Hotend Cable and Tube Fixture (Creality Ender5)

thingiverse

#Hotend Cable and Tube Fixture (for Creality Ender 3 and Ender 5) This Thing is a key component of a mod I'm working on. My goal is to create a simple way to change hotend types from Bore 4.1 to all-metal or something else, as well as switch between remote extruder and direct extruder quickly, safely, and with endurance. The idea behind this design is to exchange the complete Hotend with/without tube via simple connectors. One key aspect was to stabilize the cable while moving to prevent movements from being guided towards soldered parts of the connectors, thus avoiding mechanical stress on the connections. To achieve this, I first constructed Thing 4251689, "Ender 5 Guide for Tube/Cables to Hotend". [Link](https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:4251689) ***Now, the other side of the cable/tube was under work.*** The base of this mod is a metal plate, which is part of this article: [Link](https://de.aliexpress.com/item/4000110245836.html) This metal plate is slightly higher than the original and has additional 4 holes for fixing, which is very important for the mod. The plates can be easily obtained from many other AliExpress shops. The plate can be exchanged easily with the original. Now you have a great platform for everything :-) I created two fixture types that you can choose: 1. Conservative type: this will be achieved through *HotendFixtureScrew_Holdplate.stl *HotendFixtureScrew_Clamp.stl basically. You need 2 M3x5mm-Screws and the fitting nuts. One side you can keep the screw/nut, with the other you lock the holder. 2. Clipped version type: no screws are needed, but printing is a little more effort/precision. You need *HotendFixtureClip_Holdplate.stl *HotendFixtureClip_Clamp.stl. ***PLEASE: Print out "HotendFixtureClip_Clamp.stl" very accurately with very slow speed. Part should be laid on slicer in this manner that small bolt will touch bed. Do not use Brim or something else. After printing, remove the small bolt with a cutter-knife and use sandpaper to get structure smooth. If you are printing these parts with PLA mounting is a little bit tricky. Heat up hold-plate with a hot air fan to 40...50°C not more not less. Unless hold-plate could break while mouting clamp.*** After assembly, you have two possibilities to mount thing on Ender. One is more conservative: 2x M4x8mm-Screws with fitting nuts or you use the "HotendFixture_FixClip.stl" this will hold the fixture without screws. It was a big journey to design the spring mechanism not to be too hard or soft. Also, the Fix-Clip got a lot of attention. I gave also the construction files *.f3d for you if you want to adapt/change something for your mod.