One Piece Minimalistic MK8 Springed Extruder

thingiverse

I have a CTC Makerbot clone that I wanted to upgrade with a spring-loaded extruder. To avoid buying extra parts, and all I had on hand was a 5x11x4 mm ball bearing (MR115), so I took inspiration from Emmet's "minimalistic MK8 replacement" and designed a part that prints in one piece, including the spring. I recommend printing and removing supports first (which is tricky), then screw it to the motor with the original screws. This should be easy since there's no tension yet. Next, push the "release button" on top to move the arm away from the motor axle and push the bearing onto its axle. The installation took me two minutes to complete. UPDATE: V2 has the lever moved further to the side, so that a wooden plate will fit in place. WARNING! This thing is highly experimental. I have no idea how long it will last, and the tension of the spring depends entirely on the material used. Please share your experiences! Print Settings Printer: CTC Dual / Wanhao Rafts: No Supports: Yes Infill: 100%