Cable Chain Upgrade

thingiverse

This is an upgrade to my Inverted Dual Z Axis (https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:3033861), Vertical X Carriage (https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:3033881) and Double X Axis Rails (https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:3193014) design. Cable Chain has been added to tidy up the wires running around, which were previously using the stock cable organizing tube in my previous design. 3 cable chains are used for X, Y and Z axes, running at the back so that the front is clear from obstruction. The photos show views from behind. The controller is located behind the right Z base, with all wires leading to this area. 2 wire loops have been added to the Z base to keep the wires in position. Carriage, Carriage_Bracket and Connector_Spacer form the carriage holding the hot-end and BL-Touch if used. Wires from the carriage come out to the back between the wheels, through the X cable chain, Connector_joint and Z cable chain to reach the Z base. Wires from the X motor and X microswitch enter through the Connector_Joint. Wires from the bed route through the Bed_Connector, Y cable chain and Centre_Connector / Track_Connector. The updated design has 3 ways of running the Y cable chain: * **Bed Connector Right + Track Connector**: the cable chain runs between the right Y rail and the right Z base. The space is quite tight around the right Z base. * **Bed Connector Left + Centre Base Left**: the cable chain runs between the centre Y rail and the right Y rail. * **Bed Connector + Centre Base**: the cable chain runs directly in front of the Bed Connector. This cannot be used with Double Y Axis Rails. Note: The Double Y Axis Rails design has been updated to allow the cable chain to run between the centre and right Y rails. The cable chain and some holes are "tight fit" for the wires. The connectors need to be removed, then run through with only the wires, before putting back the connectors when the wires reach the other end. My BL-Touch has a problem, so I put back the Z microswitch. Note: My old design is shown in the photo. The updated design uses an M3 screw to adjust the Z height, and a longer version can be used if extra height is needed. Additional materials needed (upgrade from the old design) include: * 2x 10mm M4 screws * 2x M4 T-nuts * 7x15mm cable chain * 1x 20mm M3 screw (if using Z microswitch height adjustment) * Additional wires (if some need extension) The minimum radius of the cable chain I use is slightly larger than desired. This makes the bed_Connector tilt up rather than stay horizontal, and X and Y cable chains may brush each other when X is at low position. I have not mounted the printer, controller, and power supply on a base board, so the wires to the controller are not cut to length. It's still pretty messy, but I'll do it once I'm happy with the design and fix everything down. Happy printing.