So, I have this here Lulzbot A0-100, upgraded to most of an A0-101, but I can’t help but notice there is this TAZ thingy running around with shiny new features. I would like to have some or all of those features on my 3d printer, so this project will attempt to do exactly that. Specifically this is an attempt to retrofit Taz style Acme Nut with Anti-wobble and anti-backlash, and offer people the option of going with Taz style-ish LM8UU bearings or the origional existing pillow block bearings. I dunno if its going to work, or end up being an actual upgrade by the time i’m done with it, but we’ll give it a shot anyways. I borrowed the Lulzbot AO x end pieces and 1013’s excellent Acme nut module for the basis of this evil plan, hopefully they don’t mind too much.
Base Premises for this project:
- The upgrades need to use the existing Acme screws and Bearing rods
- The upgrades cannot require major frame alterations
- The upgrades will utilize the existing horizontal X bed and x axis rod spacing, clearance, etc.
- The upgrades cannot narrow the existing build window at all.
So this is a very early stage of this project. I’ve modified the existing X idler and lower X clamp 2.0 to remove their Acme nut portions, and as much of the clamp surface as I dared. I also removed the rounded reinforcing hump on the Acme screw side. The theory being that the Taz style single piece bearing frame will provide the rigidity and support that hump previously provided. .
I then sliced apart 1013’s Acme nut holder (surgery is a work in progress, and mearly shows the basic premise i’m headed towards. it’s also missing the lower portion) to attempt to add a channel where the TAZ style acme nut holder will pass over the two Clamp pieces, and be secured above and below them. This may have the added benifit of constraining the motion of the anti wobble to the x axis plane. To compensate for the anti wobble spring pieces lost, I’ve extended the acme nut piece up another 10mm, and will extend it down slightly on the bottom clamp as well. The intent is to allow the Acme rod to move side to side as much as possible, but still maintain the upper and lower sections as a single unit so i don’t end up with spring wierdness. I’ll probably also beef up the side faces of the section around the cutout. The side cuts now become the replacement for the front Acme nut loading window since they have to be there anyways. At the final installation, the X end clamps on both sides would be sanded and polished top and bottom to allow the acme nut piece to glide back and forth maybe, unless that ends up being a pain to align in which case it will just get a .1mm clearance all around or something.
On the Idler side, i’ll also end up having to clearance for the bolt head. Not sure what that will entail yet.
Here’s some pictures so you can see where I think i’m going anyways. Work in progress, holes are in wrong spots, parts are missing, cats and dogs living together, etc. Non Euclidian Geometry may be in effect.
So, it’s a start anyways. I’ll actually not be able to work on it further until around friday or so, but i hope to have something somewhat ready to attempt printing by next weekend. I guess I’ll need to figure out where to get a pair of them spring thingies and another few Acme nuts though.
Any thoughts, ideas comments or better approaches to what I am attempting than what I am attempting, Please let me know. I’m still sandblasting the rust of my Cad skills, so there are probably things I’ll need to clean up, etc. Once I get things further along i’ll upload the desing files so people can play with them