Blog 2012
18-05-2012:
More chapters added to the Orca 0.42 build manual and more coming next few days, (check under info / instructions / building or click here).
15-05-2012:
We have a new aluminium anodising color available for Orca 042 (for limited time probably): Titanium blue
(note: this is not the old color we had / light-blue, but a more dark/gun metal blueish color with strange effects on different lighting.. pictures in a week or so)
15-05-2012:
Orca 042 - TOP20 / orders overview / waiting list
If you think you should be in this list, but are not, please dont hesitate to contact us / call us.
For contacting us via phone, please use 040 phonenumber (040-202 6749 or including countrycode: 0031 40 202 6749 - from 11am to 11pm)
06-05-2012:
We have started on the 1st version of the Orca 042 manual (check under info / instructions / building or click here).
We have solved an important issue: (alot of) our emails were not arriving at customers. (forgotten password / webshop mails)
29-04-2012:
First pictures of prints made on Orca 0.42 are in the Image Gallery: click here for Image gallery page
And some more (older) 040 prints:
26-04-2012:
Just a few things, also recently happened here:
* The Easter workshops were great success, everyone finished in one day (although some late at night, so not much sleep for me), ill see if i can post some pics later.
* Ive printed for the 1st time with flexible plastic filament last week, printed (shore46) cubic small boxes.. a new world of possibilities opening (again).
* News/info/status of our new touchscreen electronics coming soon.
25-04-2012:
Current handling time on small orders is 1-2 business days
However things can change very quickly and tomorrow leadtime could already be different again.
(ps1. we just shipped a box that was ordered this afternoon..)
(ps2. we will be putting more and more products back online again over coming days)
25-04-2012:
Some Info about Mendel-Parts / Gubbels Engineering:
There are big changes happening here, some very good news: We will have a new partner soon (Ruud), to help us improve support/communication/focus on sales/logistics/planning etc. So hopefully within a few weeks we should have better and more communication methods again, more info about this coming soon.
On the other hand our lead-times (for complete machines) are currently dropping fast, however with the new changes (040->042) it is not easy... Every time our system is finally running smooth, we can start over, making lists/boms.. etc. However I prefer to ship quality (In this case: latest versions) over quantity (just easy/simple making money), because I think, quality is most important for customers, so all orders from next week will receive already 042 instead of 040. So yes you might have a week delay or 2 weeks.. but at least you are not messing with a fake 040 that will never reach the same quality, in the end its about the quality you print on your machine and not about the week extra or not.. (sorry, but im just sharing my thoughts here a bit and trying to explain why i do things certain ways..)
25-04-2012:
Info about Orca 042:
042=040+ACME thread for Z + geared extruder v10 with new insert piece (needed for very fine layers & easier setup for ABS) & hotend v10 + spool holder/filament system etc etc.
To be clear: 042 plastic parts will fit on 040 (with minor changes), its just like 030, for example: 031=030+linear bearings (since that was already in design..)
However 042 alu sets will already have these upgrades integrated and dont need drilling etc, i decided to name it 042 because its not just one change, however, it is still the same frame as 040, (if frame changes it will be 050). So 040+acme thread = not 050, but 041, because 040 was already designed to be used with acme thread in future.
(yes I often put future upgrades in current versions... thats called proper engineering in my opinion: if you know things will come soon, better prepare for it ;) )
And to clearify once more: if you think orca 040 is 030+linear bearings: I know (because ive made the design changes etc) that the changes from Orca 030 to 040 are bigger then from 02 to 030. Orca 030 was just testing the new alu frame concept + plastic parts from 02, but for 040 ive finished all the files etc.. made alot of in between prototypes.. any person still thinking that 040 is just 030+ linear bearings, feel free to come over and I will explain all the changes i made.
(PS: this also means we will pretty soon release the DXF files for 040.. since im finishing 042 now)
Ow and off course the whole reason for these upgrades are mainly quality improvement (and mobility of machine)... but our quality has improven alot last weeks/months, so get ready for some hot videos/pics coming soon, because the bulldog and other videos are really out of date atm... (quality-wise)
PS: 042 is also main reason for delay of 040 Manual, ive decided to base the manual on the 042, since that is latest version and 040 users should be able to use that too. However manual is still at least 1 or 2 weeks from now, but i hope to post pictures or videos earlier.
28-03-2012:
Dear customers, Im very sorry for the recent massive delay/zero communication..
But Im back (again) from another burnout-period/ illness/ i dont know whats going on.. but im very sorry.
It seems like im still recovering from a crazy 1,5year, however things are getting also better, but it all takes longer then expected.
Im back at work since last Thursday and alot is prepared to ship, however i havent posted yet, since i wanted to get overview first and produce alot of machines etc
We are also very busy with improving production/outsourcing etc, but again this takes time and energy to start up.
But in short: 80% of top 45 orca040 waiting list will ship today & tomorrow and some Friday.
all small orders should also ship today/tomorrow
There is massive delay in email again, best is to phone me on the our 040 phone-nr, im available alot on that now/coming days, but please try it after 11am (untill 11pm).
I should also be back on skype again soon (tomorrow probably)
On a side note: something has come to my attention that I am worried about:
There is a FAKE orca 0.40 in the market (For example: makemendel.com), that is not 040.. that is 030+lm8uu..
Untill we have released the files (plastics & thick sheet) all others are fake, its easy to see if we have released files (check download section: downloads - 2d-drawings -Orca)
I mention this because people need to know that those machines are not compatible with upgrades etc (for example v0.41 coming in a few weeks.. small addons for 0.40, like spool holder etc.)
Orca 0.40 is not just 0.30 with linear bearings.. the linear bearings was probably the smallest change (0.30 was already designed to be used with lm8uu in future).
Orca 0.40 is also improved in build area size (increased without increasing total frame size), stiffness, easiness to build/prepared for ACME-thread etc etc.
And last but not least:
webshop is temporarily closed again to get catched up on most orders first (and to let lead-times drop a bit)
And maybe that gives me time to finish 040/041 manual in coming week(s), however i should have more pictures online very soon too, which are usefull for building 040
Also there is a huge amount of PLA 1.75mm on 750gram spools produced and in stock in a few days.. also in new colors, like really bright pink etc.
more news later..
09-03-2012:
NOTE: THERE IS A FIRMWARE ISSUE WITH CURRENT FIRMWARE VERSION:
if you do -10 etc it will go through the zero... if you do home X etc it is fine. so be carefull and dont use Z -10 etc.. but use home Z.
ErikvdZ thinks he solved it, so I will test and upload the new firmware today/tomorrow hopefully
So again: be very careful with minus 1/10/100 etc.. or just use home X/Y/Z buttons only or just wait for new firmware.
Note: if you use my skeinforge settings/files etc, you wont have issues if you just press print.. (my startup gcode works fine), thats why i hadnt noticed it before..
08-03-2012:
news on 1.75mm PLA coming in few days.. but in short: we should have stock again, very soon.. lots ;)
08-03-2012:
Some customer send me an email (about something else), but he had these pictures attached, printed on an orca030, I was amazed:
Just think of the cost for such a prototype on conventional 3D printers... that would probably be the same as the whole orca030 ;)
25-02-2012:
New firmware update will be online tonight, latest Marlin version with gen6 deluxe support. We have had some issues with gen6 deluxe current firmware, so please upload this latest version to your board. I will post a version tonight/tomorrow included settings for Orca 040 (and maybe other machines too).
Also my skeinforge v45 incl profiles will be online tonight / tomorrow.
Orca 040 STL files will be online tonight / tomorrow.
Workshops are coming back in our webshop in a few days.. (in the past they were very quickly sold out, so if you are interested dont wait too long..)
Update coming also for shipping of orders (orca040 top25) this will be posted probably Monday (im waiting on some news from suppliers).
12-02-2012:
Build videos coming (hopefully soon):
* v9 hotend assembly & connecting / glue v9 heaterblock
* adapt "old" v9 heaterblock to fit with new plugnplay hotend cable set (no more glue needed)
* setup, finetune & maintain hotend / clean nozzle / disassemble nozzle
* easy changing / adding filament
* Wiring of Orca & gen6 deluxe cabling & setup
* firmware change & upload / skeinforge v45
* Orca 040 full assembly & user manual
10-02-2012:
First Orca's 040 shipped.
40 Alu sets for Orca 040 have been produced so far already
Note: Orca040 was engineered/developed in Dec 2011 and sales only started 10-1-2012.. so thats some fast development/production..
03-02-2012:
We have delay again on orders and I might shutdown the webshop again in next days to limit orders and get catched up again.
Also we will soon share our plans for 2012, new products that are coming soon, products in development and products that will be developed in 2012.
Ill give one preview: we have developed a working granulate extruder last weeks, it took me only a few days of CAD and prototyping and it already works (but is limited on max speed for now). It uses standard granulate, no special small size needed.. Plastic granulate (aka "pellets") are the same all over the world and are easy available world-wide.. It is also very easy to ship, because its so dense packaged.
Alot of people talk about extruding granulate to make your own filament, in my opinion thats just stupid, im talking here about a small granulate extruder that will fit on a standard 3d printer to use instead of hotend & extruder v9 / v10 . Which can be fitted with a 0,20 - 2,00mm nozzle, no need to choose between filament sizes, no need to setup insert piece and spring tensions on hotend etc etc..
For those who dont realise how big this is.. granulate costs 10-20% of plastic filament.. so the printed cup from videos would be 0,02 EUR instead of 0,20 EUR. If you still dont realise how big this is: We are now able to 3D print plastics for the cost of injection molding.. however we dont need the series of injection molding, in my opinion this might be the biggest change in 3d printing for 2012.
PS: emails sent to my hotmail last week will be answered, so no need to keep resending, however there is at least a one week delay on all email, I should be able to start answering emails this weekend, and I hope to be online with skype again also tonight/this weekend.
PS2: people think we can give unlimited support on our products, thats completly nonsense off course, we are a DIY webshop, that means we dont have to give any support at all, any support we give is extra. DIY means: Do It Yourself, so search information yourself, be sure you can assembly it before you buy it, know what you are buying etc etc.
Think of us as a car parts shop, you cant ask them for drawings of your car, you cant ask them for support, but if you do get support you are lucky and not the other way around. If you want unlimited support please buy an older machine for more money at some other webshop or come to one of our workshops (yes we will do workshops again, but it will be at least 1-2 more months).
Also we are a webshop, that means no pickup anymore, no coming by for chatting (during week) etc, its very simple: from the past we have learned this just takes up hours of time everyday, which we dont have. And also I have decided that alot we do here is top-secret from now on and therefor visitors are not welcome anymore.
I really hate to say that, it goes in against things i believe, but trust me, we have todo that at this time, to get catched up on orders and to avoid spies here...
16-01-2012:
First Orca 040 images posted
18-05-2012:
More chapters added to the Orca 0.42 build manual and more coming next few days, (check under info / instructions / building or click here).
15-05-2012:
We have a new aluminium anodising color available for Orca 042 (for limited time probably): Titanium blue
(note: this is not the old color we had / light-blue, but a more dark/gun metal blueish color with strange effects on different lighting.. pictures in a week or so)
15-05-2012:
Orca 042 - TOP20 / orders overview / waiting list
| Ordernr | Current position | Shipping week |
|---|---|---|
| 1287 | 0 | ready for pickup / contact customer |
| 1312 | 1 | 20/21 |
| 1314 | 2 | 20/21 |
| 1315 | 3 | 20/21 |
| 1316 | 4 | 20/21 |
| 1333 | 5 | 20/21 |
| 1334 | 6 | 20/21 |
| 1338-1 | 7 | 20/21 |
| 1340 | 8 | store pickup / contact customer |
| 1341 | 9 | |
| 1343 | 10 | store pickup?? / contact customer |
| 1344 | 11 | |
| 1345 | 12 | |
| 1346 | 13 | |
| 1347 | 14 | |
| 1339 | 15 | change to incl workshop 28-5 |
| 1369 | 16 | |
| 1383-1 | 17 | |
| 1393-1 | 18 | |
| 1412 | 19 |
If you think you should be in this list, but are not, please dont hesitate to contact us / call us.
For contacting us via phone, please use 040 phonenumber (040-202 6749 or including countrycode: 0031 40 202 6749 - from 11am to 11pm)
06-05-2012:
We have started on the 1st version of the Orca 042 manual (check under info / instructions / building or click here).
We have solved an important issue: (alot of) our emails were not arriving at customers. (forgotten password / webshop mails)
29-04-2012:
First pictures of prints made on Orca 0.42 are in the Image Gallery: click here for Image gallery page
And some more (older) 040 prints:
26-04-2012:
Just a few things, also recently happened here:
* The Easter workshops were great success, everyone finished in one day (although some late at night, so not much sleep for me), ill see if i can post some pics later.
* Ive printed for the 1st time with flexible plastic filament last week, printed (shore46) cubic small boxes.. a new world of possibilities opening (again).
* News/info/status of our new touchscreen electronics coming soon.
25-04-2012:
Current handling time on small orders is 1-2 business days
However things can change very quickly and tomorrow leadtime could already be different again.
(ps1. we just shipped a box that was ordered this afternoon..)
(ps2. we will be putting more and more products back online again over coming days)
25-04-2012:
Some Info about Mendel-Parts / Gubbels Engineering:
There are big changes happening here, some very good news: We will have a new partner soon (Ruud), to help us improve support/communication/focus on sales/logistics/planning etc. So hopefully within a few weeks we should have better and more communication methods again, more info about this coming soon.
On the other hand our lead-times (for complete machines) are currently dropping fast, however with the new changes (040->042) it is not easy... Every time our system is finally running smooth, we can start over, making lists/boms.. etc. However I prefer to ship quality (In this case: latest versions) over quantity (just easy/simple making money), because I think, quality is most important for customers, so all orders from next week will receive already 042 instead of 040. So yes you might have a week delay or 2 weeks.. but at least you are not messing with a fake 040 that will never reach the same quality, in the end its about the quality you print on your machine and not about the week extra or not.. (sorry, but im just sharing my thoughts here a bit and trying to explain why i do things certain ways..)
25-04-2012:
Info about Orca 042:
042=040+ACME thread for Z + geared extruder v10 with new insert piece (needed for very fine layers & easier setup for ABS) & hotend v10 + spool holder/filament system etc etc.
To be clear: 042 plastic parts will fit on 040 (with minor changes), its just like 030, for example: 031=030+linear bearings (since that was already in design..)
However 042 alu sets will already have these upgrades integrated and dont need drilling etc, i decided to name it 042 because its not just one change, however, it is still the same frame as 040, (if frame changes it will be 050). So 040+acme thread = not 050, but 041, because 040 was already designed to be used with acme thread in future.
(yes I often put future upgrades in current versions... thats called proper engineering in my opinion: if you know things will come soon, better prepare for it ;) )
And to clearify once more: if you think orca 040 is 030+linear bearings: I know (because ive made the design changes etc) that the changes from Orca 030 to 040 are bigger then from 02 to 030. Orca 030 was just testing the new alu frame concept + plastic parts from 02, but for 040 ive finished all the files etc.. made alot of in between prototypes.. any person still thinking that 040 is just 030+ linear bearings, feel free to come over and I will explain all the changes i made.
(PS: this also means we will pretty soon release the DXF files for 040.. since im finishing 042 now)
Ow and off course the whole reason for these upgrades are mainly quality improvement (and mobility of machine)... but our quality has improven alot last weeks/months, so get ready for some hot videos/pics coming soon, because the bulldog and other videos are really out of date atm... (quality-wise)
PS: 042 is also main reason for delay of 040 Manual, ive decided to base the manual on the 042, since that is latest version and 040 users should be able to use that too. However manual is still at least 1 or 2 weeks from now, but i hope to post pictures or videos earlier.
28-03-2012:
Dear customers, Im very sorry for the recent massive delay/zero communication..
But Im back (again) from another burnout-period/ illness/ i dont know whats going on.. but im very sorry.
It seems like im still recovering from a crazy 1,5year, however things are getting also better, but it all takes longer then expected.
Im back at work since last Thursday and alot is prepared to ship, however i havent posted yet, since i wanted to get overview first and produce alot of machines etc
We are also very busy with improving production/outsourcing etc, but again this takes time and energy to start up.
But in short: 80% of top 45 orca040 waiting list will ship today & tomorrow and some Friday.
all small orders should also ship today/tomorrow
There is massive delay in email again, best is to phone me on the our 040 phone-nr, im available alot on that now/coming days, but please try it after 11am (untill 11pm).
I should also be back on skype again soon (tomorrow probably)
On a side note: something has come to my attention that I am worried about:
There is a FAKE orca 0.40 in the market (For example: makemendel.com), that is not 040.. that is 030+lm8uu..
Untill we have released the files (plastics & thick sheet) all others are fake, its easy to see if we have released files (check download section: downloads - 2d-drawings -Orca)
I mention this because people need to know that those machines are not compatible with upgrades etc (for example v0.41 coming in a few weeks.. small addons for 0.40, like spool holder etc.)
Orca 0.40 is not just 0.30 with linear bearings.. the linear bearings was probably the smallest change (0.30 was already designed to be used with lm8uu in future).
Orca 0.40 is also improved in build area size (increased without increasing total frame size), stiffness, easiness to build/prepared for ACME-thread etc etc.
And last but not least:
webshop is temporarily closed again to get catched up on most orders first (and to let lead-times drop a bit)
And maybe that gives me time to finish 040/041 manual in coming week(s), however i should have more pictures online very soon too, which are usefull for building 040
Also there is a huge amount of PLA 1.75mm on 750gram spools produced and in stock in a few days.. also in new colors, like really bright pink etc.
more news later..
09-03-2012:
NOTE: THERE IS A FIRMWARE ISSUE WITH CURRENT FIRMWARE VERSION:
if you do -10 etc it will go through the zero... if you do home X etc it is fine. so be carefull and dont use Z -10 etc.. but use home Z.
ErikvdZ thinks he solved it, so I will test and upload the new firmware today/tomorrow hopefully
So again: be very careful with minus 1/10/100 etc.. or just use home X/Y/Z buttons only or just wait for new firmware.
Note: if you use my skeinforge settings/files etc, you wont have issues if you just press print.. (my startup gcode works fine), thats why i hadnt noticed it before..
08-03-2012:
news on 1.75mm PLA coming in few days.. but in short: we should have stock again, very soon.. lots ;)
08-03-2012:
Some customer send me an email (about something else), but he had these pictures attached, printed on an orca030, I was amazed:
Just think of the cost for such a prototype on conventional 3D printers... that would probably be the same as the whole orca030 ;)
25-02-2012:
New firmware update will be online tonight, latest Marlin version with gen6 deluxe support. We have had some issues with gen6 deluxe current firmware, so please upload this latest version to your board. I will post a version tonight/tomorrow included settings for Orca 040 (and maybe other machines too).
Also my skeinforge v45 incl profiles will be online tonight / tomorrow.
Orca 040 STL files will be online tonight / tomorrow.
Workshops are coming back in our webshop in a few days.. (in the past they were very quickly sold out, so if you are interested dont wait too long..)
Update coming also for shipping of orders (orca040 top25) this will be posted probably Monday (im waiting on some news from suppliers).
12-02-2012:
Build videos coming (hopefully soon):
* v9 hotend assembly & connecting / glue v9 heaterblock
* adapt "old" v9 heaterblock to fit with new plugnplay hotend cable set (no more glue needed)
* setup, finetune & maintain hotend / clean nozzle / disassemble nozzle
* easy changing / adding filament
* Wiring of Orca & gen6 deluxe cabling & setup
* firmware change & upload / skeinforge v45
* Orca 040 full assembly & user manual
10-02-2012:
First Orca's 040 shipped.
40 Alu sets for Orca 040 have been produced so far already
Note: Orca040 was engineered/developed in Dec 2011 and sales only started 10-1-2012.. so thats some fast development/production..
03-02-2012:
We have delay again on orders and I might shutdown the webshop again in next days to limit orders and get catched up again.
Also we will soon share our plans for 2012, new products that are coming soon, products in development and products that will be developed in 2012.
Ill give one preview: we have developed a working granulate extruder last weeks, it took me only a few days of CAD and prototyping and it already works (but is limited on max speed for now). It uses standard granulate, no special small size needed.. Plastic granulate (aka "pellets") are the same all over the world and are easy available world-wide.. It is also very easy to ship, because its so dense packaged.
Alot of people talk about extruding granulate to make your own filament, in my opinion thats just stupid, im talking here about a small granulate extruder that will fit on a standard 3d printer to use instead of hotend & extruder v9 / v10 . Which can be fitted with a 0,20 - 2,00mm nozzle, no need to choose between filament sizes, no need to setup insert piece and spring tensions on hotend etc etc..
For those who dont realise how big this is.. granulate costs 10-20% of plastic filament.. so the printed cup from videos would be 0,02 EUR instead of 0,20 EUR. If you still dont realise how big this is: We are now able to 3D print plastics for the cost of injection molding.. however we dont need the series of injection molding, in my opinion this might be the biggest change in 3d printing for 2012.
PS: emails sent to my hotmail last week will be answered, so no need to keep resending, however there is at least a one week delay on all email, I should be able to start answering emails this weekend, and I hope to be online with skype again also tonight/this weekend.
PS2: people think we can give unlimited support on our products, thats completly nonsense off course, we are a DIY webshop, that means we dont have to give any support at all, any support we give is extra. DIY means: Do It Yourself, so search information yourself, be sure you can assembly it before you buy it, know what you are buying etc etc.
Think of us as a car parts shop, you cant ask them for drawings of your car, you cant ask them for support, but if you do get support you are lucky and not the other way around. If you want unlimited support please buy an older machine for more money at some other webshop or come to one of our workshops (yes we will do workshops again, but it will be at least 1-2 more months).
Also we are a webshop, that means no pickup anymore, no coming by for chatting (during week) etc, its very simple: from the past we have learned this just takes up hours of time everyday, which we dont have. And also I have decided that alot we do here is top-secret from now on and therefor visitors are not welcome anymore.
I really hate to say that, it goes in against things i believe, but trust me, we have todo that at this time, to get catched up on orders and to avoid spies here...
16-01-2012:
First Orca 040 images posted