Filament Feed Tube Holder

thingiverse

This is a critical component that prevents filament feed tube damage on Taz 4-5 carriages. A common issue with these machines involves brittle filament breakage as the carriage moves back and forth. The fragile point of contact was identified as where the feed tube lies against the idler arm, which sometimes results in snapped filaments like Laybrick. To prevent this problem, I created a holder that attaches to the extruder mount plate and securely accepts the end of the feed tube. This assembly will flex slightly during carriage movement but forces the tube to bend instead of risking breakage. By distributing pressure along the feed tube, it eliminates potential small hinge points that could cause breakages. The split retainer ring on this holder ensures easy filament removal without needing to thread the feed tube through or remove the holder. To properly assemble this holder, you will need a longer M3x16 screw than what is currently used on Taz carriages, specifically replacing the standard M3x12 screw. Note that this component was designed for Taz 5's stock feed tubes, with an oversized opening at the top to simplify tube insertion. However, users with other diameters may require minor adjustments: drilling out the holder or editing its mesh properties. File additions and changes are made on January 5th.