Makerbot Fifth Gen Idler Pulley Fix

thingiverse

Have your idler pulley brackets on your Makerbot Mini cracked or broken? Have you been unable to figure out how to fix them without tearing the printer apart? This small thing will help you get your printer going again by reinforcing the cracked idler pulley bracket but you'll need a friend or a second printer to print these. Instructions You will need: Clear epoxy - use the 5-minute set type 2.5mm hex wrench 2mm hex wrench Print (2) parts for each side you want to repair. Loosen the belt tension by loosening the hex bolt on the back of the printer on the top left-hand side (as facing the printer). Loosen the stepper motor set screws located in the back upper-left corner of the printer. Not the four bolts holding the stepper motor - the two located to the right. Move the stepper motor forward until the belt is slack. You don't want any tension on the belt during the next step. Apply a generous amount of epoxy to the inside of the part and place one on the top and one on the bottom of the bracket as shown in the photo. Note that this is very hard to see and you almost have to put your head in the printer and look up toward the front. Be careful not to get any epoxy on the idler pulley or belt. Wipe it off immediately if you do. Allow the epoxy to set completely (usually overnight) then tighten the belt again. You do not need the belt so tight it plays a C# when plucked. That's way too tight! Just make it tight enough that there is still about 10-15mm of play in the belt. Note: If your brackets have broken to the point of the idler pulley coming away from the bracket, your pulley brackets may be beyond the help of this thing. In that case, you will have to purchase a new set from MBI. However, installation is not obvious. If you want to install them yourself, send me a private message and I'll walk you through it. It's not difficult if you have some mechanical skill, but I do not recommend it for those who have little or no mechanical skills. Print Settings Printer Brand: MakerBot Printer: MakerBot Replicator 2 Rafts: Doesn't Matter Supports: No Resolution: 0.20 Infill: 100% Notes: You can also set the number of shells to 4, which will create a strong part and no infill.