From Fab @ Home

Contents 1 Plastic Tool System Part 3 of 5: The Temperature Controller 1.1 On Hand Assembly Tools and Parts for Plastic Tool 1.2 Bill of Materials 1.3 Acrylic Parts 2 Assembly 2.1 Plastic Tool Temperature Controller 2.2 Build Base Temperature Controller 2.3 Controller Housing

Plastic Tool System Part 3 of 5: The Temperature Controller

In this part we will wire up the plastic tool and the heated build base

On Hand Assembly Tools and Parts for Plastic Tool

• Soldering Iron for thermoplastic inserts
• Needle Nose Pliers
• Wire Strippers
• Flat Head Screw Driver
• 5/64" Hex Driver
• 2.5mm Hex Driver
• Electrical Tape

Bill of Materials

Plastic Tool System BOM

Acrylic Parts

You can download the DXF files for the Plastic Tool System here and cut them out on a laser cutter:

• Plain DXF Files
• Cut compensated for Epilog Helix 35W laser engraver DXF Files

You can also use Ponoko to cut out all of the acrylic parts for the Plastic Tool System for you here

SolidWorks 2009 assemblies and part files of the Fab@Home Model 2.0 with the Plastic Tool System
Also contains laser cutting layouts in Solidworks 2009 drawing files.

Fab@Home Model 2 CAD with Plastic Tool System in Parasolid Format

Assembly

Plastic Tool Temperature Controller

1. Attach the 115v cord to the Temperature controller as pictured. The orientation 2 black wires in ports 1 and 2 do not matter, do not connect the green wire.
   [1x] 115v 3 prong cord
   [1x] 1/32 DIN Temperature controller
   Wrap all exposed leads in electrical tape
   → →
2. Attach the power supply to the Temperature controller as pictured. <<NOTE: The power supply pictured is an old power supply. Use the power supply specified in the the BOM>>. Cut the tip off the power supply and strip the leads. Attach the positive lead to port 9 and the negative lead to port 3.
   [1x] 12v 5Amp Power supply
   Wrap the exposed leads in electrical tape
   → → →
3. Attach the thermocouple to the Temperature controller. Attach the red lead (-) to port 6 and the yellow lead (+) to port 7.
   Wrap all exposed leads in electrical tape if necessary
   →
4. Attach the nichrome wire leads to the Temperature controller. Attach one lead to port 3 and the other to port 10. Which lead goes where does not matter here.
   Wrap all exposed leads in electrical tape
   →
5. Cover the back of the Temperature controller in electrical tape. Also tape the three wires going to the plastic tool together to reduce tangling.
   →
6. All the initial setting on the controller are fine for our use, except you need to change the units to Celsius. See the Auber Temperature Controller Manual

Build Base Temperature Controller

1. Attach the 115v cord to the Temperature controller as pictured. The orientation 2 black wires in ports 1 and 2 do not matter, do not connect the green wire.
   [1x] 115v 3 prong cord
   [1x] 1/32 DIN Temperature controller
   Wrap all exposed leads in electrical tape
   → →
2. Cut an 18 gauge wire of approximately 50mm length and strip both ends. Connect one end of to port 1 and the other to port 9.
   Wrap the exposed leads in electrical tape
   → →
3. Attach the thermocouple to the Temperature controller. Attach the red lead (-) to port 6 and the yellow lead (+) to port 7.
   Wrap all exposed leads in electrical tape if necessary
   →
4. Attach the heater wire leads to the Temperature controller. Attach one lead to port 2 and the other to port 10. Which lead goes where does not matter here.
   Wrap all exposed leads in electrical tape
   → →
5. Cover the back of the Temperature controller in electrical tape. Also tape the three wires going to the heated build base together to reduce tangling.
   →
6. All the initial setting on the controller are fine for our use, except you need to change the units to Celsius. See the Auber Temperature Controller Manual

Controller Housing

1. Insert M4 the thermoplastic inserts into front plate as shown
   [3x] M4 Brass Threaded Inserts
   →
2. Attach the Right plate as shown and secure with #6-32 screws and square nuts
   [3x] 1/2" Length #6-32 Screws
   [3x] #6-32 Square nuts
   →
3. Slide the two temperature controllers into the side of the front plate with the plastic tool controller on top. Attach left plate with #6-32 screws and square nuts
   [3x] 1/2" Length #6-32 Screws
   [3x] #6-32 Square nuts
   →
4. Attach Clamp plate and Spacer with M4 screws against the front of the Fab@Home as pictured.
   [3x] 16mm Length M4 Screws
   →

Now you you are ready to move on to Part 4: The Fume Extractor