Ground up Restoration - TAZ3 to TAZ5

[CWAVE6K]

Thanks for your comments.

Lucky you that you sourced some nice metal endplates. Going to try those beefed up printed plates from the link above. See how that works. If in the end I’m not happy with it, I’ll have to make a set for myself somehow. Would be nice if they were able to be purchased from Lulzbot.

Yes, I had noticed today that the endstop wiring is rather short! Heh. Will for sure have to lengthen that wire. I already have the M5 capscrew and spring, so that’s all set to go in too.

You’re also right about the fan wiring that needs to go into the control box too. Saw that when I was reviewing the upgrade of the hotend. Good to mention too, thanks.

I like the idea of the harder rails. Would you happen to have a source where those could be found?

Was looking last night on the lulzbot site for the TAZ 5 electronics enclosure. Thought for sure I had seen it for sale, but alas it’s the old one (same as I have). Would be nice eh!

@piercet

I was lucky enough to source a set of metal endplates for my 3 to 5 conversion, but I did print the plastic ones for comparison. The plastic ones had a fair amount of side to side play in them. Before I got the metal ones, I was considering making a more rigid unit. Just thickening the center section on the opposite side of where the leadscrew mount attaches would probably do the trick without compromising anything else.

2 other things to add to your list:

1. change out the Z axis endstop switch and wiring. It moves from the lower threaded rod mount to the upper X end motor mount, so you will need a longer endstop wire. The endstop itself also mounts differently so you will need some M2 cap screws. I think the 10mm long ones work. You will also need an M5 Cap screw thumbscrew cover for the new Z endstop target. ANd a different spring and bolt for that matter.
2. You will need to run a fan cable out to the X carriage to power the always on hot end cooling fan that is required for the hexagon hot end. You can see where that needs to plug into the board, along with the other assembly options at https://ohai-kit.alephobjects.com/

The bed mount for the Y axis to the frame are also different, but I did not swap those out on mine. The stock 3 ones still line up fine with the new Taz 5 Z and X hardware bits.

If you can find them inexpensively, you might also want to consider swapping out the stock Taz X axis rails with stronger hardened ones. That will eliminate most of the X carriage droop in the middle. That should only add $30 or so to your rebuild cost.

I wonder if we could convince the Lulzbot peoples to sell us each a Taz 5 style electronics enclosure?