Machines/Printrbot Simple Metal

ToDo

Properly Document settings:

Baud rate: 250000
Build Volume: X147 Y150 Z152

I'm having issues printing at the limits of my printbed... ~~I suspect I'll need to adjust the cura printer info files - haven't had any luck tweaking the settings in the gui~~ Looks like the firmware bed offsets are off...

Story

I inherited a Printrbot Simple Metal 3D Printer from the Chicago Tool Library.

I had been borrowing it with some regularity and helping to improve its reliability & usability; I made small modifications and wrote documentation for their catalogue on the strategies and software choices I used to make it work for me. But ultimately CTL decided that this model was just too difficult to use for most library members, and not worth their ongoing maintenance effort. It was offered to me as someone who might get some use out of it - amazing people!

This page documents how I've continued to maintain/improve it.

Log

ToDo: See email exchange for the documentation I wrote:

December 12, 2021 3:30 PM:

Hi CTL Team!

I borrowed the PrintrBot Simple Metal [1] for a week, made a couple minor hardware tweaks, and used a software work-around that I think you should put on the item page. I also have a question about the printer's history / configuration.

First: thanks so much for making this awesome service available :) <3

1. Hardware
I used two zip-ties to stop/prevent a couple cable collisions (4 pictures attached). I also had to re-insert the z-axis ball screw and tighten the set/grub screws on it after a crash pulled it out completely.

2. Software
I noticed that the Start G-Code sent by my slicer [2] caused the auto bed leveling routine to probe over a gap in the (X150,Y0) region of the bed (picture attached). Unable to detect metal with the z-height sensor, the controller would drive the hot-end into the bed and beyond [3]. I added a move command to my slicer's Start G-Code for this printer so that the bed leveling would start 15mm in.

Specifically I added G0 Y135 after the G28 X0 Y0 X/Y homing leaves the hot-end at (X0,Y150) but before the G29 bed leveling.

[1] https://app.chicagotoollibrary.org/items/1310
[2] Cura 4.4.1 as packaged for Ubuntu 20.04 LTS
[3] this is what pulled the ball screw out...

P.S. I also attached 7 pictures of what I used the printer (and some of your filament... thanks!!) for.

After figuring out all the above configuration/mods, I made a prototype adapter/bearing for my own printer build.

Then I made an adapter for one of our vacuum cleaners. Damn planned obsolescence... The manufacturer of our (I live in a "co-op") favorite household-size vacuum [4] stopped making the filters only used by that model. I bought a widely used filter with a receiver made for some other vacuum at a thrift shop, cut the functional geometry out of the receiver, cut a clearance hole out of the original filter mounting plate, and printed an adapter ring to hold the functional part of the receiver in place. It was fun, and now we can use a widely available standard filter for our old vacuum!

[4] as opposed to our favorite wet-dry vac

P.P.S. Thanks for reading about my adventure xD

<3
RKL

December 14, 2021 10:57 AM

Hi Rosie,

Thanks for this amazing recap and analysis! It is extremely helpful and will be really valuable to future borrowers of the machine. And your fix for the vacuum filter problem is awesome - it's exactly the type of thing that I believe 3D printers are best suited for.

We really appreciate your willingness to work with the printer and help us make it better for other borrowers. I'm not super familiar with 3D printing or this machine, so I've got a couple clarifying questions which I've just written in-line below.

Specifically I added G0 Y135 after the G28 X0 Y0 X/Y homing leaves the hot-end at (X0,Y150) but before the G29 bed leveling. - Is it probable that other users will be using a software that is similar enough to what you used that I could just include your exact code with a bit of a description so they would be able to add it in? Alternatively, it looks like the z-height sensor might be a proximity sensor similar to those I used at work which can detect any material. If that's the case, could we also advise that people make sure they tape over those empty areas (not for printing, just for triggering the height sensor)? It would be great to add a solution like that which is very easy for the layperson because many of the printer's users will be first timers. Do you know if that sensor can only detect metal?

3. Configuration
I would like to re-compile and upload Marlin with EMERGENCY_PARSER enabled so that M112 Emergency Stop can be used to prevent crashes like the one I experienced (too many times...). Do you know if any other compilation options / patches have been applied to the version of Marlin on the board now? I would obviously like to preserve the existing configuration and only add to it. Let me know if you have any other thoughts/concerns with doing this. - No concerns from us. We trust that you'll make changes with good intent and double check that they work so have at it. Do you need something specific from us in order to do that or just to borrow the item again?

[2] Cura 4.4.1 as packaged for Ubuntu 20.04 LTS

Thanks again! Please let us know if you have any other feedback or questions.

Best,
Vivek Doshi (he/him)
Volunteer librarian | The Chicago Tool Library
p: 773-242-0923 w: chicagotoollibrary.org
1048 W 37th St, St. 102, Chicago, IL 60609 (map)

December 20, 2021 1:37 PM

Hi Vivek,

It is extremely helpful

Yay! :) Thanks

I've got a couple clarifying questions which I've just written in-line below.

And I will respond in-kind:

2. Software

Is it probable that other users will be using a software that is similar
enough to what you used that I could just include your exact code with a bit
of a description so they would be able to add it in?

I suspect yes, since the current listing recommends the same software but I
don't know how it might vary across versions. I will survey a few different
options when I next borrow the item.

I would say that a note which emphasizes the 'only try if xyz is occuring' part
couldn't hurt! I can think of no failure mode which would be any worse for the
machine than the original problem or risk any physical harm to the user.

Alternatively, it looks like the z-height sensor might be a proximity sensor.
Do you know if that sensor can only detect metal?

I don't know what kind of sensor it is but I'd be happy to test it when I next
borrow it!

could we also advise that people make sure they tape over those empty areas?

I'm a little concerned about tape sagging and giving inaccurate readings, but
it would be worth trying!

It would be great to add a solution like that which is very easy

I agree 100%.

I suspect that the most stable long-term fix will be to either
1. replace the bed with one without slots, or
2. hack on the firmware to reduce the distance traveled by the leveling routine.

Another version of option 1 (depending on the sensor) would be to use a 3d
printed part! I'll look into that when I next borrow it.

Option 2 is the kind of work I am looking to do a lot of in the future (for my
personal research goals), but haven't done much of it since university. Might
be a fun project to get back into it with...

3. Configuration

No concerns from us. We trust that you'll make changes with good intent and
double check that they work so have at it. Do you need something specific
from us in order to do that or just to borrow the item again?

I should only need to borrow the item again! Though once it's done, I'll have
notes that you all will need to save for the next person who comes along with
a similar request.

I'm excited and grateful!

Happy Holidays,
Rosie K.L. (they/them)

December 27, 2021 5:10 PM

Hi Rosie,

Thanks again for the thorough feedback. I just passed on your advice to another user of the machine and I will compile their feedback with yours and add it to the item listing in a few weeks.

Thanks for your willingness to tinker with this tool! I'm curious to see where you're able to get the printer to in the long run. After I replied to your original email, there was some concern from another tool librarian about being able to recover the original configuration if something were to go wrong during your modification. Do you know if something like that would be possible? Or perhaps, saving the current software/configuration somewhere? Their concern was that because the item is no longer supported, we'd have no real recourse if we encountered an issue. It's not a major concern, but I figured I'd check in with you.

Hope you have a good new year!
Vivek

December 30, 2021 12:04 AM

because the item is no longer supported, we'd have no real recourse if we
encountered an issue

That's a really good point! I'll look into what board the printer is
built around and what enterprise / FOSS-community support is available.

It would also be interesting to see how recently users of this particular
printer model were posting on forums about it, as other potential contacts
were something to go wrong.

being able to recover the original configuration

I'll try to dump the firmware or similar before I overwrite anything.

Thanks :)
RKL

March 11, 2022 1:10 PM

Hi Rosie,

Thanks for your patience and your generosity with our little 3D printer. I must admit that I am out of my depth with much of what you detailed so it took me a lot longer to read through and understand it.

I have added your notes to the item's description and will keep an eye out for more feedback from you. That said, it occurs to me that most of our borrowers are much closer to my level of understanding than the deeper understanding you have and I'm wondering if it might be time to look into a more novice friendly model. If you have thoughts about a reliable, cheap, and user friendly option, please let us know. I'm not sure exactly when we'll take the plunge but now is as good a time as any to start building a roster of options.

Thanks again!
Vivek

April 30, 2022 3:12 PM

Hi Rosie,

I have some sad news - the Printrbot has given up the ghost on us. It does seem repairable but given its other usability issues we decided it's best home is no longer with the tool library. I'm reaching out to see if you'd like to have it.

Please let me know and I'll make sure that we keep it around for a little bit so you can pick it up. If not, we'll try to rehome or recycle it elsewhere.

Hope you're well,
Vivek

May 1, 2022 1:14 AM

Hi Vivek,

the Printrbot has given up the ghost on us.
I'm reaching out to see if you'd like to have it.

I'm sorry to hear about this! Thanks for reaching out - I'll gladly take it off your hands. Although I've been busy this month with paid work and repairing my car, I am looking forward to continuing to work on that little printer. Should I pick it up at a specific time this coming week? And will there be notes from its last use?

If you have thoughts about a reliable, cheap, and user friendly option, please let us know.

Unfortunately I'm not up-to-date with what's on the market. I have experience with printers on the two extremes of very high-end and very cheap+DIY/tinkery, but little practical buying advice.

I hope y'all are doing better than the printer <3

With thanks,
Rosie Keith Languet

ToDo: Document my alpine cura packaging journey.

2022-08-12

Lately I've been having under-extrusion issues. Here's what I'll be investigating:

printing temperature
nozzle clog
extrusion stepper
nozzle temperature sensor
filament humidity

https://www.ifixit.com/Guide/Clearing+Jammed+Printrbot+Simple+Metal+2014+Hot+End/25566
https://support.bcn3d.com/knowledge/unclog-hotend-bcn3d
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fzWj6adWc-Y

2025-08-29

After re-assembling the printer post-move, I notice that the X and Y motor cables are terminated with connectors that don't quite match the board. the pin spacing seems to be correct, but they have different locking components, compared to the connectors for the Z motor and all three probe/end-stops. I had to reverse the X motor connector, so now it doesn't lock in at all.

🛠️:Machines/Printrbot Simple Metal

ToDo

Story

Log

ToDo: See email exchange for the documentation I wrote:

ToDo: Document my alpine cura packaging journey.

2022-08-12

2025-08-29

🛠️Machines Printrbot Simple Metal