Ender 3 Z-Clamp

thingiverse

This is a quick and dirty Z Clamp for the Ender 3 and Ender 3 Pro, equipped with a single z-screw. Its design focuses on installation in the 4020 v-slot extrusion near the top of the printer, accepting two coarse thread screws for clamping purposes. As an EMS worker, I spend multiple days at work, so I like to take my printer with me. Hopefully, I'll be able to use the resume after power failure function to resume prints paused during commutes. The Ender 3 homes in on the X and Y axis when paused, but the Z axis must remain up and is subject to movement when steppers lose power. This clamp will gently hold the z-screw in place and prevent it from turning while in transit. The amount of force this clamp can resist is unknown, and results may vary based on the lubricity of your z-screw, how tight you make it, and forces exerted upon the z-axis during transit. No guarantees are offered, but most people don't require them; just exercise caution when using this device. This clamp is part of a multi-vector approach to stabilizing printers for transport mid-print, with other parts consisting of "be careful" advice. Screws used in this design can be any type as long as the minor diameter is about 3.5mm and the thread diameter is around 4.75mm, with the point-to-shoulder distance being approximately 16mm and the head diameter about 8mm. Feel free to modify or remix this design to accommodate your preferred fasteners. This clamp was created using Onshape software and made public for others to access: https://cad.onshape.com/documents/01c9961b5d8e676203d4c6c4/w/eb63489d3964561a26f2a636/e/0ea9766504a7393d515d7b2a