Lulzbot TAZ Anti-Banding

thingiverse

This take on the classic fork anti-Z-banding solution is specifically designed for Lulzbot TAZ 3D printers, which struggle with lead screws that are not perfectly straight. The standard printer assembly causes the extruder to be pulled off course as it ascends or descends due to cyclical forces from the minutely-bowed lead screws. As a result, parts often display misaligned layers that detract from their appearance at best. This device effectively eliminates this pattern of misalignment, known as "Z-banding," by inserting a layer of 6 mm ball bearings between the extruder and the Z nuts. This separation isolates the extruder from the inevitable movement of the Z nuts on the X and Y axes. The second image in the gallery shows a before-and-after comparison of print quality. From this image, it's clear that the device did not completely eliminate Z-banding, but did significantly improve print quality. A PDF containing assembly instructions is available for download under *Thing Files*. The SolidWorks assembly used in those instructions was created by Jonathan Brazeau and can be found on GrabCAD.