Mendel Z-axis
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You may find the Mendel assembly data sheet useful during assembly.
Contents
Leadscrew base
Total # of assemblies 2
Name | Qty/assembly | Total Qty | Type |
z-leadscrew-base-bar-clamp_2off.par | 1 | 2 | RP |
z-leadscrew-base_2off.par | 1 | 2 | RP |
624-bearing.par | 2 | 4 | Bearing |
m4-nut | 2 | 4 | Fastener |
m4-nylock.par | 2 | 4 | Fastener |
m4-washer.par | 8 | 16 | Fastener |
m4x40-cap.par | 4 | 8 | Fastener |
m5-mudguard-washer.par | 2 | 4 | Fastener |
RP parts
Assembly
The bearings are used as idler pulleys with the large mudgaurd washers helping to hold the belt on the bearings. The bearing screws are the wrong way round in the picture (sorry...). The heads should be on the bearing side giving an overall ordering of: nylock nut, washer, RP part, washer, bearing, washer, mudgaurd washer, screw head.
Leadscrew base with optoswitch
One of the leadscrew bases needs an optoswitch.
BOM
Total # of assemblies: 1
Name | Qty/assembly | Total Qty | Type |
Optoswitch PCB | 1 | 1 | PCB |
z-opto-bracket_1off | 1 | 1 | RP |
z-axis-opto-spring.aoi | 1 | 1 | RP |
m4-nut.par | 1 | 1 | Fastener |
m4-washer.par | 1 | 1 | Fastener |
m4x40-cap.par | 1 | 1 | Fastener |
m3-capx20.par | 2 | 2 | Fastener |
m3-nylock.par | 2 | 2 | Fastener |
m3-washer.par | 4 | 4 | Fastener |
Printed parts
Assembly
Once again, the bearing screws are the wrong way round in both pictures (sorry). The heads should be on the bearing side.
Slot the nut into the hexagonal cavity between the two bearings (underside in view). Put a spare 15mm M4 cap screw through a washer and tighten that on the nut to move it down the cavity - it should be a snug fit and not fall out. Undo the cap screw and return it to your collection.
This picture shows the assembly with the spring omitted for clarity (the opto-switch PCB is upside-down in this picture - sorry...):
And this one shows it in place:
Put a 40mm M4 screw loosely through the central holes in the spring just to locate it and screw it a few turns into the trapped nut. Then put the bearing assemblies together with their screws. The screw and nut on one of them that holds the spring goes through an over-sized hole. Adjust the spring so it is square by eye before tightening this.
Fit the PCB to its bracket and fit that on the spring. Don't tighten the M3 screws too tight, or you'll bend the PCB on the solder bumps sticking out the back (if you've got some, you can scalpel off two 2 mm lengths of 3mm internal-diameter silicone tube and use them as spacers; don't use metal washers - shorts).
Finally unscrew the cap screw running down the centre of the opto-switch spring, put a dab of super-glue between the spring and the opto-switch bracket, and reassemble the device. Make sure no glue gets on the screw, and that the opto-switch is square.
Motor bracket
BOM
Total # of assemblies:1
Name | Qty/assembly | Total Qty | Type |
drive-pulley_3off.par (alternative #1 #2 #3) | 1 | 1 | RP |
z-motor-bracket_1off.par | 1 | 1 | RP |
m3-capx20.par | 4 | 4 | Fastener |
m3-washer.par | 4 | 4 | Fastener |
stepper-motor-nema17-fl42sth47-1684A-01.par | 1 | 1 | Motor |
Printed parts
Note: the latest design of pulley has a set-screw in a captive nut. This makes the pulley much easier to mount on the motor shaft. Get a motor with a flat on its shaft if you can, or - if not - file a flat where the screw will tighten.
Assembly
Tensioner
BOM
Total # of assemblies 1
Name | Qty/assembly | Total Qty | Type |
z-tensioner_1off.par | 1 | 1 | RP |
624-bearing.par | 1 | 1 | Bearing |
m4-nylock.par | 1 | 1 | Fastener |
m4-washer.par | 3 | 3 | Fastener |
m4x40-cap.par | 1 | 1 | Fastener |
m5-mudguard-washer.par | 1 | 1 | Fastener |
Printed parts
Assembly
The bearing screw is the wrong way round in the picture (you may see a pattern emerging here...). The head should be on the bearing side.
Lead-screw
BOM
Note: there is a later improved design of this. It has two of the four pulley rims incorporated into the pulleys. For this design you need two pulleys and two rims.
Total # of assemblies 2
Name | Qty/assembly | Total Qty | Type |
stud-z-leadscrew.par (330mm) | 1 | 2 | Studding |
z-drive-pulley-rim_4off.par | 2 | 4 | RP |
z-driven-pulley_2off.par | 1 | 2 | RP |
608-bearing.par | 1 | 2 | Bearing |
m8-nut.par | 3 | 6 | Fastener |
m8-washer.par | 6 | 12 | Fastener |
Printed parts
Assembly
Loosely load the lead-screw (1) to ensure studding comes flush with lower nut. Tighten the two nuts which surround the bearing. At this point make sure that the bearing still rotates freely, if the outer ring jams with the nuts tightened then it is either damaged internally or has a manufacturing defect; either way it's unsuitable for use in Mendel.
Remove the lower parts (2) and store - these will be re-assembled later.
The pulley rims will have one side that is slightly smoother than the other - the side that was against the flat base when the rim was being reprapped. Put the smooth sides on the inside.
Back to Mendel mechanical construction root.