Anet A8 adjustable height Modular Extruder

thingiverse

Features: The best thing about this setup is that you can adjust the extruder height easily while printing with just one screw, allowing you to keep the hotbed in a fixed position without needing an extruder sensor. Extruder trays enable quick removal and replacement of the extruder for maintenance purposes. Simply print as many trays as you have extruders, and leave out the heat block screw so that you can easily remove the heat bar. I've been working with this setup for a while now, and I've never encountered any issues without using the screw. The extruder's position remains unchanged from its original mount, so you won't need to make any firmware adjustments. Instructions: To attach the extruder and push fitting, use two nuts: one on top to hold the push fitting and extruder tube in place, and another at the bottom for added firmness. Next, attach the printing fan to the tray support by creating a larger hole with an awl if necessary. Place a nut in the tray support and a screw in the base's spring-loaded holder (both from the hotbed support). You won't need these components on the hotbed anymore. Slide the tray support into the tray rail, securing it with the screw in the nut. This allows you to adjust the extruder height using a screwdriver. Adjust the z-endstop and hotbed to their optimal positions, keeping the hotbed stationary if desired. Attach the mount to the linear bearing using a belt holder or two screws. Known Issues: Some screws are challenging to secure due to their proximity to the tray rail; I plan to address this in the next version. Additionally, the push fitting can be tricky to screw into place. Finally, the extruder tray and tray support may require some sanding to ensure smooth movement; a little sandpaper work should resolve these issues. In my prototype, the extruder tray is not fully extended due to printing difficulties (I didn't use supports). I'm utilizing the print fan as a heat dissipator fan because I don't see significant benefits in cooling the print while it's being printed. However, I'll explore implementing the other fan as a dedicated printing cooler in future iterations; for now, this setup is sufficient for heat dissipation purposes, allowing for easy adjustment of the fan's position.