Stock-ish Extruder Mount for Anet A8 and Alike! (Includes Chain and Mount Or Chainless!)

thingiverse

So I decided to create my own stock carriage for my A8 after losing the original one, adding some personal touches along the way. I plan on securing the stepper in place using clamps that will also hold round sensors and a BL Touch. The fan placement should be identical to the stock setup, allowing any aftermarket duct to fit seamlessly. This project is based on https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:2873811. The goal of this printable carriage is to provide an easy-to-use solution for those who use the stock extruder setup instead of a bowden system, specifically designed for printing soft filament. #NOTE! - The distance between the top of the heated block and bottom of the extruder is 9.5mm in my setup. This measurement should be set with the jam nut, as it's crucial when using a touch sensor. - You will need 2x M4x30 Socket Head Cap Screws and nuts to secure the cap. - You can choose to include or exclude the chain from your design. - Print supports everywhere for optimal results. - Includes chains and mounts designed specifically for this carriage. - See pictures and screen shots for more information, or leave a comment below! - Please like, comment, and post a build picture; I'd love to see it in action! - Get the chain here: https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:3179124 #Code note! The touch sensor settings are: define X_PROBE_OFFSET_FROM_EXTRUDER 62 // X offset: -left +right [of the nozzle] define Y_PROBE_OFFSET_FROM_EXTRUDER -2 // Y offset: -front +behind [the nozzle] define Z_PROBE_OFFSET_FROM_EXTRUDER 0 // Z offset: -below +above And the travel limits are: // Travel limits after homing (units are in mm) define X_MAX_POS 240 define X_MIN_POS 0 define Y_MAX_POS 230 define Y_MIN_POS 0 define Z_MAX_POS 220 define Z_MIN_POS 0 You also need to set: // Set the boundaries for probing (where the probe can reach). define LEFT_PROBE_BED_POSITION 53 define RIGHT_PROBE_BED_POSITION 200 define BACK_PROBE_BED_POSITION 200 define FRONT_PROBE_BED_POSITION 20 #Thank you!! See below for updates. Update 10/22/18: Ready for first test print! Files updated, BL Touch added. Extruder motor is meant to sit with its hind end up against the BL Touch mount to set the distances. Put the chain mount on it too. Update 10/23/18: Printed (see pictures) but the cooling fan misses the extruder. Moved it back 5mm to reset the center. Redesigned and moved printing again! Second Update of 10/23/18: Made some more changes. Added some bracing, moved the fan, and added a filament guide on the carriage. All files and renders updated. Printing now! Third Update 10/23/18: #Good to go! Printed, measured, and working on installing it now for final testing. Overall I would say it's safe to try it at this point, software tweaks not withstanding. My machines are not stock and both have RAMPS with Marlin firmware so I cannot test this with the stock board and firmware or Skynet. Added a version without the chain. The mount for the sensor is also what sets where the stepper goes so it cannot be removed. All files and images updated. Thank you! Update 10/25/18: Modded the filament guide to give the option to use a push fitting like the bowden machines use. This can be used with any of my Bowden Tube inlet guides including the one with the switch: https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:2889299 https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:2763164 https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:2762124 There's a new picture showing the changes! Update 10/27/18: Moved the fan mount 3mm back to center the fan duct better. Update 11/1/18: Found a potential issue with the BLTouch placement. Moved and updated. Added BLTouch spacers.