top attached by magnets to a heated metal plate. https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:884335
https://www.ide-3d.de/epages/83488941.sf/en_US/?ObjectPath=/Shops/83488941/Products/MKB2hbp
Heated Build Plate with external controller
P3D heated build plate with external controller Note that it says it's unavailable.
I made a local copy of the very brief File:P3d hbp.pdf to preserve it, in case make that "unavailable" too.
Looks like P3D used a PID temperature controller and a timer.
Temperature controllers
Here is general information from Omega, the brand referenced in the Arduino article: Omega about controllers
Cheap! Cheap! under the brand name "Inkbird", same layout but different colors on the front panel: Amazon Inkbird controller
Here it is under the name "Extech" from Grainger: Grainger Extech controller
Here is one from Precision Digital Corporation Nova PD540 ($239) user manual
Here is the matching Inkbird timer: Amazon Inkbird timer
Arduino! Nuts and Volts article Nov 2017
Power supplies
You probably want a bigger power supply if you add a heated build plate. Stock is 6.5A Or you want a mains heater instead of DC, which makes more sense really.
Some sources for DC supplies
- 16A https://www.3dmakerworld.com/store/parts-accessories/electronics/switching-power-supply-24v-400w
- 13A https://www.mpja.com/24-Volt-Power-Supply-13A-with-PFC-Hengfu/productinfo/31344+PS/
- 10A https://www.allelectronics.com/category/480075/power-supplies/24-volts-dc/1.html
I looked up 24VDC supplies on Digikey and did not see anything promising. Newegg has some but they say "ship from China".
Z-axis upgrade
Three options,
1 Add stiffeners to the existing plastic arms https://www.p3-d.com/collections/replacements-parts/products/replicator-2-heated-aluminum-build-plate
2 Replace plastic arms:
3 Replace plastic parts with metal and replace aluminum guides with steel https://www.ide-3d.de/epages/83488941.sf/en_US/?ObjectPath=/Shops/83488941/Products/MKBz
