3D printer actuator

thingiverse

This is a straightforward design where you can attach motors, bearings and lead screw to a v-slot profile. You can see our 3D printer in action at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J290Y4HbnQ8. At the motor side, there are two bearings that lock into place with shaft sleeves. It is optional to insert an M8 retaining ring between the two bearings but they must be pressed together against the flange inside the 3D print. Bearings can have some axial backlash (0.1mm or so); this design can eliminate it. The nut holder is an improvised anti-backlash design that works well with our 3D printer, but you need to take care not to screw them too tight. For fun, I also drew up a standard anti-backlash screw, TR8x8 (lead 2mm). Warning: You may need to check measurements and adjust to your preferences. This design may not be completely accurate, so it's recommended to start with some test prints and adjust the XY offset to make it fit properly onto the 2020 v-slot profile. The bearings we use are 8x22x7 mm (often used with roller skates) and the material is PETG. Since stepper motors can get hot, plastics might become soft; on the other hand, if the stepper approaches 100C, you may want to adjust the driver amperage.