2020 X-Axis Shortener Kit (short belt tensioner + short motor mount) by rAthus

Last crawled date: 3 years, 1 month ago

Shortener kit for the AM8 2020 X-Axis
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These replacement parts are intended to shorten the overall length of the Anet A8/AM8 2020 X-Axis 2020 for E3D V6/Titan Aero by thaug29, named "the original project" in the rest of that description.
It includes:
Shorter belt tensioner (V1 or V2 depending on what you want)
Shorter motor mount
I found the multiple printed parts on this project made the overall length of the axis way too long, I couldn't make it fit in my 56cm (21") wide enclosure, so I reworked more compact parts that allow my printer to fit by using them and cuting the 2020 profile shorter.
So, how much space will I save compared to the original project?
Short belt tensioner V1 saves 30mm
Short belt tensioner V2 saves 50mm
Short motor mount saves 25mm
That's up to 75mm save with these shorter parts, depending on the options you chose, how cool is that?
Overall lenght of X axis from end to end:
Original design: 642 mm
Original design if you cut profile excess: 575 mm
Short motor mount and tensionner V1: 520 mm
Short motor mount and tensionner V2: 500 mm
Of course with my design you will have to cut the 2020 profile shorter, because it won't poke out of the bearing parts anymore (see attached pictures with transparencies, it stops right at the middle of the bearing part on the belt tensionner side), so prepare the hacksaw!

You want to cut it at 412 mm, but don't worry if you're a bit shorter, you can always slide the profile from the other end where it is fully insterted into the bearing part with engine mount!

So! Let's get to the mods:
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Short Belt Tensioner V1
As for the original project, it's designed to be used with Smooth Idler Pulley Kit on tensioner and 30 Tooth Timing Pulley on motor.
It will probably work with 20 tooth pulleys if that's what you are using in your specific application, but you might have to add washers in the tensioner so the pulley stays centered, try it at your own risk and keep me updated about the result! ;)
Print the file Belt_Tensioner_V1.stl.
Also you will need these additional parts:
2x M4 nut
2x 40mm M4 bolt
40mm bolts will allow you to tighten the belt by about 15mm just like in the original design, you can use longer or shorter screws if you want, just understand that while it will allow you to tighten more or less the belt, it will also increase or decrease length and the space saved!
It can be used with the the part that links the 2020 profile to the rods from the original project, but you'll need to drill 4mm holes on the location pointed out with the green arrow on the pictures (on top and on bottom as well), because the profile won't be going all the way through it with the new belt tensioner so can't be able to screw the 2020 profile in the middle of the piece anymore!
If you didn't print these parts yet, or want to replace them, I created STL of both simple bearing and double bearings versions that you'll find in the files! Print the file Single_Bearing_V1.stl or the file Double_Bearing_V1.stl, depending on which you prefer.
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Short Belt Tensioner V2
I designed a V2 version of the Short Belt Tensioner that's 20mm shorter than the V1, it's pretty much the same, you'll need to print the file Belt_Tensioner_V2.stl, but you can't us it without a specific part that links the 2020 profile to the rods, because this tensioner slides the wheel inside it and its cavity needs to be enlarged (wheel's diameter is 22mm, cavity is 20mm), so print the file Single_Bearing_V2.stl or the file Double_Bearing_V2.stl, depending on which you prefer, or grind the one you already have if you're bold! ;)
If you're using a 20 tooth pulley (I know it's the case on other versions of the 2020 X-Axis) you won't need to use my specific link parts, it will slide right in the original part, but as the pulley is a litthe bit thiner you'll nedd to use washers so it stays centered. TODO: design a specific STL for that.
If you're going for that V2 belt tensioner you will need these additional parts instead of those for th V1:
2x M4 nut
2x 20mm M4 bolt
The 20mm will allow you to tighten the belt by 10mm only instead of 15mm with the V1, but as for the V1 you can use longer bolts if you need to tighten more, just be aware that it will use more space accordingly! :)
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Motor Mount
Just print the file Single_Bearing_With_Motor_Mount.stl or the file Double_Bearing_With_Motor_Mount.stl, depending on which you prefer, it's basically a combination of the two parts that are used in the original design.