Anet A6 Z-Carriage (modular, parametric)

thingiverse

This is a modular Z-Carriage upgrade for the Anet A6 printer. It replaces the stock carriages with ones that have a belt tensioner, which is crucial for good quality prints. The stock carriages don't have a belt tensioner, and I was unsatisfied with existing upgrades due to warping issues. The model I developed is 100% parametric, allowing users to edit measures and tolerances at will. My priorities were perfect distance of the x-rods, perfect fastening of the x-rods, modular design for easy replacement of single parts and reduced print time on failure, reducing the need for supports, ability to upgrade to plain bearings like Igus, optics, and customizability. Some detail decisions include beveled 8-sided polygon holes in the braces for improved fit, a gap in the clamp for better alignment, and a tight but possible fit of the x-rod. Calibration is crucial to ensure proper fit and function. Components from left to right are: `left_outer_x_rod_brace`, `left_z_carriage`, `left_inner_x_rod_brace`, `right_inner_x_rod_brace`, `right_z_carriage`, `right_outer_x_rod_brace`, `x_belt_tensioner`, and `x_belt_tenioner_knob`. Optional components include `xz_stop`, `left_z_carriage_cover`, `right_z_carriage_cover`, and `belt_holder`. Assembly instructions can be found in the `overview` section, along with photos. The design is still open to suggestions for a holder for plain bearings, allowing the x-stop-switch to be moved from the x-carriage to the left z-carriage, and adding weight to the right carriage.