Ender 3/Pro Z screw cage and roller filament guide

thingiverse

This filament guide and Z screw cage utilizes components from two other designs. One is from the Cults web site where I used the roller. The other is from Thingiverse where I employed the extrusion inserts. The roller filament-guide from Cults functions well for my requirements, and I appreciate that it uses no metal parts. The roller axle is a piece of 1.75mm filament. I decided to create a filament spool roller using some old bearings that I couldn't identify, and it works so effectively that the filament starts to unroll on the spool. Rather than return to the stock spool holder which I didn't like due to its jerky filament release, I naturally needed to make another part to correct the issues caused by the new spool holder! I used only the insert part of the Z lead screw support to attach to the Ender 3 Pro 20 x 20 crossbeam. I also utilized the concept of protecting the Z screw from mishaps by simply creating a hole that forms a cage to prevent it from binding (with a bearing) or being bent by accident. After printing the resulting part, it was impossible to insert the three short bosses into the extrusion. The long one required filing to fit anyway. So, I cut off the short ones which made my print less aesthetically pleasing! I redesigned the part to improve its insertion (hopefully) and removed the short inserts. The rollers are held in place with two short pieces of 1.75mm filament. To secure them, simply heat the end with a lighter, get close with the side of the flame, and use the side of the lighter to push the softened part into the countersunk holes to flare them so they can't slide out. I struggled with Cura supports, so I created a support in the file which is only needed in one place. The support has not been tested in the redesign because I'm content with my prototype. The guide arm is printed upside down. On my machine, the hole for the Z screw was off by a couple of millimeters, so I relocated the hole in the uploaded files. There is a hole on the end of the insert for a screw. I used an M4 x 8 screw which threaded right in and attached it perfectly. To install, you need to lower the gantry to the bottom and remove the Z screw. Next, install the completed guide and reinstall the screw through the guide. The next print after installing mine no longer created slack on my filament spool. Success! The file includes all necessary parts except for the filament axle pieces and a screw; the screw may be optional, but I used it anyway. All parts are saved in one file. There is an alternative file without the support. Use this design as you see fit. By the way, Both filament guides and the extruder knob I installed on my machine have conspired to reduce my usable print height by about 20mm! The recommended settings include a 1.2 shell and 10% cubic infill.