Bearing Retainer PLUS Plunger Screw Adapter
Derived from
Description
So I trimmed as much material I could off the original design while keeping it rigid. Included the standoffs from johnboiles' design.
BUT WAIT THERE'S MORE!
Like some others I had the problem where the plunger screw keeps loosening and ruining my prints. Due to the filament being forced in forward and reverse rapidly for certain prints, it would result in the plunger screw becoming loose and the filament would stop extruding. I would have to go to town with kapton tape everywhere trying to keep that screw in place! I couldn't trust my printer for long periods of time without checking on it periodically.
But everything is included in one part! So this part includes an arm that slides into the plunger screw area and fits snug around the screw shaft so it no longer loosens! Yeah! Save my kapton tape for more important uses now.
Due to the tight tolerances in the plunger screw area, the hole may not print perfectly. Just grab some tweezers or an X-Acto blade and remove any extruded plastic that gets in the way. The plunger screw should insert fairly easily - you may need to use pliers to hold onto the screw as you rotate it in for the first time or your fingers might be raw after. I would suggest test inserting the plunger screw before bolting it onto the extruder so its easier once its actually installed.
NEW IN VERSION 7!! (Took me 4 more revisions to get it juuuust right)
New and improved, this part adds additional support area where the plunger screw is inserted and more viewing area. New steps for v7 include removing the two nuts and bolts that are intended to hold the plunger nut in place. Since the adapter blocks the nut from falling out, these bolts aren't needed and allowed me to place in additional plunger screw support. Enjoy!
Instructions
2. Unscrew plunger screw from side of stepper assembly
2a. Unscrew the two nuts and bolts holding in the large plunger nut. Keep the large plunger nut in place.
3. Hold thing in front of stepper assembly and screw four M3x16 bolts into the unused nuts housed inside the stepper assembly.
4. Reinsert plunger screw and tighten plunger.
5. Print for hours on end in confidence!
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I have a ToM MK6 but after 100s of hours of printing I don't have the problem described - BUT, I'm tempted to print and install just for the cool factor. Nice.
Ooops.... I posted my picture to quickly. Using this part my stepper did not extrude. This part will not allow my plunger screw to go in far enough to load the plunger. The bottom of the screw head hits the retainer before the plunger is loaded. Perhaps I need a little longer plunger screw.
Honestly I made this part according to the particular screw I had (the one created during ToM assembly steps), trying to maximize the amount of part covering the screw for maximum stability. i can understand the tolerances may be too close that it may not work for 100% of people. If you have any CAD programs to manipulate it, you could reduce how far the chamfered circle comes out to customize to your particular plunger screw.
If more people are having problems I have no problem uploading a new version with a slightly less deep screw hole.
Wow, just wow. Well thought out part, well designed and good use of a one-trick pony part. I have been waiting to make one of these, this will be my file. Well done. :-D
License
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hey! this look pretty similar to my plunger screw guide :D hehe but in fact I designed mine that way because I had the bearing retainer hahaha and I did not want to remove it :D good idea to make a combined part
Yeah haha I was finishing the final touches when I saw your part uploaded a few days before mine!