Stage 03: Gantry

Written By: Makertech 3D (and one other contributor)
  • Comments: 17
  • Favorites: 0
  • Completions: 6

Difficulty

Moderate

Steps

24

Time Required

02:00:00

Sections

1

Flags

0

  1. Build the Idler assembly onto the gantry panel as shown. M4 x 30mm M4 Penny Washer

    • Build the Idler assembly onto the gantry panel as shown.

    • M4 x 30mm

    • M4 Penny Washer

    • M4 Washer

    • 624zz Bearing

    • M4 Nyloc Nut

    • The longer bolt is used here, as it also acts as an end stop trigger for the x-axis.

    • Note the orientation of the aluminium gantry beam, double-check the Idler is installed in the correct position and on the correct side.

    Edit

  2. On the other side of the gantry beam build the remaining top side Idler assembly. M4 x 18mm Button

    • On the other side of the gantry beam build the remaining top side Idler assembly.

    • M4 x 18mm Button

    • M4 Penny Washer

    • M4 Washer

    • 624zz Bearing

    • M4 Nyloc

    • Note the orientation of the aluminium gantry beam, double-check the Idler is installed in the correct position and on the correct side.

    Edit

  3. Install the two bottom side idler assemblies as shown. M4 x 18mm Button

    • Install the two bottom side idler assemblies as shown.

    • M4 x 18mm Button

    • M4 Penny Washer

    • M4 Washer

    • 624zz Bearing

    • M4 Nyloc Nut

    • Note the orientation of the aluminium gantry beam, double-check the Idler is installed in the correct position and on the correct side.

    Edit

  4. Remove the final rail from its packaging and move the red carriage stoppers inwards one hole space. Secure the rail to the gantry as shown with five M3 x 10mm cap head bolts and M3 nyloc nuts.

    • Remove the final rail from its packaging and move the red carriage stoppers inwards one hole space.

    • Secure the rail to the gantry as shown with five M3 x 10mm cap head bolts and M3 nyloc nuts.

    • If the aluminium gantry is slightly warped, do not worry; the rail, when secured to it, is designed to give it its structural strength.

    Edit

    That’s now been corrected, M3 x 10mm bolts should be used here.

    Makertech 3D - Reply

    I also tried M3 x8mm and they were too short still (not able to engage nylon in nylock nut). 10mm is probably adequate, but I’ve used 12mm because that’s what I had available. So far so good.

    Konaei - Reply

    M3x6mm not long enough. Bracket is 2.5mm thick, rail 6.45mm with 3.75mm counterbore leaving 2.75mm =5.25 …Am I missing something here?

    Dan - Reply

  5. If you are building the 3.5 upgrade, skip this step. Secure the gantry to the top panel as shown. Note the orientation of the gantry assembly. The gantry fixes onto the carriages of the y-axis rails.

    • If you are building the 3.5 upgrade, skip this step.

    • Secure the gantry to the top panel as shown. Note the orientation of the gantry assembly.

    • The gantry fixes onto the carriages of the y-axis rails.

    • M3 x 6mm Cap

    • Secure each bolt lightly to begin with, tighten firmly when all bolts are in place.

    Edit

    Is there a better, more surefire way to make sure this is properly aligned (or does this come later)?

    Ashwindec11 - Reply

    The tension from the belts will align the gantry, you do not need to worry about it at this stage.

    Makertech 3D -

  6. Secure the four 2040 aluminium extrusions to the base. M5 x 6mm Button

    • Secure the four 2040 aluminium extrusions to the base.

    • M5 x 6mm Button

    Edit

    I de-burred the threaded holes that the profile sits flat on mating part. Also M5x6 seems a little weak. I propose to use M5x10mm to improve strength

    Manfred Herbst - Reply

    Great suggestion! I used 10mm in place and it feels much better!

    Peter -

    Why was the legs not offset from the extrusion screw holes? My kit did not include the M5 allen key,

    Gabriel Lambert - Reply

  7. If you are building v3.5 continue this stage from here. Secure the top panel assembly onto the 2040 extrusions.

    • If you are building v3.5 continue this stage from here.

    • Secure the top panel assembly onto the 2040 extrusions.

    • M5 x 6mm Button

    Edit

  8. Take the 4M roll of GT2 belt and cut it in half. Feed one side of each of the two lengths into the back of the tool carriage as shown. Secure in place with one of the belt clamps.

    • Take the 4M roll of GT2 belt and cut it in half.

    • Feed one side of each of the two lengths into the back of the tool carriage as shown.

    • Secure in place with one of the belt clamps.

    • M3 x 6mm Cap

    • Leave approximately a CM of extra length. Make sure that the belts are clamped down straight and horizontal.

    Edit

  9. Loop the lengths of belt around, making sure to keep them from getting twisted. The inside of the loop should be the toothed side of the belt. Feed the other end into the corresponding slot on the other side of the tool carriage. Use the remaining belt clamp to hold the belt in place.

    • Loop the lengths of belt around, making sure to keep them from getting twisted. The inside of the loop should be the toothed side of the belt. Feed the other end into the corresponding slot on the other side of the tool carriage.

    • Use the remaining belt clamp to hold the belt in place.

    • M3 x 6mm Cap

    • Do not tighten this clamp down fully, but just enough to hold the belt in place. You should still be able to pull and push the belt through the slot.

    • Leave about a few inches free.

    Edit

    So to me, it looks like the inside of the loop should be the tooth'd side… not the smooth side. Am I misunderstanding something here?

    Peter - Reply

    Updated now :)

    Makertech 3D -

    Yes. Teeth inward for the whole loop. This instruction should be updated.

    Peter -

  10. Mount the tool carriage to the gantry as shown. Note the belt claps are facing the rear of the printer, towards the motors.

    • Mount the tool carriage to the gantry as shown. Note the belt claps are facing the rear of the printer, towards the motors.

    • M3 x 6mm Cap

    Edit

  11. Take the upper belt loop and swing it over the front of the gantry. Remove these two bolts and spacers on the motors as shown. Remove these two bolts and spacers on the motors as shown.

    • Take the upper belt loop and swing it over the front of the gantry.

    • Remove these two bolts and spacers on the motors as shown.

    Edit

  12. Drop a pulley onto each of the motor shafts. Note, the pulley's orientation for each motor. Left motor pulley

    • Drop a pulley onto each of the motor shafts.

    • Note, the pulley's orientation for each motor.

    • Left motor pulley

    • Right motor pulley

    Edit

    Do we need to add threadlocker to the grubnuts?

    Also I had to change my name for the comment to post lol

    Ashwindec11 - Reply

    If you have some, it wouldn’t hurt.

    Makertech 3D -

  13. Take the upper belt and begin by wrapping the smooth side around the left idler on the gantry.

    • Take the upper belt and begin by wrapping the smooth side around the left idler on the gantry.

    Edit

  14. Next, wrap it around the left motor's pulley as shown.

    • Next, wrap it around the left motor's pulley as shown.

    • The belt's teeth should grip the pulley.

    Edit

  15. Next, wrap the belt around the rear left idlers as shown.

    • Next, wrap the belt around the rear left idlers as shown.

    Edit

  16. Whilst keeping some tension on the belt to prevent it from falling off the idlers, pull it forward and wrap it around the front idlers like shown. Whilst keeping some tension on the belt to prevent it from falling off the idlers, pull it forward and wrap it around the front idlers like shown.

    • Whilst keeping some tension on the belt to prevent it from falling off the idlers, pull it forward and wrap it around the front idlers like shown.

    Edit

  17. Finally, wrap it around the final idler on the gantry. Pull the belt tight to hold it in place, but do not tighten the clamp down just yet.

    • Finally, wrap it around the final idler on the gantry.

    • Pull the belt tight to hold it in place, but do not tighten the clamp down just yet.

    Edit

  18. Take the left side of the belt and wrap it around the lower left idler on the gantry as shown.

    • Take the left side of the belt and wrap it around the lower left idler on the gantry as shown.

    Edit

  19. Next, wrap the belt around the front idlers. Next, wrap the belt around the front idlers.

    • Next, wrap the belt around the front idlers.

    Edit

  20. As before, wrap the belt around the motor pulley first and then around the two rear right idlers like shown. As before, wrap the belt around the motor pulley first and then around the two rear right idlers like shown.

    • As before, wrap the belt around the motor pulley first and then around the two rear right idlers like shown.

    Edit

  21. Finally, wrap the belt around the lower right idler on the gantry. And, as before, pull the belt tight on the tool carriage.

    • Finally, wrap the belt around the lower right idler on the gantry.

    • And, as before, pull the belt tight on the tool carriage.

    Edit

  22. Use a pair of needle nozzle pliers (included) to tighten the belts. Grip the belts with the pliers and twist against the carriage to tighten.

    • Use a pair of needle nozzle pliers (included) to tighten the belts.

    • Grip the belts with the pliers and twist against the carriage to tighten.

    • Before starting, make sure that the clamp is tightened down enough to allow you to pull more belt through, but not allow the belt to slip back.

    • As a rule of thumb, the belts should be guitar string tight. However be cautious not to over tighten as that could cause the idlers to twist.

    • Trim away excess belt leaving approx an inch dangling.

    Edit

    It’s worthwhile to double check your belts are around all of the idlers before aggressively trimming the belts. It’s easier to continue to trim than to find out you’ve cut and inch too far because you’re ordering more belt or cannibalizing from another project at that point.

    Kenn Walker - Reply

  23. Move the tool carriage around by hand to set the pulley's to the correct heights. Align the flats of the motor's shaft's to the pulley's grub screws and firmly secure the pulley's in place.

    • Move the tool carriage around by hand to set the pulley's to the correct heights.

    • Align the flats of the motor's shaft's to the pulley's grub screws and firmly secure the pulley's in place.

    Edit

  24. Refit the motor bolts and spacers. Refit the motor bolts and spacers.

    • Refit the motor bolts and spacers.

    Edit
Finish Line

6 other people completed this guide.

Author

with 1 other contributor

Makertech 3D

Member since: 03/09/2018

43,772 Reputation

110 Guides authored

3 Comments

Note that you have to remove the orange rail bumpers once you’ve got everything securely in place - otherwise the x/y end stop triggers are way out of reach.

Alexa Adams - Reply

The lower belt keep on jumping when the carriage is moved.

I will be replacing the besting/washers assemblies with proper flanged idlers. Any reasons mot too ? Or changes to apply ?

Frederic Ponzo - Reply

I have the same issue - the washers seem slightly too small to properly guide the belt. Replacing with flanged bearings seems like a good idea, although bigger washers may do the trick as well.

Gijsbert dos Santos -

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