DIY LTCC or similar system for LT1s

[spfautsch]

Well it's been a while since I've updated you on progress since there hasn't been much due to life happening.

So with all the high priority items scratched off my "life" todo list, I was able to spend most of the last two weeks finishing the 3d printer kit in hopes of printing a case. Dozens of hours spent (wasted it seems) getting the latest Marlin firmware working correctly, engineering a better extruder mount, troubleshooting the cheap chinese crap parts with keyed IDC headers installed backwards, etc. I finally get to the point of making a test print of some brackets to hold the LCD controller to the printer. I excitedly turn on the heaters and bring it up to temperature for the third or fourth time since completing the build and within a minute I'm greeted by the smell of the magic smoke escaping from the bed heater FET.

On top of this mishap, after going through my noisy cylinder head for a second time and eliminating anything in the valvetrain that could possibly have been making noise, I'm beginning to wonder if the remaining high-pitched metallic noise I'm hearing may be a cracked #6 piston.

So I think going forward I'm going to scratch worrying about a case off my list for the next year or two. If anyone wants to take what I've been able to cobble together in blender and complete it, be my guest.

From here I believe I'm going to cut my goals back on the project and focus on the following in no particular order.

1) wiring up one of the pcbs to test (I'd been hoping to wait until I had a "permanent" case before doing this)
2) finish troubleshooting and optimizing the firmware so dwell becomes an interrupt triggered event, etc.
3) yank the engine back out and pull the pistons to locate the carnage

When I'm able to confirm and test the pcb design, I'll PM anyone who contributed offering the opportunity to reserve a complete pcb kit (postage included) for the asking. Complete meaning everything needed to assemble a working board. You will have to supply the wire, external connectors, solder work, case, etc.