1 Topic by Claghorn

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Topic: better cable management?

When (if :-) I swap in my E3D, I'll need to do something about the cables. I don't really like the stock solidoodle braided sleeve (at least not the way it is currently oriented). I've had it make the carriage rock when it compresses and I've also seen it brush against the left side Y belt (now fishing line).

Since I have a really high top on my case, I'm thinking the cables would be less trouble if they went up and over rather than sideways. I keep wondering if I could just run the cables through a couple of rings that could freely slide back and forth on some rods which, in turn, could freely rotate left and right. Does that make any sense to anyone? (I admit it is quite likely to be noisy :-).

Any wonderful cable solutions out there I haven't seen? (I have seen the 3D printed cable chains, and I can't believe they wouldn't be even worse than the braid).

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2 Reply by elmoret

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Re: better cable management?

Why would cable chains be worse than braid? That's the industry solution to this problem.

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3 Reply by Claghorn

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Re: better cable management?

elmoret wrote:

Why would cable chains be worse than braid? That's the industry solution to this problem.

I just have a terrible time imagining that the chain wouldn't wind up exerting more force on the carriage than the braid does, and I already know the braid rocking the carriage has screwed up some prints (of course that just means I should obviously switch to the new carriages on the linear bearings that won't rock on me - yet another mod to make :-).

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4 Reply by elmoret

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Re: better cable management?

If the carriage is rocking, the cable management isn't the problem.

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5 Reply by wardjr

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Re: better cable management?

I can offer this.... I run my cable braided nylon sleeve vertically from the rear left upper corner of the motor.  It is held in place with a brake line tubing clamp.  From there it arcs up and towards the rear where it exits the existing hole in the center of the top angle of the case.
I'll try and find a picture but this arrangement has proven to be a simple solution to the problem.

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6 Reply by Ggalisky

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Re: better cable management?

I use the same design as Ultimaker to manage my wires.

Picture:
http://i.imgur.com/Kd1TqrN.jpg?1

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7 Reply by pirvan

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Re: better cable management?

Claghorn wrote:
elmoret wrote:

Why would cable chains be worse than braid? That's the industry solution to this problem.

I just have a terrible time imagining that the chain wouldn't wind up exerting more force on the carriage than the braid does, and I already know the braid rocking the carriage has screwed up some prints (of course that just means I should obviously switch to the new carriages on the linear bearings that won't rock on me - yet another mod to make :-).

A good quality cable chain will not bind, and be as smooth as if on rollers.  It shouldn't assert any undue force to impede the carriage movement.

On the other hand, if your current setup is making the carriage rock, you have a problem with your carriage, which you may want to check first.

Here is a video of a a piece of cable chain I use on my printer.  Notice how freely it moves and rolls.

...and here is my cable chain setup

http://www.soliforum.com/misc.php?action=pun_attachment&item=6978

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8 Reply by Quintox303

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Re: better cable management?

How many chain links are you using on your cable chain for the solidoodle 3?

9 Reply by pirvan

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Re: better cable management?

On this particular cable I used 36 links, but it will obviously depend your cable, type and size. 

This cable chain is not printed, this is a commercially available model made by Okso/KabelSchlepp.  Here is a pdf.  I have model 0130-16 KR20.  That means it's a model 0130 (opening type), 16mm tall on the inside and it has a 20mm radius.

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10 Reply by Quintox303

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Re: better cable management?

Thanks, im wondering if I printed something like lawsy's cable chain if it would be as smooth.

11 Reply by n2ri

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Re: better cable management?

wouldn't plastic automobile wire armor tubing with the slit down side be better for this and less stiff?

Solidoodle 2 with Deluxe kit cover & glass bed with heater. and 2nd board SD2 used not 3rd and alum platform not installed yet still wood. also need cooling fan installed to board. use Repetier Host couple vers. Slic3r also have all free ware STL programs

12 Reply by n2ri (edited by n2ri 2014-12-08 02:57:10)

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Re: better cable management?

few things to watch with chains or tight ties etc is getting it jammed when head moves in more than 1 plain. and chafing wires where it rubs constantly till it cuts insulation or wires. thats why elevator cable chains have so much padding and give in wires plus monkey puke as an electrician calls the slime used for pulling wire through conduit to keep it sliding. armor flex conduit has been outlawed for use on all but very short connections in many city codes due to sharp edges chewing notches in wires and shorting them out in a couple years

Solidoodle 2 with Deluxe kit cover & glass bed with heater. and 2nd board SD2 used not 3rd and alum platform not installed yet still wood. also need cooling fan installed to board. use Repetier Host couple vers. Slic3r also have all free ware STL programs

13 Reply by elmoret

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Re: better cable management?

n2ri wrote:

wouldn't plastic automobile wire armor tubing with the slit down side be better for this and less stiff?

That would provide zero support, so it would sag down into the belts just like the current braid.

Cable chain is the right solution.

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