It’s not that I’m not materialistic or a complete stoic. It’s just that my interests are so simple, narrow, and specific there just isn’t a whole lot I require out of life. But for other happy and fortunate life complications1 I’d live in a studio apartment almost completely devoid of furniture except for a futon, small table, one (perhaps two) and book shelf. Give me a library card and a laptop and I’ll show you a content man. For example – one of my hobbies is origami. Which boils down to basically a lot of paper. 2
While this means I’m easily content, it means those family and friends are frustrated at the thought of having to find me a gift. 3 So, for basically the first time ever I’ve put together a wish list with stuff I would love to get (in rough order):
- Magic pixie dust that will let me print in PLA without tears
- MakerBot heated build platform ($42 the price just went up to $50)
- MakerBot SMT Soldering Toolkit ($50)4
- MakerGear modular heater core ($15)
- MakerBot 100k thermistors ($5)
- MakerBot Mk4 Thermal Barrier PTFE ($7)
- MakerGear PEEK insulator ($8.50 for the 3/8″, $13.00 for the 5/8″)
- MakerBot Spare Parts Kit ($65)
- MakerGear modular thermistor kit ($5)5
- Precision vise set
- A metric drill bit set
- and a hotplate67
- aka family [↩]
- A hobby which, hundreds of years ago could only be practiced by those precious few who had access to a luxury such as paper, can now be practiced by anyone in reach of a paper recycling bin. [↩]
- 500 sheets of A4 bright white multipurpose paper??? Score! [↩]
- Since I have none of the equipment or skills to perform SMT soldering [↩]
- Someone mentioned the modular thermistor set ups don’t detect temperatures properly – about 10 degrees too low?! Update: Rick of MakerGear clarifies this was the result of a ring terminal mounted thermistor. His modular thermistor kit pictured at the bottom of the this page shows that this kit allows you to make the entire thermistor attachment far more modular by covering it’s terminals in PTFE sleeves and then adding a connector. This only makes me want this kit more. Thanks Rick! [↩]
- Preferably one with George Plimpton’s face [↩]
- That’s a Simpson’s reference, FYI [↩]
The thermistor in the modular thermistor kit is taped to the nozzle, there is no issue with temp detection. I think your footnote was in reference to the use of a ring terminal with a thermistor – ring terminals are not used the this kit. The modular thermistor kits consist of a 100k thermistor, PTFE sleeves (to cover the leads), Molex connectors and hook-up wires. It is just a very user-friendly way of mounting a thermistor vs. covering the leads with kapton tape and then soldering on full-length hook-up wires.
Ah! I bet you’re right! I’ll correct that post. Do you have a page on your site with a picture and explanation I can link to?
Info and photo here: http://www.makergear.com/products/plastruder-replacement-parts
The MakerGear Enhanced Pack (45.50) contains a fully assembled HeatCore, 5/8″ PEEK Insulator, Modular Thermistor Kit and several other useful items. http://www.makergear.com/products/operators-pack
And, I am biased, of course, towards the MakerGear Heated Build Platform. HBP v1.1 will be out shortly and HBP HO (a high performance heated build platform with a power booster board – for power users) will be available later this month.
Rick: What’s the diff on the 3/8″ versus 5/8″ PEEK insulators? Is it 1/4″ larger in diameter? Is it 1/4″ longer? Both? Neither?
3/8″ diameter vs. 5/8″ diameter. The other differences are stated here: http://www.makergear.com/products/plastruder-replacement-parts
The 3/8″ is a lower cost option but I’d recommend going with a 5/8″.
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