DIY Lulzbot Wiper Pads by captainslug

Last crawled date: 3 years ago

Per the outline in the Lulzbot whitepapers on the topic of producing wiper pads, you can produce these yourself very cost-effectively.
Buy Mcmaster part# 88085K311
Print out both STL files
Put a Stanley "1992" trapezoidal razor blade in the recess of the print.
Clamp the two prints together with 1-3/4" or longer UNF 10-32 screws and hex nuts.
Use a pair of shears, scissors, or a hobby knife to cut a 3-inch long v-notch in the middle of one end of the felt.
Feed the cut end of the felt into the opening in the assembled "Felt Splitter"
Pull the entire spool through the splitter.
You now have the raw material to make your own wiper pads. The whitepaper describes making an ABS sludge by cutting a 3-foot section of ABS filament and submerging it in Acetone to dissolve for 24 hours. Then dipping the felt coils into that for 10 minutes per side the hanging it to dry.
I have alternatively had decent success with simply applying two coats of "Vinyl & Fabric" spray dye which deposits a thin layer of plastic onto the felt. Using the pads without a coating can also work if you use a secondary scotchbrite wiper pad. Though I've found that just using them bare hasn't been too bad either.