Hi peterE
That electronics kit was a steal. Only other thing you may want to add is the graphics display because that allows you to download a file to an sd card and print it standalone.
Having the y motor at the back and the home position at the rear also are both things I will try, then when it goes home at the end the model is pushed to the front ready to remove.
I have just started looking at some of the parts and have run into an issue which I had encountered before. I pushed the linear bearings into the z axis plastic holders and found that the smooth motion degraded to lumps and bumps. I took one of the bearings out and the other one was still nbg. Then I remembered my previous experience where this happened. It was on an industrial pick and place robot where the hole for the bearing was out of round. Just pushing the bearing into the holder is enough to distort the case and destroy the smooth motion. should be OK with the tye wrapped ones but the z axis pairs will need the holders sorting if they are the same as mine. I was making new parts anyway so not a bodyblow, but a bit of a surprise. btw, the two z axis bearings can be replaced by one LM8LUU - still have to have a gentle holder though.
I was thinking of putting my assembly attempts in project logs - cos thats the right place. Will probably call it picclocks attempt at an I3 3d printer. Should cause no confusion
Will not start log or build proper until after I return from holiday on the 17th September.
Best regards
picclock
PS Just had a thought. You can program and check out the Arduino card just using the power from the usb lead. I did it to check for functionality but I was surprised at how long the compiler (Arduino 1.6.5) took to compile the marlin code ~4.5 mins. I thought it had crashed but it just takes a long time. I7 64bit Windows 7. The other thing is that it recompiles to upload even if it has successfully compiled before.