Prusa MK3(S) Improved Y-Carriage

thingiverse

This is a long overdue upgrade to the Prusa MK3(S) Y-carriage design. The old design's reliance on just one linear bearing on the right side creates minor torsion, leading to issues such as inconsistent skew and jerky carriage movements. A symmetrical bearing layout simply makes more sense. With the new design properly installed, my X/Y axis skew changed from .17 degrees to a remarkably low .03 degrees. I replaced the cheap bearings that Prusa uses with Igus bearings featuring sleeves (part no. RJZM-02-08). It's essential to clean the rods thoroughly and apply a very light coat of silicone lubricant for optimal performance. The printer operates in normal mode with Igus bearings is now quieter than it was in stealth mode using the Prusa supplied bearings. The STL file provided is not intended for 3D printing; rather, it serves as a visual representation. I utilized eMachineShop to fabricate my carriage, which is why I've also included the DXF file. A material thickness of 6.4 mm should be used (the American equivalent, 6.35 mm or 0.25", works perfectly fine). Only the holes for the U-bolts holding the bearings remain unthreaded; all other holes require drilling and tapping for M3x0.5.