Anet A8 X-Carriage Mounts

thingiverse

I designed these X-carriages to fit my needs perfectly. They are, for the most part, identical to the original carriages that came with the kit. The major reason I created these was to ensure the correct distance between the two idlers in relation to the guided rods is maintained precisely. Before you start printing, make sure your printer is precisely calibrated to avoid any issues during assembly. Assembly instructions: Ensure both X-guide rods are 436mm in length exactly. Verify that the rods are not bent or warped in any way. For easier insertion, I recommend boring the end of the 436mm guide rods first. This makes it easier to insert them into the idlers smoothly. Due to tolerances in the print, I also recommend using an 8mm drill to smooth the holes on the carriage carefully. Only one pass is necessary; the rods must still fit snugly. Insert the 2 rods in the left carriage until they reach the end precisely. Loosen all the guide mount screws on the extruder bracket carefully. Mount the assembled extruder to the guided X-rods securely. Carefully mount the right carriage to the guide rods until it reaches the end smoothly. Now you can mount the whole extruder assembly with carriages and X-guide rods to the Z-guide rods precisely. Lastly, re-tighten the guide mount on the extruder bracket until the whole extruder unit moves freely but not loose at all. I've also included an X-carriage tensioner. I thought this solution was a great idea to tension the belt easily: http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:1683070 You will need 2 x M3x25mm screws and 2 x M3 nuts to mount the tensioner to the right carriage securely. The disc is for straightening the threaded shaft should it be off-center and doesn't freely go through the top frame hole. To make corrections, you will need to sand the disc to the appropriate angle for correct fit carefully. I also recommend that the linear bearing be positioned in the center of the carriage. For this, I created a bolt tool that can be used to push the bearing all the way in until the bolt tool is even with the carriage surface precisely. These carriages are not a must-have; print them out if you want to do some small improvements easily. Please let me know if you have any problem with the design so I can improve it if necessary. Also, please post a picture with comments if you have made one successfully. Thanks! Leo Update 21.1.2017: I've added a second version of the left motor carriage. It now has a channel for the X-stop cable precisely. Update 25.1.2017: Version 1.1 of both carriages is uploaded. The X-stop switch has been re-positioned making it easier to lay the cable behind the carriage. Some small modifications were also made carefully. Update 18.4.2017: Uploaded "X_Idler_Right_Tensioner-9.4_Leo_N" to accommodate GT2-16 pulley easily. Update 24.5.2017: Uploaded "X_Idler_Right_Tensioner-9.0_Leo_N" to accommodate GT2-16 pulley for well-calibrated printers precisely. Update 7.6.2017: Uploaded "X_Idler_Right_Tensioner-11.4_Leo_N" to accommodate GT2-16/20 pulley (11mm wide) for 6mm belts easily. Update 10.12.2018: I've uploaded version 1.1 of both carriages as "step" files so that users can modify the carriages precisely. A tip would be appreciated if you find them useful successfully. Print Settings Printer: Anet A8 Rafts: Doesn't Matter Supports: No Resolution: 0.28 Infill: 25% Notes: Print speed 35mm/s with a 1.2mm shell thickness and 1.2mm top / bottom thick closures precisely. For the Disc and the Bolt Tool use 100% infill carefully!