E3D mount for Anet A8 for existing aluminum x carriage

thingiverse

Hello, First and foremost, I would like to extend my sincerest gratitude to everyone involved. My Anet A8 is now back in business after a long two months of downtime. The direct drive system on my Anet A8 broke down two months ago, and it has been out of commission ever since. I tried countless times to repair it, but unfortunately, I was unable to fix the issue. As a result, I decided to switch to an E3D hotend, which is known for being less prone to issues compared to the direct drive system on my Anet A8. However, I soon realized that changing the filament would be a real challenge. I have to say, I'm thoroughly impressed with the Ender 3, which features a remote drive setup via Bowden configuration. The ease of changing filaments is unmatched in comparison to my previous experience with the direct drive system on my Anet A8. In light of this, I decided to replace the original hotend with an E3D hotend. However, the X-carriage was not designed to accommodate the new hotend, so I had to search for a solution on Thingiverse. After scouring through various designs, I finally found one that involved printing an entirely new X-carriage. However, this wasn't feasible for me, given my existing setup. Therefore, I designed a hot end holder specifically for the existing aluminum X-carriage on my Anet A8. To do this, I had to remove some excess material from the original design and then attach it to the screws that secure the linear bearing housings. The result is a perfectly fitting and functional hotend mount. To secure it in place, I used 3mm screws and inserts. Now, the next step was to figure out where to install the extruder. Given my fondness for the Ender 3's setup, I searched extensively throughout my printer for the ideal location. Fortunately, I was able to find a spot that would work without requiring any additional components from Anet. As it turns out, I had previously printed an X-axis chain holder, which is now no longer needed due to the change in hotend configuration. So, I decided to repurpose it as seen in the photos provided. This modification not only reduced the PTFE tube length but also improved the overall aesthetic of my printer. Unfortunately, this change resulted in a slight shift of the print to the left side by 18mm, as the original nozzle position was offset by 18mm to the right. To rectify this issue, I updated my Marlin firmware and modified the #define X_MIN_POS to -14, which solved the problem for me. Moving on, I needed to install a blower/cooling fan. Given that I had already printed the hotend holder, I was left with only one option: printing a new part specifically designed to accommodate the blower fan. To achieve this, I designed and 3D-printed a custom component using a single M3 bolt and nut. This allowed me to securely attach the blower fan to the right side of the X-carriage, providing an unobstructed view of the hotend. If you have any suggestions or questions, please feel free to comment below: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jmqx5skd4J8&feature=youtu.be