ctc replicator dual - z axis lower & upper guide supports

thingiverse

After struggling to get the Z axis at a 90-degree angle to the Y in my bot, I had to tinker with and redesign a set of Z-axis guide supports that allow for fine-tuning the angles to reach 90 degrees from the 88 degrees that my bot seemed to be built at. That 2-degree difference appears to be just enough out of true to cause some strange printing results. Here are eight different sets of mounts that may help someone else set their bot up a little better if they have a small digital spirit level or another way of finding the correct angle for their bot. 1 x Upper rounded corners with normal width cutout mounts. 1 x Upper rounded corners with slim width cutout mounts. 1 x Upper squared/chamfered corners with normal width cutout mounts. 1 x Upper squared/chamfered corners with slim width cutout mounts. 1 x Lower rounded corners with normal width cutout mounts. 1 x Lower rounded corners with slim width cutout mounts. 1 x Lower squared/chamfered corners with normal width cutout mounts. 1 x Lower squared/chamfered corners with slim width cutout mounts. ns = Normal squared/chamfered nr = Normal rounded ss = Slim squared/chamfered sr = Slim rounded Post-Printing Installation Guide: Parts required: 2 x M3-12mm bolts 6 x M3 16mm bolts 8 x M3 nyloc nuts 8mm drill bit and drill (if you need to drill the holes out to get them on the 8mm guide rods). Make sure your build plate is roughly in the center of the bot. Unplug from both USB and power supply. Remove one side upper guide at a time, and remove the guide bar through the hole. Install two nyloc nuts in the hex nut holes (should be a tight fit). As you slide the guide bar back in through the top mount hole, slide the upper inner mount onto the bar (you might need to drill the hole out to 8mm depending on how configured you have your machine for printing exact sizes) so that the nyloc nuts are facing down towards the bed of the printer. See picture above to get the idea. Continue to slide the guide bar down through the bearings/bushing of the HBP and into the lower mount. Put two M3-16mm bolts through the bolt holes in the upper mount, and place the upper mount on the guide bar. Then press it down into the hole. If everything looks okay, slide the internal part up to the top and tighten the nuts snugly. Repeat this process for the other guide rod. The hard part is over unless you need to use the smaller/slimmer version of these mounts, and you printed the normal-sized version (at least you know how to do it if you need to use the smaller/slimmer ones). To set these at 90 degrees to the bot, you will need a small spirit level or digital angle level. Make sure the bot is sitting level or as level as you can make it. Front right to rear left and front left to rear right, front to back and left to right. Slacken the upper and lower M3 bolts a few turns so that the whole mount can move. Use the small level to find true 90 degrees both left to right and front to back. Then tighten the bolts up locking the guide rod in place. Repeat this process on the other guide rod, making sure the bed goes up and down. This is work in progress.