Update 2016-08-03: This one still works, but I instead now recommend using the upgraded version with a printed bearing, which provides slightly better results: http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:1701256

This is a replacement part and stabilization upgrade for the brackets at the top of the Z-axis rods on the HICTOP Prusa i3 3DP-11 and similar printers. The design is fully parameterized with OpenSCAD to facilitate adaptation to other printers.

I was worried that the acrylic brackets which come with the printer might be brittle as others have mentioned them breaking, and I realized that the threaded bar clearance hole in the standard top brackets is too large, introducing z-axis wobble. You can spot this on your prints as a wobble with the exact same pitch as your threaded bar. Therefore I upgraded to a PLA part with a tighter clearance hole and an extended stabilizer for the threaded bar, and I saw my print quality immediately improve as this wobble went away.

While the bracket appears thicker, it uses the same mounting screws as the standard part because the mounting holes are recessed. I've also added stl files with "_standard_shape" in the filename for a version of the top bracket without my stabilization extension.

If you're going to install this top bracket, I recommend also installing daks07's Z-axis braces at the same time to stabilize the bottom. http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:1233882

Note: The OpenSCAD file uses my threading library for the clearance and mounting holes. http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:1686322