Replicator 2 & 2X, Z axis Ballast (FIX)

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The Replicator 2 And 2X Have Issues With Its Z Axis Having Play, Movement And Stickiness Which Causes Uneven Print Layers. You Will Notice This By Jogging The Z Axis Up About 3/4 Of The Way. If You Push Up On The Build Plate From The Bottom And Pull Down On It You Will Notice The Play. Although That Play Is Very Minimal, It Dramatically Effects Your Print Layers. The Stickiness In The Z Axis Occurs Because Of The Bushings.If The Z Axis Used Linear Bearings Instead Of Bushings This Would Not Occur. The Ballast Was Designed To Hold Extra Weight On The Build Plate To Force The Z Axis To Drop Down Each Layer As The Screw Rod Lowers. By Adding Weight To Your Build Plate, This Will Eliminate Inconsistent Layers While Printing. I Used Loose Coins In My Ballast For Weight. You Can Place Coins Or Steel Ball Bearings In Yours. Do Not Place Sand Or Water In Your Ballast. 1. Take Your Back Plate Out That Sits On Your Build Platform. The Back Plate Has The Red Makerbot Logo On It Which Covers Your Threaded Rod And Has 2 Screws To Hold It In Place. 2. Once The Back Plate Is Removed, Insert The Printed Ballast In The Cavity That The Back Plate Covered. 3. The Printed Ballast Has A Groove In It To Prevent The Threaded Rod From Being Touched. Make Sure Your Printed Ballast Groove Goes In First Around That Threaded Rod. 4. Now Reinstall The Back Plate And Screw The 2 Screws Back In Place Securing The Printed Ballast. 5. Jog The Build Platform Up About 3/4 The Way On The Z Axis. 6. Fill The Printed Ballast Up With Your Desired Material. Either Use Loose Coins Or Steel Ball Bearings By Adding A Little At A Time. Make Sure You Place The Same Amount Of Weight Equally On Both Sides Of Your Ballast For Even Weight Distribution. 7. Check The Build Plate By Pushing It Up From The Bottom And Letting It Go. If The Build Plate Does Not Drop Down On Its Own, Then Add More Weight Until It Drops Down When You Lift Up. Do Not Fill The Ballast All The Way Up Without Checking The Weight In Small Increments. It May Be Too Much Weight And May Cause Damage To Your Z Axis Stepper Motor. 8. Once You Have Found The Desired Weight, Its Time To Level The Build Plate Again. Do Not Skip This Step, Very Important For Accurate Prints. 9. Do A Test Print, If Your Prints Horizontal Lines Are All Even And Consistent, Your Z Axis Is Dialed In.

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