Solidoodle Workbench filament guides

thingiverse

I began troubleshooting my Solidoodle Workbench 3D printer by observing its mechanical components and noticed that the stock filament guides are positioned too close to the Z-axis rods, causing the filament to rub against them during printing due to excessive lubrication. While researching solutions on Thingiverse, I stumbled upon a relevant entry for Workbench series printers: a filament guide for the Workbench Apprentice (http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:627986). This innovative design showed great promise but couldn't be implemented on my Workbench model due to its distinctive case configuration. That's when I decided to develop my own solution. You have two alternatives: a snap-on filament guide, which can be attached between the rods without modification; and a bolt-on guide that uses the existing bolts supporting the Z-axis carriage. When removing these bolts, make sure to secure the bed firmly to prevent any unintended carriage movement. Be prepared to adjust the printed part's holes as they might need enlargement for optimal performance. I ran both STL files through Netfabb beforehand to resolve any issues with file geometry. Instructions: To print your guides efficiently, consider 100% infill; however, I found that lower infill settings may also suffice for the snap-on model, given its non-load-bearing status. The bolt-on design requires some structural support beneath the Z-axis bolts, so minimize infill usage to avoid structural issues. When selecting a material for your prints, choose between PLA and ABS – both will yield comparable results. Support generation was not necessary in either case, although printing conditions may dictate different decisions on an individual basis.