Ultimaker Direct Drive

youmagine

I designed this concept, but it's still a work in progress. I chose not to finalize my design because I found an alternative approach - a Floating short belt tensioner on Youmagine - that worked surprisingly well and was significantly less complex. When printed with high-quality settings that meet the tight tolerances of the gear pairings, this proof of concept works seamlessly. Refining the design would require making some fine adjustments to the clearances of the screw heads, reinforcing the mounts, and doing a minor cleanup. I might revisit this project later. I'm sharing my design because it's an innovative take on the direct drive concept that doesn't involve bulky external assemblies. I wanted to preserve my UM's sleek aesthetic without compromising its performance or requiring too much tinkering. To print successfully, use the highest quality settings possible and ensure that the gear pairings are printed perfectly round and smooth. Carefully break in the gears to remove any edges or bumps. The gear wheel print quality is crucial - even the slightest imperfection can cause jamming or backlash. Try interchanging the gears to find perfectly matching pairs and reprint if necessary before installing the device. It's impossible to print improved wheels with an imperfect assembly in place, so think carefully before spending hours installing and rolling back your UM to the belts, like I did.