1

Topic: Need a Y carriage that moves the X motor out of the way

So the large solidoodle build that I started a while ago is starting back up after taking a couple month break.  I've just been enjoying the summer weather with more outdoor activities.  Anyway, when I last left this project, I had realized that with a bed this size, I could not have a cantilevered bed holder and I would have to support it from both sides (left and right).  Well, when I do this the X motor runs into the bed holder.  It doesn't help that I have a fan on the bottom of it, but it would hit even without that.

I considered several options, none of which I really like:

  • Put the bed on longer screws and springs.  This can lead to more wobble.

  • Build some crazy bed holder with a cut out for the motor.  Too much work, and possible strength issues.


  • Mount the additional Z rods in the front of my printer, and turn it 90 degrees to make the current right side (idler) carriage the new front.  This puts the X end stop in the way of the view but is otherwise a decent idea.

  • Flip the Y carriages upside down.  I can move the Y rods to below the X rods to make this work, its fairly easy on open beam.  This is my current plan, but it makes the X motor cable routing somewhat awkward.

I have seen a couple other carriage designs like this one from makerbot (http://i.imgur.com/Zjwjlwd.jpg) that move the X motor to a different orientation so its not hanging down.  Unfortunately, this will require a new E carriage as well.  Also, I have not found an .stl file of that carriage. 

I'm trying to avoid designing custom carriages from scratch because I don't have the time (or really the skill) to do this.  Any other suggestions?  Thanks.

SD4 w/ RUMBA, E3D Volcano, all bearings, glass bed