Y Rod Support - Mendel

thingiverse

I've created a remix of the Mendel y-rod support that tackles a persistent issue. These traditional supports are notoriously fragile and prone to cracking under minimal pressure, leading to a loss of precision in the printer's arm. My own previous attempts at y-rod supports had become unreliable due to this flaw. To overcome these limitations, I've designed a simplified alternative that offers robustness without sacrificing performance. By attaching it quickly and effortlessly, you can maintain alignment between the Y-rods with confidence. Since the original support requires disassembling the entire printer arm for installation, my approach takes away that complexity entirely. Its innovative design ensures it stays in place once fitted and even provides a snug hold on the y-rod when done correctly. Given the popularity of this component across various printer platforms, I couldn't find an exact match in Thingiverse; instead, I modified existing Mendel plates available elsewhere on the website. Instructions are straightforward: simply pry off any current supports using needle-nose pliers before fitting these replacements into place one by one to maintain alignment between the y-rods at all times. As a helpful note, printing four units ensures seamless replacement for each y-rod without disrupting overall printer functionality. Also, note that my test indicates reliable hold of only y-rods as is the intention, with potential application being limited, so use this new support on y-rods exclusively and do not apply them elsewhere.