TronXY X3A / X3 X-Axis & Z-Axis Drag Chain Cable Management by Nate80

Last crawled date: 3 years ago

The TronXY X3A / X3 doesn't come with much in the way of cable management. The supplied plastic wrap does the job for some of the cables, but it isn't the best solution for the collection of cables that feed the extruder area considering how frequently they are pulled around the X and Z axis. I got fed up of cable tied wires choking the Bowden tube, being pulled too tight, or falling onto the print bed, so I decided to add a drag chain setup to the 3D Printer.
PLEASE NOTE: At the moment this design only works when the TronXY is lifted on a set of legs (see my other designs for these). Also, this does involve lengthening the wires that feed the extruder fan, sensor probe, thermistor and heater cartridge. I also ran a new length of wire to power a secondary filament cooling fan that can be plugged into the standard Melzi control board.
As well as printing the files provided (various drag chain mounts) you'll need a 7x7mm Drag Chain, like this one:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Redrex-Plastic-Towline-Carrier-Machines/dp/B072SPQFLM
I bought a 1m long drag chain rather than designing and printing one as it would be time consuming and difficult for many to print successfully. For your info, the measurement quoted when choosing a drag chains is of the internal area, not the external dimensions.
The models I've designed were made according to the measurements of a Redrex 7x7mm Plastic Drag Chain. If you buy a different sized drag chain, or a same sized drag chain from a different manufacturer you may need to change the position of the fixing holes etc.
Once you've separated the drag chain into 2 lengths: one for the X-Axis (the head + 25 sections in my case) and one for the Z-Axis (the tail and 26 sections in my case), you'll need to print a new head and tail for the 2 ends that are now missing their connectors.
Printed Parts Needed:
Print 1 each of the 5 attached models.
Other Parts Needed:
1 x 1m long 7mm x 7mm Drag Chain.
8 x M3 x 10mm Countersunk Screws
2 x M3 x 12mm Flat Head Screws
10 x M3 nuts
2 x M4 x 10mm screws (to replace the top 2 original shorter ones from the X-Axis Stepper Motor when attaching one of the Drag Chain Mounts)
2 x 2020 M4 T-Nuts
2 x M4 x 8mm (to go with the T-Nuts in order to attach the lower mount to the frame)
PVC coated 26AWG wire to extend:
Thermistor (2 x 60mm of White)
Extruder Fan (1 x 60mm of Red and 1 x 60mm of Black)
Sensor Probe (1 x 40mm of Black, 1 x 40mm of Blue and 1 x 40mm of Brown)
OPTIONAL BUT RECOMMENDED - PVC coated 26AWG wire to run new:
Filament Cooling Fan (1 x 2m of Red and 1 x 2m of Black)
PVC coated 18AWG wire to extend:
Heater Cartridge (2 x 60mm of Red)
Heat shrink wrap (recommend 2mm and 4mm)
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This model is not to be uploaded or sold in any form, or modified, and is intended for personal use only.