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
Stock plate is acrylic and is about 170 x 285 mm (6.75 x 11.25")
Some options:
Phenolic http://makeit-3d.com/product/build-plates/ Since it's an insulator I wonder if it makes sense to use it with a heater?
Glass build plate should be 3mm thick
Borosilicate glass (Pyrex) is fancy but according to some, plain glass is fine too.
Aluminum
DIY: get a 1/4" aluminum plate, cut to size and check for warp and mill or surface grind if needed?
Heated build plates
Reason: heating the build plate allows use of ABS filament and promotes build plate adhesion with all filament types
Heaters https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eure74A9HNc
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
Carriage
The part that holds the extruder assembly and in stock is plastic so it should be replaced to allow higher temp materials.
https://www.fargo3dprinting.com/products/makerbot-replicator-2-aluminum-carriage/
Power supplies
You almost certainly 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. If you want to use the stock controller though you need the power supply.
Some sources for DC supplies
- 16A #DMakerWorld
- 14.6A $44 Light Object
- 13A MPJA
- 10A - not worth the effort All Electronics
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
