STL Lockable Contour Gauge

cults3d

Comments: The measurement range is ~ 100x50 mm. The scale is in 2 mm steps and designed for a 0.4 nozzle with a line width of 0.45 mm (thickness 0.9 mm, two lines). There is also an option without the scale. Each blade is 2.4 mm thick with the option of a flat or chamfered tip. The blades can be locked with a lever on the side. This is not a hard lock - it simply increases the amount of friction between the blades so that they do not move without applying considerable force What do you need: 5x M3x16 1x M3 nut Some sticky velvet or similar Tips for getting the best results from the mechanism: Print the slides with the wide side laying flat on the heated bed. I print them with 100% fill and PLA to maximize rigidity - this prevents annoying creases when measuring sharp corners. To avoid filament bulging on the top surface of the blades and to stack the blades more accurately, reduce the filament flow of the topmost layer. For example, add GCode M221 S90 (90% extrusion factor) Print all the slides (41 pieces) Measure the width of the stack of blades. The design value is 100.8 mm, with a design gap between each blade of 0.06 mm (originally measured from my printed version). If you see visible gaps between the blades, try to eliminate the bulging points on the blade surfaces - they are usually at the ends. This reduces the width of the stack and also prevents the blades from bending when you lock the stack. The frame includes an additional 0.5mm design gap between the frame wall and the wide side of the last blade to accommodate slight deviations in stack width. That is a total frame opening of 100.8mm + 0.5mm where the stack must fit. In case the measured stack width deviation is too large, adjust the total length of both parts of the frame by resizing it slightly (this should be fine for a few percentages), according to your measured stack width. Print out the two frames. Print the spring in a material that doesn't crack under tension/stress - as PLA cheep versions tend to do. I use ColorFabb PLA / PHA because it literally cannot break, it just stretches. Adjust the width of the spring by scaling until it fits perfectly between the lever and the blade stack. This way you can also set the locking force. There is a 0.7 mm gap between the top of the blade stack (thin side of a blade) and the thick frame. Attach sticky velvet or cloth or similar to the frame, so that the blades experience some sort of gentle friction. You can also attach a piece of velvet or similar to the spring, at the point of contact with the blades, to improve the friction. Update 30.01.21: Added frames 1 and 2 for increased length of total blade clearance of 151.7 and 202.1. This corresponds to 63 or 84 for 2.4 mm wide blades, including the 0.5 mm design cap). Added a 2mm lever instead of a 1mm long locking knob. This should help give more freedom between loose and locked blades.