FT5 Double X Slide Carriage

thingiverse

I've had a stock Folgertech FT5 R1 for about a year now and have logged hundreds of hours of successful prints. Many owners have modified theirs, making it part of the fun of printing, modifying, and improving the machine. Of course, many mods have perceived improvements in print quality, while others are just wish-list ideas, and some are actual worthwhile upgrades. The only thing that's bugged me about the physical aspect of the machine is the single linear rail on the X axis, which supports the extruder. Linear bearings are excellent at limiting "play" in many directions, but due to their nature, there's inherent play in a "rocking" motion - in this case, it translates into play fore and aft at the nozzle end. My solution is to add an additional linear bearing and rail assembly under the existing gantry extrusion. The rail is readily available from Amazon in 350mm lengths, and the cost is low. (https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B071JWJT9J/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o06_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1) The attached files and pictures show how I accomplished this modification. Essentially, it's an elongated version of the melamine FT5 carriage with some improvements in rigidity and print cooling. Of course, we lose 15mm or so in Z capability - a small price to pay. If you only have one printer, you'll need to print this first. The assembly procedure is to leave the existing rail in place, mount the new carriage on top, then tighten, shim, adjust the bottom rail bearing until free movement is achieved. With patience and persistence, you'll be rewarded with a rock-solid, smooth-moving carriage that's free of play and has increased resolution tightness layer by layer.