Ender 3 Filament Guide/Feed Tube Support

thingiverse

I've been using a modified filament feed tube guide for some time now (check out the sources), but I noticed that when the extruder reaches its upper limit, the inlet tubing tends to kink downwards and causes internal friction on the filament unless there's adequate support in place. To resolve this issue, I run a length of high-quality Bowden tubing (Capricorn) at the extruder inlet and sleeve it inside 1/4" tubing that connects to my heated filament box/feeder system. This setup allows the feed tube to extend freely while maintaining a perfect fit with the extruder inlet and keeping dust and moisture out. You can find more information on the heated box design and its components here: https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:3676326 This 3D printed component is designed to accept and align a length of Bowden tubing on the feed side of the extruder, providing support for the filament as it approaches. It's designed to be printed without supports if installed as shown in the photos (resting on the outlet side of the guide). Installation is straightforward: simply remove the X gantry wheel nut, slide this piece over the bolt, and reinstall the nut (see photos). The guide features an alignment tab that rests on the top of the X stepper motor body to maintain alignment due to the gentle downwards pressure on the inlet guide. After printing, you may need to run a drill bit through the tube to ensure it fits snugly with your specific Bowden tubing diameter.