Modular X-Carriage for M150 (and similar i3 clones like wanhao duplicator i3)

NOTE: This is useful only if you are actually using different tools often and planning to change between them on a single printer (for e.g. I switch often between single MK10 and dual flex3drive and I'm probably getting one zesty, I use a pen, a laser and proxxon flexy shaft)! If you run only one tool don't waste your time with this holder

WORK IN PROGRESS

• only few modules available, more to come
• no clue if this will work at all or be useful at all but it's a fun experiment :D

The idea is to have a single X-carriage snapping on the bearings (RJMP-01-08 IGIS DRYLING are the ones I'm using for the measurements but most of 8mm bearings are identical in size) that holds the cable chain and X limit switch with a "quick release" port in front where you can easily connect / disconnect your extruder, lazor thingy, 3d scanner touch probe etc etc ..

I'm using here M4x5x5 brass inserts to fasten things together as they shown great potential so far.

update 20170129: seems to be working nicely, can be printed without support, break off the "hole guards" after printing and make sure you have properly calibrated printer able to bridge :D ... if you can't bridge or just love printing abs hot so bridging is not very possible you can use support, the "look" of the supported part is not too important anyhow as it's not visible

on the base plate on both sides are the diamond attach sockets - "utility plugs" - for easily attaching peripherals like fans for e.g.

above the T slot for "tool mounting" there's a "tongue slot" for the possible quick release tongue tool part can have

I'm using s3d to slice it with first 9mm (base plate) using 40% infill and full honeycomb structure printing 0.25mm layer height, this gives for a sturdy but very light base plate printed super fast, rest of the print is 70% infill rectilinear so that the bearing "grabber" have enough strength to properly grab the bearing. top part is also printer 0.1mm layer for better precision of the grabbers. I'm also printing the top part few degrees hotter for more strength / better layer adhesion.

if you can't have different stages of the part printed with different parameters, printing a whole part 50% infill with 4 perimeters, 4top+4bottom solid layers and 0.15mm layer will work perfectly for the part, having them printed with different settings just makes it print lot faster

I am using ABS to print this just because I mostly print ABS but the x-carriage and the sliding block can be printed out of anything, PLA will work, PETG will work, HIPS will probably work .. Nylon.. there's not any serious stress nor heat acting on this part so there's no serious limit wrt material, so print with what you feel most comfortable printing :D .. ideally HDPE would be best but it's a tough one to print with

Update 20170131 The first "module" works flawlessly! It's a simple indicator holder. Also tested the "utility plugs" between two backplates, they mesh great and are very strong so this will be a good place to hook utilities (fans, blowers..)

Update 20170201 Added "toolholder BASE" part - this is a base of a toolholder, it does not hold anything, it's just a basic stl on top of which any other toolholder can be based

Update 20170202 Added "toolholder MK10" part - this is a toolholder for MK10 extruder (cold+hot end that comes with Malyan M150, Wanhao Duplicator I3 and number of similar printers) .. on the image the MK10 has base plate, handle, cooling block, throat/insulator, nozzle replaced from original to microswiss cnc cut parts and all metal hotend but it works 1/1 with original plastic parts too).

MK10 toolholder could be bit thinner but I decided to make it use original screws from MK10 since finding long M3's is not a simple task so reusing original ones. You should remove the original fan from the MK10 and use the holder instead of the fan, the 2 screws that used to go trough fan into the motor now go trough holder into the motor.

Print 0.25mm or better (this on the pictures is 0.2) and 25-30% infill. I'm using ABS, the PLA should work too since nothing touching the plastic should be hot. Anyhow, did not test PLA so can't be 100% sure. Need support only "from the print plate", rest of the print should be self supported.

Update 20170606

• Added a holder for Flex3Drive, both 3mm and 1.75mm, extruder. Use the cosel mini extruder from flex3drive and replace the effector plate with my part :)
• Added X-carriage V2 this version does not "snap on" to bearing. It clamps over them so it's much more solidly connected allowing for much faster printing

Update 20170611

• Added "cliponholder for diicoler" - this clips to the mount and allows thorped's fan duct to be attached
• Added modified thorped's fan duct "thorped funduct - longer", the "back" is just lengthened a bit so that there's enough room to mount the fan

Update 20170611

• Added the "ASSEMBLY" stl file with all parts inside locked in place
• removed "under development" tag for the part since now I can say this works very good for me for a while, both the MK10 adapter and the Flex3Drive adapter

Update 20180301

• created toolholder for Titan/Titan Aero