Diet Bearing Block With Z Probe Compatible Back Plate

thingiverse

Save yourself precious grams on the x axis and y axis with these sleek bearing blocks! Designed to hold 8mm id linear bearings like Igus Drylin RJ4JP-01-08, the bearings snap into the block with a secure interference fit. If you want extra peace of mind that they'll stay in place, holes are present in the block to secure the bearings with cable ties. I've been running these on my y axis without ties and the blocks hold the bearings perfectly fine. M4 nuts are required to attach the blocks to the x and y carriages (aside from the hardware already needed for standard blocks). I'm currently refining the design so that the nuts are captured by the hexagonal recess, making it easier to install. Also included is a version of the block that allows you to mount an autolevel sensor for those who use rear-mounted z probes. These screws into the bottom block on the x carriage. Installation of the probe holder will vary depending on the probe holder design used. I had to modify the one I was using to access the screw holding the back plate to the block. I'm also refining the tolerances of the nut recess so that the nuts are captured, which should make installation less frustrating. I may add a probe mount to the back plate to eliminate the need for another one, but there's a wide range of sensors used, so I opted for a design that allows users to choose their own sensor attachment. This is a work in progress, but it's usable as it's installed on my A8 and working wonderfully. All planned refinements focus on ease of installation. If you try these out, feedback on any improvements would be greatly appreciated. Print with 70% infill to ensure the bearing holders are robust enough to withstand popping the bearings in and out. They can snap off at lower infills, but since there's not much material in these anyway, the extra infill won't significantly impact print time. Also use supports when printing the sensor holder version. It's worth noting that you may need to adjust the positioning of your endstop switches to ensure they're still triggered when you home your axes. My Y axis switch needed to be raised by a couple of mm. Just loosen the screws and place a bit of paper or card under the switch. You might also have to change the orientation of the x axis endstop so that the x carriage hits the switch as the block is now too small to press it. Just unscrew the switch and flip it over. These are all things I had to do on an Anet A8, but your printer may be different.