DIY PrintRite Cable Chain Setup

thingiverse

Here is my setup for the cable chain on my DIY PrintRite. The Z to Y holder is made to be fixed on this. To make this you will need 4 or 7 5mm steel balls, oil, 2 M3*8 screws (hex socket wished), and a few zip tie. Tips & Notes A.S.: sorry for my average english level. All parts are easy to print, but you will need a quite good enough size accuracy to make it efficient. The YZ-ChainSupport is the only part that needs a few support. Chain links and holders can be print at 0.2 layer high. Clamps should be printed at a higher resolution for the balls slots (1.5 is good enough). About clamps, i personnaly used 6.3mm balls that i get back from a broken ball bearing. But I also joined 5mm *.stl file (which is a more conventionnal diameter). I couldn't try them so if you go for them make a try first and let me know how it fit. I recommand a number of 19 or 20 chain links for each axis. Use some vaseline oil will definitely helps each links to work together. For the springs, you can use them (and find them here), but i'll recommand to use zip-tie ; one at first and one at last chain link. Tight them strongly to avoid cables to move, you don't need more than 4. The Y axis motor's cable is just long enough for this if and only if you turn the motor upside down in order to get the plug looking up. The chain will make noise at begin, but after some prints, it will quickly quiet down. It will still remains some noises that time will make disappear. If you like it take half a minute to like the work i refered to : Claghorn's Open Cable Chain. ProdyThe's Chain Clamp Extruder *Edit 20/05/16* I have add a third optionnal ball bearing clamp for a better chain guide. (6.3 and 5 mm versions) *Edit 24/06/16* -The YZ ball bearing is now 4mm shorter -The optionnal Y block bearing has change and needs 3 balls-the 5mm versions are now good!, previous ones wasn't... *Edit 03/12/16* I made a new version (stronger) of the YZ chain support called ChainSupport-V02. It is still designed to be fixed on this..