1 Topic by COASTER19

  • COASTER19
  • COASTER19
  • Member
  • Offline
  • From: Kansas
  • Registered: 2013-03-08
  • Posts: 235

Topic: Rotating the e-stepper and cord bundle (Level 2 - Techie Consumer)

The cord bundle off of the left side of the extruder has always bothered me, as it seems very prone to becoming tangled in the y-belt.  Printable guards are out there, but they reduce the printer's build volume.  I rotated the stepper and cord bundle to solve this problem.

A step-by-step walkthrough of the process:

http://i.imgur.com/MKwICBt.jpg

1. Remove wires entering the cord bundle from the sanguinololu.

2. Thread all of the disconnected wires out of the hole on the back of the printer.

3. Unscrew and remove the extruder, disconnecting the thermistor (chance to do Lawsy's MK5 upgrade!)

4. Remove the stepper zip tie, along with the kapton tape around the extruder

5. Rotate the stepper 90 degrees.  The thermistor cable will need to be pulled through the bundle a little more to reach.

6. Use kapton to tape the cord bundle back on to the top of the extruder making sure the wires reach the hot end

http://i.imgur.com/ooLRztK.jpg

7. Replace the acrylic/printed extruder parts removed in step 3

8.  Move the extruder as far forward as it will go and tape the cord bundle to the back.  Make sure the extruder can move around the whole bed, and start printing!

http://i.imgur.com/4kAxhWe.jpg

2 Reply by adrian

  • adrian
  • Member
  • Offline
  • From: Canberra, Australia
  • Registered: 2013-01-15
  • Posts: 1,623

Re: Rotating the e-stepper and cord bundle (Level 2 - Techie Consumer)

COASTER19 wrote:

Printable guards are out there, but they reduce the printer's build volume.  I rotated the stepper and cord bundle to solve this problem.

Nice job and pics..

But I'm confused by one of your statements about existing solutions - how do they reduce the build volume ? I've used a couple, and never once had an impact on build volume. Maybe I'm misunderstanding what you are trying to convey by saying 'reduce the printer's build volume' so could you elaborate on what the issue is with those solutions a bit further ?

3 Reply by COASTER19

  • COASTER19
  • COASTER19
  • Member
  • Offline
  • From: Kansas
  • Registered: 2013-03-08
  • Posts: 235

Re: Rotating the e-stepper and cord bundle (Level 2 - Techie Consumer)

Over time, my cord bundle began to sag until it rested on the x-axis.  The couple belt guards I tried extended slightly into the back left corner of the printer and could not guide the cord up.  I designed one which could guide the cord up, but it had to extend even further on to the x-axis.  Overall, this mod gives me peace of mind when doing a large print where the belt would be pressed against or into the belt guard hundreds of times.  It doesn't improve print quality, but I am far more comfortable letting it run on its own now.