Project: ‛Doozer’
| Yellow Tag Tool |
| Contact Owner Before Using |
| Tool Owner: Karen Englebeck |
| Chat: @zebragrrl on on Slack |
| Email: See sticker on machine. |
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🚨 This is an ongoing project, tool is not functional yet 🚨
Project Objectives
Project Status
01/31/2020 - Latest!
All 26 of the brackets that would fit on the 4.7"x4.7" bed of my 3D printer have now been printed. The shop's laser-cutter did indeed become operational, and with some uneven pacing, I have been able to now laser-cut 11 of the larger brackets out of 3mm acrylic sheet. This leaves 4 that Ben has offered to 3D print for me, and then 11 more brackets to be cut. I may undertake to get some more of these punched out over the weekend, or early next week.
AliExpress parts have been trickling in slowly. Chinese New Year has again ground much of the sellers' operations to a halt, and shipments which already take weeks, tend to take a few more weeks.
I'm not entirely confident in the resiliency of the brackets that I have thus far. I know that things will change when I add bolts and aluminum extrusion and other rigid components.. but I still have my concerns about the longterm viability. I do still hope to have aluminum replacement brackets.. either made by my machine, or on the shop's CNC machine(s), or by farming the job out.. but at ~50 brackets.. it's no small ask for anyone. Failing this, I am keeping the idea in mind of milling a full set of (albeit thicker) brackets using Polypropylene or HDPE/Polyethylene cutting-board material, which I know can be milled with the big CNC table at the shop. But that would be an added expense.
For now, it's mostly a waiting game. Waiting for nuts, screws, and washers.. as well as a few various and sundry bits and bobs that remain on order.
I am, however, getting undeniably close to the point where I'll have to start cutting aluminum.
Project Development History
01/16/2020
The next phase in this project, aside from waiting over a month for overpriced machine screws from China (and trust me, they were the cheapest I could find!) is to begin cutting out the brackets. Original plans were to 3D print a set of them first for putting the machine together for proving.. and honestly, that's still an option for a lot of them. I may start putting some of the odd-colored filaments at my house to work on the smaller, large quantity brackets. Other brackets I will either use the big CNC table at the shop to mill out of 'plex' (whatever scrap acrylic, plexiglas, or whatever I can find), or to ideally make use of a laser cutter.
Once the proving set of brackets is done, I can see if adjustments need to be made. I'll also be able to start trying to bring the machine to life.
Known elements still to be done:
- Tool Mounting Plate
- I have located a couple of aluminum chunks that may be able to be milled into a permanent mounting block for tools. This has been set aside for future use.
- Work Surface
- This will be made out of 2525 aluminum extrusion.. and while I have a fair amount, I don't have huge quantities. The final design of how this will work is still on-hold, pending some more practical forward progress. There is a possible future where this extrusion ideal is abandoned, and replaced with a couple sheets of MDF and some standard SAE threaded plywood anchors.
- Deflector Shields
- Simple angled plates for keeping sawdust from fouling the Y axis screws. Mountings for these will be designed once the Work Surface is sorted out.
01/05/2020
At the end of the day, it's all going to be made of metal, mostly aluminum extrusion with steel rods. While the machine will hopefully be capable of occasional milling of aluminum, the 'router' will still be a Dremel. The Doozer's more common use will be for milling materials that are much less resistant: Acrylic, ABS/PVC/Polystyrene Sheet, MDF, Pressboard, Veneer, and Balsa Wood.
01/03/2020
I had the opportunity to speak with Keith Legg on New Years Eve, in regards to machining some of the needed custom brackets for the linear rod , motor, and threaded rod bearing mounts. That part of the equation is a resounding GO.
This evening I re-inventoried my box of previously acquired components.. motors, rods, screws, and so on.. and I’m looking forward to returning to the design process with renewed enthusiasm. Looking forward to beginning finalizing the design, so I can finally begin BUILDING.
Soon, I hope!
09/20/2019
Email received from AliExpress. All components of the targeting laser assembly ( crosshair & dot lasers and USB power adapter ) are now in the hands of couriers in the USA.
Beata donated a 2-port USB power converter to the project after I'd ordered the single-USB version, so I may utilize the dual-port unit instead (one for each laser)
09/18/2019
All off-the-shelf structural components have been purchased, and have arrived. All components are measured and 3D modelled in SketchUp Make 2016. The 3 axis assemblies have been assembled in SketchUp.
Currently developing a modified 3D model of the tolerances of the aluminum extrusions, that model will help me easily create functional 3D-printed parts that fit properly.
Maximum workspace dimensions seem to be coming in at (305mm x 250mm x 180mm), which is approximately (12in x 11in x 7in). These are the maximum lengths that the linear rails and bearings can accommodate. I suspect these lengths will reduce somewhat as the actual gantry is designed.
What even is a ‛Doozer’?
The Doozers are a race of characters from Jim Henson's Fraggle Rock television series. Doozers love to work all day long. They're tiny, green creatures who usually sport construction helmets, boots, and tool belts. Doozers stand approximately knee-high to Fraggles, at six inches tall.
When compared to the other races within Fraggle Rock, they are by far the most technologically advanced. Most Doozers are construction workers, while others are architects or miners. With the help of various Doozer machines and vehicles, they build elaborate constructions all over Fraggle Rock, like towers, buildings, roads and bridges. Doozer constructions are the Fraggles' favorite snack, and they love to eat the buildings that the Doozers build. The Doozers don't mind their buildings being eaten -- if the Fraggles didn't eat the constructions, the Doozers would run out of building space!