Z-Motor Brake for 3D-printers with NEMA17 steppers

thingiverse

Z-motor Brake Prevents Build Plate from Sinking by Its Own Weight when Power is Off, Ensuring Smooth Filament Change and Recovery after Power Loss. This device integrates seamlessly with Z-stepper systems, safeguarding against unwanted movement during filament changes and ensuring a stable build plate even after power loss. For Ender-4 users, an integrated version of the Z-motor brake can be found on Thingiverse at https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:3449383. The Brake Arms Float Freely, Eliminating Print Quality Interference The Z-motor brake's design ensures that its arms are mounted to float freely, guaranteeing no impact on printing quality. This innovative approach maintains the integrity of the print while providing essential safety features. Mounting Instructions: Assemble the Z-Motor Brake with 2 x M3 x 18 screws and 2 x M3 nuts. Verify that all components move freely without any obstruction. Release two of the M3 screws holding the NEMA17 stepper motor in place. Secure the assembled Z-Motor Brake using the released screws. You may need to employ longer screws for a secure fit. Position a spring at the tip of each brake arm, applying gentle force sufficient to prevent the build plate from sinking under its own weight. Required Components: 1 x Mount_XXmm.stl (Where XX represents the distance between mounting surface and flexible coupler's center. Mount_12mm.stl is likely suitable.) 1 x Break Shaft Lid.stl 2 x Breake Arm-XX.stl (Where XX denotes the coupler's diameter on the Z-axis) 2 x M3x18mm screws 2 x M3 nuts 1 x Spring with minimal force to gently pull brake arms together.