Parametric Y-Axis Back Brace for 8", 10" or 12" Prusa i3v

thingiverse

Update Rev5 2/11/2016 I fixed a mirror problem that pgx3d pointed out. I also added 8" and 12 test parts, updating them so that the bottom side of them should align with the back of the Y-axis Wood Plate. While working on a plastic design for the Y-axis backplate of the i3v, this idea came about after talking to my friend voodoo28 about his problem with the 12" version flexing. I enjoy making parametric designs, so I went ahead and made this design so you could make a brace for either the 8", 10" or 12" i3v. I have the 10" version and haven't experienced this problem. This is probably only needed for the 12" version and is untested, but it seems like it should work. If you're interested in trying this, I would print the test STL file for the i3v version you're using to make sure the bolt holes line up first, before printing the main part. I tested the 10" version and it lines up for that. It took me 33 minutes to print the test part for the 10" using 20% infill and two solid layers for top and bottom. The final part with 50% infill would probably take about two hours to print. The test prints have holes the diameter of the bolt heads, so the test print should fit flat against the back of the Y-axis plate if they're lined up right. I got the dimensions for the 8" i3v from Colin, so they should also be correct. I got the 12" version from https://github.com/DonKahones/MakerFarm-Prusa-i3v-12-Inch. I included a test STL file for each i3v version and a final STL file for each i3v as well as an OpenSCAD file you can change to make it a thicker or thinner brace and bigger or smaller ledge in the middle. There are five variables specific to which i3v you're using, just comment out the variables of the versions you're not using. Here are the ones for the 12" version: i3v = 12; i3v_Width = 346.5; // 12" i3v = 346.5mm i3v_Vslot_Width = 238.8; // 12" i3v = 238.68 or 238.8 i3v_Vslot_Offset = 63.5; // 12" i3v = 63.5 i3v_MotorOffset = 166.6; // 12" i3v = 166.6 This brace in its current size is six millimeters thick and two millimeters countersink for bolts, so your bolts will have to be four millimeters longer. That means you'll have to replace the current two M3x16 bolts with M3x20 and the two M5x12 bolts with M5x16.