Evil Mad Scientist AxiDraw MiniKit User manual

Assembly Guide

Model 2540

https://emsl.us/924

AxiDraw

MiniKit

Assembly guide v 1.0

Last updated: December 13, 2019

About this guide and this kit

This is the assembly guide for the AxiDraw MiniKit, a spe-

cial compact “DIY kit” version of the AxiDraw writing and

drawing machine.

It covers the steps needed to build the AxiDraw MiniKit,

from opening the box to a working machine. This guide

also covers model-speciﬁc usage information about the

MiniKit, as a supplement to the main AxiDraw User Guide.

This guide is provided as a PDF download, with the intent

that it can be viewed on-screen (desktop, laptop, tablet or

phone) while you assemble your kit. The latest version is

available at: wiki.evilmadscientist.com/minikit

Getting help

If you should need any kind of assistance while building

your AxiDraw MiniKit, please do not hesitate to contact

us: shop.evilmadscientist.com/contact

Whether you need help with an assembly step, parts sup-

port, assistance troubleshooting an issue, or reassurance

that you’re building something correctly, please feel wel-

come to drop us a line. We are here to help.

Software

Towards the end of this guide, there is an assembly step

that requires that you have AxiDraw software installed on

your computer. To get a head start, visit axidraw.com/sw

Warning: Small parts

This kit is not a toy. It contains a great number of small

parts that should be kept out of reach of children.

Warning: Sharp edges and points

While the ﬁnished kit should not present any excessively

sharp edges, components within this kit – particularly the

aluminum extrusions – may have edges and points that are

razor sharp. Exercise appropriate care when handling these

parts, and keep out of the reach of children.

After assembly

After assembling your AxiDraw MiniKit, you will want to

review the usage information in the AxiDraw user guide,

available at: axidraw.com/guide

More about AxiDraw and MiniKit

To learn more about AxiDraw in general please visit its main

site: AxiDraw.com

To learn more about the AxiDraw MiniKit, please visit its

product page: emsl.us/924

The main documentation site for AxiDraw can be found on

our wiki, at axidraw.com/docs

Table of Contents

About this guide and this kit........................ 2

Getting help................................................... 2

Software......................................................... 2

Warning: Small parts..................................... 2

Warning: Sharp edges and points ............... 2

After assembly .............................................. 2

More about AxiDraw and MiniKit ............... 2

Part 1: Tools .......................................................5

1.1 Required tools .......................................... 6

1.2 Included tools .......................................... 7

Part 2: The Base ................................................8

2.1 Parts in the base assembly ..................... 9

2.2 Add pulleys to motors ........................... 10

2.3 X Endstops............................................... 12

2.4 Mount the motors.................................. 14

2.5 Ballast and motor wire........................... 16

2.6 Base Endcap............................................ 18

2.7 EBB Support............................................ 19

2.8 Mounting the EBB.................................. 20

Part 3: The X Carriage......................................23

3.1 Parts in the X Carriage Assembly.......... 24

3.2 Install the Y Endstop .............................. 25

3.3 Spacers, shims, and washers ................. 26

3.4 X Carriage Idler Pulleys......................... 27

3.5 Y-Wheel Supports................................... 28

3.6 Preset Y Eccentrics................................ 31

3.7 Front X Wheels........................................ 32

3.8 Rear X Wheels......................................... 34

3.9 Tuning the X Carriage ............................ 36

Part 4: Y, Belt, and Z.........................................38

4.1 Parts in the Y, Belt, and Z assemblies ... 39

4.2 Tensioning block..................................... 40

4.3 Y Carriage Idler Pulley........................... 41

4.4 Y Carriage Travel Limits......................... 42

4.5 Y Endcap and pre-threading................. 43

4.6 Fixed Y Wheels ....................................... 44

4.7 Aside: AxiDraw kinematics.................... 45

4.8 Belt Staging ............................................ 46

4.9 Add the Y Carriage ................................ 48

4.10 Belt tensioning...................................... 49

4.11 Trim the belt ends.................................. 53

4.12 Tuning the Y Carriage........................... 54

4.13 Adding the Z Slide................................. 56

Part 5: Servo and wiring...................................58

5.1 Parts used in wiring................................. 59

5.2 Stepper wiring 1 ...................................... 60 3

5.3 Stepper wiring 2 ..................................... 61

5.4 Cable guide wrapping............................ 62

5.5 Mounting the servo................................ 64

5.6 Mount the cable guide .......................... 65

5.7 Complete the wiring .............................. 67

5.8 Servo horn............................................... 71

5.9 Servo calibration .................................... 72

Part 6: Using AxiDraw MiniKit ........................75

6.1 Accessories ............................................. 76

6.2 The AxiDraw User Guide ...................... 77

6.3 Special considerations for MiniKit ....... 77

6.3.1 Pause button.................................................77

6.3.2 Home corner ...............................................77

6.3.3 Travel limits ..................................................78

6.3.4 Pen weight ...................................................78

6.3.4 Rubber bands...............................................78

6.3.5 Speed and acceleration..............................78

Part 1: Tools 5

1.1 Required tools

To assemble the AxiDraw MiniKit, you will need certain

general-purpose tools that are not included with the kit.

These required tools are:

1. Either Ascissors or Bwire clippers

2. A Phillips #1 size screwdriver, C

3. A Phillips #0 size screwdriver, D

4. A small ﬂat head screwdriver, E

Blade width: about 2 mm or 5/64”

And, recommended but not required:

• Miniature pliers, F

• A small hobby knife, G

• A small adjustable wrench (not shown)

1.2 Included tools

Several speciﬁc tools are included with the kit.

We will refer to these, and other parts included with the kit, by part numbers.

The included tools are:

#1, 15 cm / 6 inch ruler

#2, T20-size Torx L-wrench

#3, 2.0 mm ball-end hex L-wrench

#4, 2.5 mm hex L-wrench

#5, 10 mm low-proﬁle wrench

#6, 8 mm low-proﬁle wrench

#7, 7 mm low-proﬁle wrench

You can distinguish the L-wrenches quickly, since only #2 is a Torx (star-shaped)

wrench, and only the 2 mm wrench, #3, has the ball end. The three low-proﬁle

wrenches are very similar in appearance; you might want to label them with a marker.

Most of the wrenches are only needed during assembly, but #3, the ball-end wrench,

will continue to be useful in regular everyday operation of the AxiDraw MiniKit.

Part 2: The Base 8

#8, MiniKit Base Rail (1)

#9, Stepper Motor (2)

#10, Timing Belt Pulley (2)

#11, M4 Square Nut (5)

#12, X Endstop (2)

#13, M4×16 Button-head Screw (4)

#14, Aluminum Spacers (8)

#15, M3×16 Button-head Screw (12)

2.1 Parts in the base assembly

#10

#20 #21

#22 #23

#24

#25

#26

#11 #12

#13 #14 #15

#16 #17

#18

#19

#16, Rail Endcap (2)

#17, M4×8 Torx Tapping Screw (6)

#18, Ballast Weight (1)

#19, Nylon Loop Clamp (2)

#20, Motor Wire Harness, Long (1)

#21, M4×20 Torx Tapping Screw (2)

#22, EBB Support (1)

#23, EBB Driver Board (1)

#24, White Nylon Washer (4)

#25, Black Nylon Spacers (4)

#26, M3 Kep Nut (4)

Some quantities will be used in future

steps as well.

8 mm

2.2 Add pulleys to motors

1. Locate the ﬂat face (A) on the shafts of the stepper motors, #9.

2. Observe that the timing belt pulleys, part #10, each have two set

screws (B). The wrench for these screws is the 2 mm ball-end hex

wrench (#3).

3. Slide a pulley onto a motor shaft, “teeth” up. You may need to

loosen the set screws to do so.

4. Position the pulley with a set screw in front of the ﬂat face, and

its bottom 8 mm above the uppermost part of the motor face (C).

You can use a ruler to measure the gap or – better – borrow the

long 8 mm hex stando (#35) from a future step (“3.5 Y-Wheel

Supports” on page 28) and use it as a spacer (D).

(Continues on next page)

This manual suits for next models

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