Mini Space Invaders Carriage (Eustathios)

myminifactory

This redesign of the Space Invaders Carriage for Eustathios printers aims to make it smaller, increasing usable build volume. The main reason behind this overhaul is to minimize its size. Key changes include: Reduced size, with XY travel measuring approximately 290mm² (still less than the original carriage) Self-aligning bushings instead of graphite bushings (they consume less space) A 40mm extruder fan replaces a 30mm fan (less noise produced) No longer supports mounting a direct drive bondtech Like its predecessor, it can be converted between a bowden configuration and a direct drive configuration using a Printrbot Gear Head extruder. However, instead of switching configurations, I opted for a flying extruder with a short bowden tube (more about this setup in the following post). The hotend is mounted significantly higher than with the stock Eustathios build, so the bed likely won't reach the nozzle with standard configuration settings (should work with ballscrew bed mounts). Components: 2 - 5015 Radial Fans* - link to 24V version; you may need a 12V version depending on your power supply 4 - 5x5mm magnets* - for mounting the cooling duct 2 - 2W 12V LED modules* - wired in series or parallel depending on your power supply 1 - 40mm fan - 12 or 24V depending on your power supply 6 - Brass M3 Press Fit Inserts 4 - Self-aligning bushing (8mm or 10mm) Assorted M3 Screws Printer: -- Eustathios Filaments: -- Atomic Glow in the Dark PETG -- IAP Clear ABS *affiliate links Post-Printing: Cooling Fans The extruder uses two 50mm x 15mm blower fans for part cooling. These are held in place by removable glue dots. Typically, I run them at 60-80% for PLA and 0-20% for ABS. Cooling Duct The cooling duct is secured with 5x5mm magnets that are press-fit into the carriage and duct. To attach it more easily, set the polarity of the front two magnet sets opposite to the back two; otherwise, the back duct magnets will stick to the front carriage magnets when attaching. Clamps Top and bottom clamps attach to the end of the screws and hold the hotend in place. Lights (optional) Two 2W 12V LED modules* are wired in series (I'm running a 24V system) to illuminate the extruder. They're configured to indicate when the hotend is ready for extrusion. One module has gone out, and I'm waiting for a replacement, so it doesn't appear in the picture. Brass M3 Press Fit Inserts The holes on top of the extruder and fan mount are designed to work with brass press-fit threaded inserts. Bushings Self-aligning bushings were chosen over graphite bushings due to their compact size. They align easily and can be slightly misaligned if they're too loose. However, one drawback is that they're difficult to remove for reuse. Wiring The heater and thermistor are wired on a separate connector from the fans and lights, making it easier to swap out just the heater block.