Piggy Bank Extruder Gimbal

thingiverse

This is a versatile extruder gimbal for large delta printers.\nYou can see a demonstration of it on my printer at:\nhttps://youtu.be/17CafqGdqjE\nThe gimbal mounts the extruder and filament spool with complete freedom to move, allowing it to follow the print head effortlessly. This arrangement reduces bowden tube length, requiring less force on the filament and decreasing retraction length.\nIdeal balance of the extruder is achieved using two balanced weights hence its name. I chose this solution because Canada no longer has pennies, so we opted for nickels instead. It works best in this size format that will be perfect in many regions around the world.\nThis gimbal is specifically designed for an Airtripper direct drive extruder, which weighed approximately 350g; however, verify yours does not weigh significantly more, as I utilized nearly all of the ballast space to achieve perfect balance.\nThe spools are simple to replace without needing any tools. The spool holder accommodates various sizes: holes range from 30 - 70mm and an outside diameter under 200mm.\nThis design can easily accommodate multiple extruders by simply printing duplicate parts for each, including the spool cone and extruder arm.\nYou will need (referring to the exploded view that is attached):\n1 - Filament spool\n2 - 2 units - Spool cones (printed component)\n3 - 4 units 608 bearings\n4 - Small washer used as a spacer\n5 - 2 units - Outer clamp (printed component)\n6 - A 5/16" (8mm) bolt or threaded rod, with length as needed for spool size or quantity.\n7 - Extruder arm (printed component)\n8 - Support arm (printed component)\n9 - Mirror-supported support arm (printed component)\n10 - 1/4" (6mm) threaded rod with required length for spool size or quantity.\n11 - Main Pivot (printed component)\n12 - Threaded rod, in length necessary to position gimbal properly.\n13 - A 5/16" (8mm) nut\n14 - Eight 1/4" (6mm) nuts. Assembly is straightforward. To simplify spool changes, I used hot glue to secure the bolt and nut into the end clamps. Position the top pivot on the threaded rod off-center for balance, but remember to install the nut first to secure it firmly. This design also includes a recess to attach 15mm tubing over the rod for enhanced stability and a visually appealing outcome. While experimenting with positioning still in progress, the addition of this feature has been held up by other concerns, hence its delay in completion. Print Settings\nRafts: It doesn't really matter how these are configured.\n\n Supports: None required.\n \n Resolution:\nThe best option is a minimum 0.3mm for precise results.\n \n Infill: The optimal setting will be at or above 20%.