Mini Space Invaders Carriage (Eustathios)

thingiverse

This is a redesign of the Space Invaders Carriage for Eustathios printers. The main reason for this redesign was to make it smaller in order to increase usable build volume. Here are some changes: A larger, more efficient design, the XY travel is approximately 290mm² (still less than the original carriage), allows for a significant reduction in size. The self-aligning bushings used in place of graphite bushings take up even less space and provide better alignment. Replacing the standard 30mm fan with a 40mm extruder fan reduces noise levels significantly. Like its predecessor, this redesigned carriage is convertible between bowden configuration and direct drive configuration using a Printrbot Gear Head extruder. However, instead of switching configurations, I opted for a flying extruder setup featuring a short bowden tube (more details on that setup are available in this post). The hotend is mounted significantly higher than the standard Eustathios build, so the bed may not reach the nozzle with the standard configuration (this should work with the ballscrew bed mounts). Parts: * 2 - 5015 Radial Fans*: link to a 24V version; you might 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 bushings (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. I use removable glue dots to keep them in place. I usually run them at 60-80% for PLA, and 0-20% for ABS. Cooling Duct The cooling duct is held in place with 5x5mm magnets that are press fit into the carriage and duct. To make it easier to attach, set the polarity of the front two magnet sets opposite of the back two; otherwise, the back duct magnets will stick to the front carriage magnets when putting it on. Clamps The top and bottom clamps attach to the end of the screws and hold the hotend in place. Lights (optional) I'm using two 2W 12V LED modules* wired in series (running a 24V system) to light up the extruder. They're configured to indicate when the hotend is hot enough to extrude. I have them wired on a separate mosfet. One of them went out, and I'm waiting for a replacement. Brass M3 Press Fit Inserts The holes on top of the extruder and the fan mount are designed to work with brass press fit threaded inserts. Bushings I switched to self-aligning bushings because they're more compact. They align easily, and you can slightly misalign them if they're too loose. However, removing them when you want to reuse them is quite inconvenient. Wiring I wired the heater and thermistor on a separate connector from the fans and lights. This makes it easier to switch out just the heater block.