Geeetech i3 Pro B SSR upgrade by technomastermind

Last crawled date: 3 years ago

UPDATE 27/04/17 Build photos plus video.https://youtu.be/MYmTtDuz07U
Also added cable cut-outs file,you can run the cables inside of the enclosure.
UPDATE 23/0417 Build photos and wiring diagram added.
This thing is a Geeetech prusa i3 pro B SSR upgrade mounting bracket.
It is for upgrading your heated build platform to 220volts.
I have upgraded my heated bed to a 220 volts 500 watt mains direct silicone heat mat.
The heated bed that came with the Geeetech would take far too long to warm up to an acceptable temperature ( i predominately print ABS or nylon ).
After this upgrade my bed heats up to 110 c in only a matter of minutes,thus speeding up my production of printed parts ,-)
What you are effectively doing is sending the heated bed power from the geeetech breakout board to trigger the solid state relay into supplying the silicone mat with 220volt mains voltage to the build platform.
The thermistor that comes with the heat mat connects to your printers electronics and maintains build plate temperature.
This mod takes the load off your 3D printers PSU and makes it more stable due to the fact that it now only needs to supply power to your stepper motors and extruder heater cartridge.
I personalty like to use a 1.2mm nozzle with my E3D volcano hot end for fast printing and far better inter-layer adhesion.
Faster prints obviously mean your heater cartridge will be thirsty for power and more or less be constantly drawing current from your under powered PSU.
During this instance your printer electronics will be struggling to receive to power required to make them function correctly.
The impact of this could be very long warm up times and inconsistent of fluctuation of temperature,often resulting in a failed print ,-(
Since this upgrade,build plate adhesion is fantastic and temperatures maintained within set tolerances.
I have chosen to use a clamping method approach with this design,we are dealing with mains voltage after all.
The SSR will be compressed between the two halves of the enclosure and use tha aluminium frame of the Geeetech for added heat sinking,should it be required.
The silicone mat has been affixed to an MK3 alu heat bed,mounting holes are a perfect fit and cheaper the buying just a piece of aluminium plate the correct size.
20mm M5 nuts and bolts were used to hold the enclosure together.
The SSR in use is a FOTEK SSR-40 DA ebay number ( 152348350807 )
The silicone heat mat is a KEENOVO ebay number ( 281275436935 )
Enjoy ,-)