Akimbo - A redesign of the Mendel Frame
Made by Copyright, uploaded
Description
Akimbo
All parts printed on Mendel Prusa.
Used the original Prusa rods etc.
Complete Y-Axis (reworked before by me) could be used in Akimbo design
and was not needed to be changed.
Only one additional Nema17 was needed (second Z-Axis Stepper)
@Copyright
Admittedly, I'm not using the Akimbo design much myself these days (I've switched to aluminum extrusion and lasercut panels for a box frame), but for anyone who's got an old Mendel around that needs some love, it's still useful.
The Z axis design is actually (sort of) based on the original Mendel axis design, which used six ball bearings on one side, and four on the other side. It wasn't until I built a printer with linear bearings on both sides that I realized that reducing the bearings to four on one side of the Mendel wasn't a cost reduction, but instead made it resistant to binding.
@Ron
Im totally happy with the printing results of the Akimbo.
The Z-Axis you designed is nearly genius (one side linear-ball-bearing, other side double-ball-bearing) and is eleminating the "Prusa typical Z-wobble".
In combination with the M5 rods and Nylon-Nuts (or PA? I'm not sure) the Z-Axis is moving smooth and exactly.
Also the second independent extruder is great - will do this next days hopefully.
Akimbo is not a brand new design - but worth to be build in these days.
Thank you and regards,
Michael