FT-5 R2 Glass Holder

thingiverse

I discovered that several glass holders designed for the Folgertech FT-5 were not compatible with my R2 model due to a clearance issue on the aluminum heated plate. To resolve this problem, I created custom holders and shims using 3D printing technology. This design utilizes more common #4-40 screws, which are easier to find in the southeast US, rather than metric hardware that can be harder to source locally. To print these parts, you will need four glass holders, one for each corner of your printer, and four shims to support the center leveling screws. The holders should clear most cooling fans and bed leveling sensors, but it's essential to verify this before printing. For assembly, I used 1 1/4 inch screws purchased from a local hardware store and nuts obtained from Lowes (available online at https://goo.gl/hwDb3S). After using these custom parts for several months, I encountered an issue with the brackets flexing slightly, causing the screws to wobble. To address this problem, I modified the design by making the sides thicker and adding a nut receptacle on the outside of each bracket. This change provides additional stability and strength to the assembly. When printing these custom parts, it's crucial to fully seat both inside and outside nuts before threading in the bolts. Initially, I recommended 30% infill for the holders, but I found that increasing this value to 70% provided greater strength and durability.