Ultimaker 2 Redesigns

thingiverse

I'm excited to share with you a complete overhaul of the Ultimaker 2 chassis part designs here on Thingiverse! This redesign is built from scratch, not just a remix of previous designs. I'll be uploading each part as I finalize and test them, so stay tuned for updates. Currently, there are three parts in development: 1. Z Gantry Top Redesign This design reimagines the top Z axis gantry for custom Ultimaker 2 printers. The main goal was to use 12mm linear rods that aren't cut to exact length - a problem I encountered when cutting rods to 339mm, which often resulted in unusable rods or slippage during printing. My solution is to allow the rods to move freely through the support and add a small screw hole to lock them in place. Other features include a 1mm T slot alignment notch for easier mounting onto 20x20mm extrusions and a sturdy "brace" to prevent wobble and sagging. The previous design didn't mount sturdily, especially around the rods, resulting in flex when the build plate was near the top. This redesign addresses those issues. 2. Custom Support Part This part is designed to support the chassis for strength and durability while allowing easy installation of 4mm acrylic/plexiglass for an all-in-one chassis/enclosure setup. As this design progresses, I'll be posting pictures of the actual build to show these parts in action. 3. Other Parts to Come I'll be uploading more chassis parts soon, each designed to achieve a higher performance goal with 3D printer parts, offering more rigidity, easier construction, and the added benefit of a "drop-in-place" acrylic/plexiglass enclosure. Similar Designs on Thingiverse If you're looking for fully working designs that achieve similar goals, check out these two sets: * http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:811271 * http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:1659579 These designs are simple and quick to print. My redesigns aim to offer more performance with 3D printer parts. Print Settings Printer Brand: RepRap Printer: Prusa i3 Clone - Omni Printer Rafts: Doesn't Matter Supports: No Resolution: 0.150mm Infill: 7% Notes: Printed with ABS - PLA should not be used, as the rods can get hot when the heat bed is on, causing major deformations in the gantry. Post-Printing Screws used by this part are M3 10mm screws. The design is intended to fit a 10mm screw attached to a 20x20mm extrusion with a M3 T nut. Larger screws can be used, but will likely require drilling - and they cannot be longer than 10mm. To keep the 12mm rods in place, use M2.5 and M3 self-tapping screws in the two screw holes. A suggestion is to mark where the rod meets the hole when installed and cut a small slot to accept the screw. If your ABS doesn't like the threading, an M3 insert nut can be installed using a soldering iron. WIP: Once I have more chassis parts uploaded, I'll create concise build instructions. For now, it's part-by-part or picture references. Design Tools Used I designed this using AutoDesk Inventor. The inventor file is included in case someone wants to adjust the screw length or hole sizes. All uploaded designs will come this way, so if used, please credit me!