Makibox Flex Upgrade

myminifactory

I designed and built an upgrade for my Makibox 2 printer, enabling it to print flexible materials with ease. The upgrade exceeded my expectations, significantly increasing the overall reliability of my printers. The upgrade utilizes the existing screws that come with the Makibox 2, requiring only a few additional components: a spring, a skateboard bearing, and a high-quality bowden adapter (pressure hose adapter). I made sure to simplify the printing process as much as possible. Key features include thin plates in strategic locations, allowing for extra space between the arm and filament path. The original design worked without these plates, but they were necessary to prevent PLA from deflecting away from the desired path. If you're using a stronger material, you might be able to get by without printing the thin plates. To accommodate different preferences, I've made both versions available. To further enhance the upgrade, I added a mount that allows the extruder to sit comfortably within the Makibox top frame piece, where the bowden tube used to pass through. Be cautious when installing this part on laser-cut acrylic, as excessive stress can cause it to crack. The first picture shows my current setup, while the second image illustrates the initial attempt at creating the extruder, which necessitated using zip ties to hold everything in place and resulted in arm deflection. The third picture features a piece printed in TPU, showcasing its flexibility. Finally, the fourth image demonstrates that this design indeed allows for flexible materials. If you have any suggestions or ideas for improvement, please don't hesitate to share them with me, so I can refine this upgrade for everyone's benefit.