ZIM filament drive

thingiverse

A brand-new version of this project has gone live online! Head over to http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:740639 for the updated design featuring an integrated filament-sensor mount. This model was designed as a filament driver that's perfectly compatible with ZIM's standard cartridge bay, giving you a lot of flexibility when it comes to feeding your 3D printing material. If you'd prefer not to use the standard cartridges, just install this driver and load the filament from the top - or get creative and bore a hole in the base for an underneath feed! Keep an eye out for my upcoming project... It's compatible with my refillable cartridge design, available on http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:718225. Just bear with me for now, as the beak is not included with this release - I'm working on a brand-new version that'll hit the shelves soon! The pictures you see are of Version 1, and one thing's for sure: they were taken before I realized just how crucial precision is! The motor carrier itself is slightly wider than it should have been, at about 1.5mm off mark... Instructions It couldn't be simpler - just align the holes in the base with those on your cartridge bay and you're good to go. Remove that old cartridge drive and install this driver (and don't forget: the same process applies when swapping back). As a friendly reminder, I'll have an updated beak design posted soon, specifically tailored for my compatible cartridges. For now, feel free to load up without using the beak at all - or just be patient until the new version drops! You will need: * One 625 ball bearing * One M5x12 screw * And one robust spring with an ø8mm diameter (the stronger it is, the better. But don't forget that due to the lever transmission ratio of 2:1, twice the force is exerted on the filament).