1 Topic by pirvan

  • pirvan
  • pirvan
  • Member
  • Offline
  • From: San Francisco
  • Registered: 2013-03-27
  • Posts: 1,797

Topic: Removing the Printhead carriage

I need help with some ideas on how to remove the printhead carriage from the "X" rails.  Technically, I need help with removing the rods from the "X" ends.

The rods seem to be press-fitted into the ends pieces and they won't budge.  I looked and they don't look like they're held in place with any kind of set screws.  But I just can't seem to be able to push them out.

I had this idea that I would simply push the rods partially out of the right-hand sliding end, then disconnect and remove the print head assembly and replace it with the new one I printed.  All this without disassembling the entire "X" & "Y".

Push rods to the left enough to clear the right side sliding end piece, lift up, slide print head assembly off rails, replace, reconnect, done.

Am I smoking something, or is this doable ???

To print or, 3D print, that is the question...
SD3 printer w/too many mods,  Printrbot Simple Maker Ed.,  FormLabs Form 1+
AnyCubic Photon, Shining 3D EinScan-S & Atlas 3D scanners...
...and too much time on my hands.

2 Reply by 2n2r5

  • 2n2r5
  • 2n2r5
  • Member
  • Offline
  • From: Frederick, MD
  • Registered: 2013-05-09
  • Posts: 1,208

Re: Removing the Printhead carriage

pirvan wrote:

I need help with some ideas on how to remove the printhead carriage from the "X" rails.  Technically, I need help with removing the rods from the "X" ends.

The rods seem to be press-fitted into the ends pieces and they won't budge.  I looked and they don't look like they're held in place with any kind of set screws.  But I just can't seem to be able to push them out.

I had this idea that I would simply push the rods partially out of the right-hand sliding end, then disconnect and remove the print head assembly and replace it with the new one I printed.  All this without disassembling the entire "X" & "Y".

Push rods to the left enough to clear the right side sliding end piece, lift up, slide print head assembly off rails, replace, reconnect, done.

Am I smoking something, or is this doable ???

If you take the open end of a 7/8" wrench and slide it on the X rails into the X end, it should have enough mass to slowly work the X end off without destroying it. That is what I do with the couple extra x ends from lawsy's carriage that I want to keep as back ups.

I have tried other methods, but everything else generally destroys the X end.

SD3 w/ mods:
Glass bed with QU-BD heat pad upgrade, threadless ballscrew w/ 8mm smooth rod, spectra line belt replacement, lawsy MK5 extruder, Lawsy replacement carriage, E3D hotend, Ramps 1.4 w/ reprap discount controller, DRV8825 drivers, 12v 30A PS, Acrylic case, Overkill Y-idlers, Filament alarm, Extruder fan + more.

2n2r5's Website