Hi, I recently picked up a Zonestar Z9V5-MK3 for too much money, too far from my house but what’s done is done. I bought another hot end on eBay off a MK5 or 6 but spares seem to be few and far between though it looks like I can still get parts new. I found some info on a Facebook group for these things and their GitHub looks like it has a decent amount of info. I’m really looking for opinions or experience, what are their quirks, etc. Ultimately I want to replace the belts, trade the glass bed for magnetic, and upgrade the extruders but all that needs to wait until I’ve actually powered this thing on. In the near term I need to replace all the missing hardware on the machine (8 screws and a rubber foot), hook up the electrics, fire it up and see what happens.
I did decide if this thing actually works I’ll probably install linear rails, the kit is ~$70 on their site and should make x and y a lot more precise. The gantry style x/y feels pretty loose TBH though that could be the frame being loose. I may add locktite to the frame fasteners.
ExcessShiv@lemmy.dbzer0.com 16 hours ago
Uuh…honestly you probably made a truly terrible choice buying that thing. Even free I probably wouldn’t have gone with it. Before you’re done fixing and upgrading that thing you could’ve probably bought a brand new fully functional printer from a different manufacturer and saved yourself many hours of work and frustration.
I would cut my losses now on that thing unless you seriously enjoy a time and money sink that will eventually lead to you getting another printer.
ChihuahuaOfDoom@lemmy.world 15 hours ago
That’s a shame but I am enjoying working on printers as much as I am printing to be honest. As far as money sinks, I could have bought a nice bambu brinter for what I have into my ad5x and ender 3. It’s easier to see after the fact. Perhaps this one will go in the attic until I feel like throwing more money in a hole. Thanks for the reply :)