Geoff's Y-Axis Idler Pulley & Gear for Solidoodle2 - all 3D printed

thingiverse

This is my Y-Axis Idler Pulley & Gear, freshly upgraded for the Solidoodle2. The entire build's 3D printed, with only two tiny exceptions - two ball bearings and a small length of 2.5mm carbon fiber or steel to fortify the toothed belt pulley, which itself was fully printed. I've carefully measured every dimension to achieve the absolute bare minimum size needed for seamless functionality. The result? My Print Head carriage no longer crashes into the Y-idler bearing assembly, and it operates in silky smooth silence, a testament to its durability - it'll never wear out. A further advantage of this design lies within; the inner pulley surface is deliberately curved, allowing the toothed belt to effortlessly slide in when every component's securely assembled. This clever detail saves you time during assembly and minimizes the risk of human error. I made a deliberate design choice to add just one more tweak: modifying the screw mount by drilling out the original screw hole to 3mm diameter. This modification greatly simplifies the process, allowing the screw to be attached externally - perfect for those who'd otherwise find it tricky to reach due to limited dexterity! The following measurements specify the ball bearing's essential parameters: • Bearing diameter: 13 millimeters • Actual bearing width: 5 millimeters • Inside bearing diameter: 4 millimeters