Silicone Idler Springs
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Published on May 23, 2011
Description
These springs have only been tested on Greg Frost's Hinged Extruder thingiverse.com/thing:8252 (as a replacement to the idler springs), although may be useful as a replacement for other springs.
Having said that I have also found it useful as a dampener to allow some play with my z motors, while keeping them firm and steady.
The silicone is a small ellipsoid shape cut from a Silicon pot holder from a "$2 shop", which has a small hole for a bolt to pass through.
Initially this particular item caught my eye due to the claimed temperature durability, although I have not considered it for any hot applications yet.
Having said that I have also found it useful as a dampener to allow some play with my z motors, while keeping them firm and steady.
The silicone is a small ellipsoid shape cut from a Silicon pot holder from a "$2 shop", which has a small hole for a bolt to pass through.
Initially this particular item caught my eye due to the claimed temperature durability, although I have not considered it for any hot applications yet.
Instructions
With a 4mm drill bit (this was an arbitrary choice), drill into one of the ellipsoid bits of silicon. With a drill, the holes end up looking like cuts, but the will stay firmly on the bolt or screw. Alternatively, you could use a punch, but would need to be small and a very hard strike with a hammer.
Cut out the piece you want, and place onto bolts, or otherwise, with washers on each side.
For my z motors, as my motors only have two places to secure with, I have slid the other two pieces under the motors on the adjacent corners. Although this was partially circumstantial, and part laziness on my part for not wanting to fully remove the motors, I think this is good arrangement anyway (short of having 8 pieces) as it keeps the z motors and/or the screws/bolts from directly pushing against the z motor mounts (in an up or down direction), hence allowing some play with the motors.
Cut out the piece you want, and place onto bolts, or otherwise, with washers on each side.
For my z motors, as my motors only have two places to secure with, I have slid the other two pieces under the motors on the adjacent corners. Although this was partially circumstantial, and part laziness on my part for not wanting to fully remove the motors, I think this is good arrangement anyway (short of having 8 pieces) as it keeps the z motors and/or the screws/bolts from directly pushing against the z motor mounts (in an up or down direction), hence allowing some play with the motors.
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License
Silicone Idler Springs by plamari is licensed under the Attribution - Share Alike - Creative Commons license.
More from plamari
You could,mold these with Sugru ;)