X-axis upgrade with linear rail, belt tensioner and bearing clamping - Prusa MK3 / MK3s / MK3s+

This X-Axis upgrade is a remix based on two of the best X-Axis upgrades available.
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updated January 21, 2024

Description

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If you are looking for an upgrade for the X-axis of the MK3, you will find under the most popular the 

"X-Axis Linear Rail Guide Upgrade" from "KalleKnall

and the 

"X-Axis revision with belt tensioner" from "Boogie". 

 

But I wanted the best features of both.
So I combined the two upgrades. 

 


And this is what you can expect:

  • Linear rail guide 
  • Belt tensioner on the idler side
  • Bearing clamps
  • Stiffer motor mount
  • Stiffer X-axis
  • Less noisy printer

 

 

 

What you need:

Print Files:

Print files by me:
1x      X-axis-moter-side.stl
1x      X-axis-Idler-side.stl

Print files by KalleKnall:
1x      x-back-… .stl
1x      x-front-… .stl

Print files by Boogie:
1x      x-end_tensioner_boogie.stl

Additional Parts:

pc.NameNormInfo
1x350mm MGN12 linear rail guide hiwin only at the moment
1xMGN12H linear guideway block that is the longer one
4xM3x12 countersunkISO 10642for guideway block
2xM3x14 socket head screwISO 4762for rails in printed parts 
(M3x16 would work as well)
2xM3 square NutDIN 562for rails in printed parts
2xM3x18 socket head screwISO 4762for belt tensioner
2xM3 hex nylock nutISO 10511for belt tensioner
1x3 h7 x 15 dowel pin for belt tensioner
alternatively cut to lenght M3 screw
4xM3x10 socket head screwISO 4762for bearing clamp
4xM3 hex nutISO 4032for bearing clamp


And you will need most of the screws from your existing X-Axis.



 

Print settings:

Material: PETG
Infill: 30%
Perimeters: 4 
Layer height: 0,15 mm
Support: no

Some parts for the extruder base have a sacrificial layer, push the Allen key through and clear the hole. Make sure that all holes are clear.



 

Info:

I have tested the print with the MK3s, theoreticly it should work with the MK3 and the MK3s+ aswell. Please leave a comment so that I can update this.

Before installing the linear guide, clean it properly with alcohol and re-grease it. 

To disassemble the axis, loosen the upper end bracket, the screws of the trapezoidal nuts and the screws for the z motors. Now you can remove the entire X-axis.
You do not need to disassemble the entire extruder, just remove the two rear plates and the cooling fan.

 

The hole for the linear guide is very narrow, I used a soft-face hammer to drive it in there.
Just be careful when you want to pull the guide out again. Canting can lead to breakage of the printed part.

If you also still have the MK3s where the fan-shroud is made of PETG, check if you should reprint it first. 

And the tension meter comes in very handy.

After mounting, you need to do at least the Z-calibration. However, I did the first-step calibration just to be on the safe side.

If you do not use a Hiwin linear rail, make sure that the hole pitch is matching.

 

For more information, please check out the details of the other two prints.

 


Happy Upgrading.

 

 

*** Update ***

04.03.2023

I reworked the motor side, it now has a cutout to have better access to the pulley with an Allen key.

Tags



Model origin

The author remixed this model.

Differences of the remix compared to the original

Made both versions into one

License