Parts for Adding Third Z Screw to D-Bot

thingiverse

I wanted to upgrade my D-bot with a third lead screw and drive all the z-screws with one stepper, using GT2 belts to keep everything in sync. To achieve this, I added another 2040 extrusion to the front of the D-bot bed and created adapters to hold a 608zz bearing in the motor mount. The motor mount holds a 608zz bearing at the right position to line up with the lead screw bracket on the bed. These parts can be used in various ways. Mount the z motor on the front of the D-bot, and use the extended_lead_screw_bracket on the bed, which is designed to line up with the motor. Alternatively, mount the 3rd_z_screw bracket on the front of the D-bot, and use a regular lead screw bracket from the D-bot files. The 608_z_adapter can be used to replace a stepper motor with a 608zz bearing. The ramps_idler_cover is just something I used on my ramps box to let me mount some flanged bearings as idlers. The GT2 belts need to be tensioned somehow. I don't consider this a full-blown, print-and-install solution. You still have to find pulleys, belts, bearings, hardware, and do some experimentation, but if you're in the middle of all that, you might find some of these parts useful. Update: The first pictures I posted show a screw and bearing mounted at the front of the machine. The last picture shows the motor mounted in front, which allowed me to make the standoffs for the idlers shorter and therefore more stable. I also added a model for a nut holder for the standoffs, designed so you can pause the print and insert a 3mm nut - you have to create the pause yourself, though. The nut holder has a tab that slides in the slot when the idler is mounted, making it easier to tighten and adjust. Update 9/9/16: I've just finished upgrading my D-Bot to a 300x300 bed, and re-did the lead screw configuration. The third screw is now mounted at the back of the bed instead of the front, and all three screws are driven by a separate motor, instead of having one of the screws driven directly. This means the motor can have a GT2 20T gear while the screws have 40T, for more precision and torque. The separate motor is mounted in the same mounts as used on the original D-Bot, with an adjustable plate and idlers to help tension the GT2 belt. The idler wheels used here were created using thing 16627 and then modified in tinkercad to hold 623 bearings, which are what I had handy. Again, I'm making these parts available in case someone is trying to put a setup like this together, but they'll probably still have to figure out and fabricate a few things for their specific machine. I tried to list this as a remix of the D-bot by spauda01, but no matter how I tried, the remix search function would not pick it up. For those interested, it is thing 1001065.