Solidoodle well nut anti-backlash (aluminium platform)

thingiverse

A simple retainer plate for a $2 well nut. You can use the existing holes on the platform, you don't need to drill or thread anything -- this was the simplest approach I could find/think. Also, the rubber should act as a spring, which is nice (I guess). I have one of the new aluminium platforms, so previous fixes needed modification. Credit for this approach (which was the simplest I found) goes to http://www.soliforum.com/topic/2341/poor-mans-antibacklash-nut-no-assembly-required/, but the new platform has nothing there to jam the nut against, so I made this retainer plate. Backlash on the new platform was minimal, but it was there. This seems to eliminate it nicely. We'll see how well the rubber holds over time (but for $2... who cares :). Update 11/9/13 Added observations, after about six months of use, into instructions. Instructions Move platform down so you can work (not much space for fingers back there, tweezers and pliers might help a bit too). Screw well nut onto Z-axis rod. Manually push the platform up slightly to eliminate backlash and, holding it there, tighten well nut. Place retainer plate over well nut and fasten with screws and nuts to pre-drilled (unused) holes on platform. M3 should work, although I had some 4-40s at hand. Might want to dab some extra lithium grease (rubber will initially wipe off some grease). Note that you have to insert the well rubber nut brim downwards (not up, as in the forum post). In this orientation, the rubber might also work as a spring. My Z-rod is just the right length (