Voron Trident Ball-and-Magnet Z Mounts

prusaprinters

!!! WARNING !!!With this mod installed, the print bed is no longer physically attached to the printer! If you intend to tilt or move your printer, know that the bed WILL FALL OUT!!! Fortunately the design of the Trident allows us to disconnect all wiring. This fact, in combination with this mod, allows us to remove the bed entirely from the printer for whichever maintenance reasons you might have. (For example: It was incredibly easy to install the Nevermore Duo filter system as I didn't have to work upside down to attach everything under the bed)OverviewThis mod is an alternative to using GE5C bearings on the Voron Trident. While the cost of these bearings isn't all that bad in the grand scheme of things, I didn't feel like paying CAD 5+ each. Instead, I decided to use 10mm M4 threaded steel ball rod ends typically used in Delta printers and some countersunk disc magnets.This was heavily inspired by a YouTube video showing the same modification for a different printer:  https://www.printables.com/model/225048-triple-z-bed-levelling-for-cube-style-printersBill of materials3 x countersunk disc magnets measuring 11.4mm in diameter and 2.4mm in height with an M4 hole3 x 10mm M4 threaded steel ball rod ends3 x M4x12mm SHCS for the steel ballsPrinted Files1 x z_bed_rear_12mmMagnet1 x z_carriage_rear_3hole_4mmBall1 x z_bed_left_12mmMagnet1 x z_carriage_left_4mmBall1 x z_bed_left_12mmMagnet mirrored on the X axis!1 x z_carriage_left_4mmBall mirrored on the X axis!InstallationInstallation is pretty simple: Start by printing the parts listed above. When done, install the 3 steel balls into the carriages using the M4 12mm screws. (Refer to the pictures - the balls need to face in the “up” direction)Finally, using the same M3x6mm BHCS as per the manual, install the magnets in the place where the bearings would go. Note that the countersunk side should face the “down” direction.NotesPlease read and re-read the warning posted above. I forgot about this and the first time I turned the printer over to work in the electronics bay, the bed dropped on the bottom panel. It could've been much worse!Updates2024-01-31: I've added the F3D and STEP files per the request from others and also added the 2 hole rear Z Carriage for other cable chains.