Prusa Y-axis belt tensioner
130
Likes
1656
Downloads
4796
Views
Published on July 23, 2011
Description
I found it a bit challenging to get the Y-axis belt tension just right by using the belt clamps, so I made this Y-belt tensioner in SketchUp. It allows for more accurate tensioning of the belt using a M3 bolt and captive nut. The design is based on the belt tensioning system used in GregFrost's LM8UU X-Carriage (http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:9869).
The holes have the same spacing as the original belt clamps, so you should be able to simply replace the existing clamps without drilling new holes.
The tensioning bolt can be reached with an allen key even with the build plate mounted on top.
Sorry for the SketchUp design. I haven't taken the plunge into parametric modelling yet...
The holes have the same spacing as the original belt clamps, so you should be able to simply replace the existing clamps without drilling new holes.
The tensioning bolt can be reached with an allen key even with the build plate mounted on top.
Sorry for the SketchUp design. I haven't taken the plunge into parametric modelling yet...
Instructions
1. Print
2. Clean up if necessary
3. Insert captive M3 nut
4. Bolt the two parts to the plate, so the bottom part has the belt slot facing down towards the plate and the captive nut is facing towards the middle of the plate. The top piece should have the teeth facing down, grabbing the teeth of the belt.
5. Screw in the M3 tensioning bolt (I used a 25mm one)
6. Adjust the bolt till you get the tension just right
2. Clean up if necessary
3. Insert captive M3 nut
4. Bolt the two parts to the plate, so the bottom part has the belt slot facing down towards the plate and the captive nut is facing towards the middle of the plate. The top piece should have the teeth facing down, grabbing the teeth of the belt.
5. Screw in the M3 tensioning bolt (I used a 25mm one)
6. Adjust the bolt till you get the tension just right
You must be logged in to post a comment.
Pointedstick
on
October 23, 2011
said:
Danger Will Robinson! I discovered that the screw will abrade the belt over time. This eventually caused mine to wear down to the point where I think it would have snapped after a few more hours. I printed out a half-cylinder (the "Ram") from http://www.thingiverse.com/thi... that I screwed the screw into and it makes all the difference in the world, because then the belt is smoothly wrapped around a curve rather than impaled on a screw.
TheCase
on
August 13, 2011
said:
Quite nice! Will it will fit in place of the X carriage belt clamp as well?
More from chrille
Planning on mounting this BENEATH the MDF bed of a Prusa Mendel Iteration 2, since it has no top bed, and the PCB is so close above the MDF that there's only space for nuts.
Has anyone else mounted these on the underside? Any problems with this approach?
(except, thinking about that now, the belt would be going in the wrong place. never mind)