Z axis Laser / Lazer Mount

thingiverse

As of 12/12/2018, I'm just starting to explore 3D and laser engraving. I know exactly what I want, but my designing skills are still developing. I've been searching for a motorized Z-axis laser mount with casters instead of rods and a stepper motor, but I couldn't find one that met all these requirements. Through trial and error with Slic3R, Tinker-Cad, Cura, and Thing-Verse, I discovered two promising designs that I need to combine. Credit goes to ZhilDV (https://www.thingiverse.com/ZhilDV) and nagilum (https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:3123030), as well as their respective designs on Thingiverse. I used 4mm polished rods with brass tubes for bushings and M5 threaded rods from B&Q, Wickes, or your local hardware store. The Z-motor can be found here (https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Stepper-Motor-Nema-11-Stepper-Motor-4-wires-28mm-0-8A-6-5Nm-10oz-in-Bipolar-CDD/323491923216). I had to redesign the front and rear plates so that the holes for the caster wheels lined up, which took another 4 nights. However, I enjoyed tinkering around and improving my design skills. This project is being done on my TRONXY X3A. I'm still waiting for a baby stepper motor to finish it off, and I'll post the finished article when it arrives, along with the L-Cheapo Laser Focus wheel (https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:3274915). I also added a couple of bigger mount plates and a nema17 drag chain mount.