backlash eliminating star Hi guys, inspired by nebbians rubberband anti wobble hack, I sketched up a version that eliminates backlash in the rod ends as well as any play in the carriers. mod_embed_images_loadimage('c5bf48151bc1211f2388695bbff29c2e', '/forum/thumbcache/e6e/1c6/758/8e4/ff5/6f2/2f1/b4f/5c9/a60/7a_800x400.png', 'http://forums.reprap.org/file.php?178,file=64191', 'https://reprap.org/forum/addon.php?178,module=embed_images,check_scaling=1,url=http%3A%2F%2Fforums.reprap.org%2Ffile.php%3F178%2Cfile%3D64191', '', 571729, 800, 400, 'Loading image ...', false); It combines the well known "anti-backlash spring" between the rods and nebbians approach to eliminate wobble and play in the v-slot rollers. Now the pulling force on the carrier-wheels is always aiming to the center-ring. No "forced wobble" anymore. #see attachment -Olaf https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?178,571729,571729#msg-571729 Wed, 20 May 2026 12:53:11 -0400 Phorum 5.2.23 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?178,571729,600346#msg-600346 Re: backlash eliminating star https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?178,571729,600346#msg-600346 I'm afraid the PTFE tube will then be too short and causes the extruder to shake too much.
OTOH, if you mount them on carrier height, the rubbers wont eliminate slack in the rod ends.

I skipped the idea, because I sold my delta and didn't want to leave experimental marks on the rods. ( You have to fix the rubbers somehow )
-Olaf]]> o_lampe Delta Machines Thu, 24 Dec 2015 04:01:36 -0500 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?178,571729,600256#msg-600256 Re: backlash eliminating star https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?178,571729,600256#msg-600256
My original rubber band hack did work quite well, although I've now moved to linear bearings. They work better B) Although it has to be said, I can't see any difference in print quality between rollers with the rubber band hack, and linear bearings, at least at this stage.

I have been chasing a particular print issue for months, where external perimeters outside of infilled areas would be wider. In my case this resulted in a 'lip' around the outside of the part near the top. I thought that this might be due to slop when the effector turns the corner, hence the rubber bands and linear bearings. However that turns out not to be the case. The issue is to do with the long bowden cable. When you extrude at high pressure for infill (going fast), then extrude at low pressure (going slow around the perimeter), some pressure is still built up in the bowden tube and so you end up with a wider perimeter when you've just laid down solid infill. This results in that damn lip.

I'm now getting nice prints now that I've dropped the infill speed to slower than the perimeter speed. Yes I know this seems weird but I swear it's repeatable.


Needless to say, like others on here I'm investigating either a flying extruder, or a flex3drive system to do away with that big long stretchy bowden cable.]]> nebbian Delta Machines Wed, 23 Dec 2015 19:01:46 -0500 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?178,571729,600249#msg-600249 Re: backlash eliminating star https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?178,571729,600249#msg-600249
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DjDemonD
Seems like a good idea. Makes me wonder if I am inadvertently achieving the same effect with a flying extruder since the extruder is attached by elastic to each of the carriages effectively pulling them towards the centre of the printer.

That's a good observation :) ... it would be cool to have killed two birds with one stone. I am also contemplating at a flying extruder.]]> realthor Delta Machines Wed, 23 Dec 2015 18:42:55 -0500 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?178,571729,600248#msg-600248 Re: backlash eliminating star https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?178,571729,600248#msg-600248 DjDemonD Delta Machines Wed, 23 Dec 2015 18:39:54 -0500 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?178,571729,600228#msg-600228 Re: backlash eliminating star https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?178,571729,600228#msg-600228
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o_lampe
Hi guys,
inspired by nebbians rubberband anti wobble hack, I sketched up a version that eliminates backlash in the rod ends as well as any play in the carriers.
It combines the well known "anti-backlash spring" between the rods and nebbians approach to eliminate wobble and play in the v-slot rollers.
Now the pulling force on the carrier-wheels is always aiming to the center-ring. No "forced wobble" anymore.
-Olaf

Is this still an in-progress idea? I never saw any pictures Olaf of your final/any solution. I am thinking to add springs to the traxxas diagonal rods on my Overlord and was researching for any lateral ideas on the backlash/wobble issue.

BTW is this applying only to extrusion/roller carriages? I have copper bushings on steel rod so any backlash I see is in the traxxas themselves.]]> realthor Delta Machines Wed, 23 Dec 2015 17:28:08 -0500 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?178,571729,578663#msg-578663 Re: backlash eliminating star https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?178,571729,578663#msg-578663
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Billhc83
Those igus rod ends list max range @ 30* I am assuming this would make a total of 60* range of motion, how does that compare to the Traxxas joints?

Traxxas joints have around 22 degrees (Best I could measure with a protractor could not find any data sheet for them) the big advantage of the Igus ones in my mind are that they are preassembled have no noticeable backlash in the joint's themselves but they are a little more bulky than a traxxas joint so I have to shave a little of part of them at the effector end as the bind slightly if left intact but we are only talking about rounding about a 0.5 mm off the edges that contact each other so no big deal.

Doug]]> dougal1957 Delta Machines Mon, 02 Nov 2015 03:53:18 -0500 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?178,571729,578042#msg-578042 Re: backlash eliminating star https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?178,571729,578042#msg-578042 Billhc83 Delta Machines Sat, 31 Oct 2015 17:04:38 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?178,571729,577856#msg-577856 Re: backlash eliminating star https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?178,571729,577856#msg-577856 simspeed Delta Machines Sat, 31 Oct 2015 09:12:18 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?178,571729,577337#msg-577337 Re: backlash eliminating star https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?178,571729,577337#msg-577337
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simspeed
[attachment 64970 Carriage.JPG][attachment 64971 Carriageside.JPG][attachment 64972 Carriagerear.JPG]
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dougal1957


Fortunatly I don't have the problem so don't need to stabilise it (I use openBuilds Mini V-Wheels on there Vee slot extrusion and use a custom slider block with eccentric spacers to allow for adjustment and use 4 wheels on each carriage (tho that could be reduced to 3 if needed).

Dougal1957 ....I'd sure like to see pictures of your v-slot mini wheel carriage set up. I'm using the same components for the enclosed delta I'm building. I went with the magnet ball/carbon rods setup from Werner Berry. His rods measure 9.5mm dia.

Actually it is not dissimilar to yours except that my Sliders are printed in ABS (Your's are probably better being in Alloy) and I then have Kossel Carriages mounted to them where the Traxas Joint's are at the centre point this reduces print height but IMHO improve on stability and cross loading on the sliders ( Mine are 10mm thick). I would think that you might be better moving your Ball mounts to be more on the centre line of the wheels because where you have them (AS far as I can make out in the Photos) will induce a rotation force on the wheels which will wear them quicker.

There are photo's of it on here somewhere if you search on my previous post's I am sure you will find them.

Hope this makes sense

Doug]]> dougal1957 Delta Machines Fri, 30 Oct 2015 03:24:56 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?178,571729,577320#msg-577320 Re: backlash eliminating star https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?178,571729,577320#msg-577320
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dougal1957


Fortunatly I don't have the problem so don't need to stabilise it (I use openBuilds Mini V-Wheels on there Vee slot extrusion and use a custom slider block with eccentric spacers to allow for adjustment and use 4 wheels on each carriage (tho that could be reduced to 3 if needed).

Dougal1957 ....I'd sure like to see pictures of your v-slot mini wheel carriage set up. I'm using the same components for the enclosed delta I'm building. I went with the magnet ball/carbon rods setup from Werner Berry. His rods measure 9.5mm dia.]]> simspeed Delta Machines Fri, 30 Oct 2015 00:32:40 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?178,571729,572459#msg-572459 Re: backlash eliminating star https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?178,571729,572459#msg-572459 I also turned around my carrier, so that the rods are closer to the center roller. I've lost some z-height but it's playfree now. After 2kg of filament I start to hear some noise coming from the effector at turning points. Can't feel any excessive play, but I guess, the Traxxas joints start to loosen a bit.
I wonder if the play in dougals Igus ball joints is adjustable by tightening the screw that holds the ball?

-Olaf
@nebbian, what do you mean with window rollers?]]> o_lampe Delta Machines Mon, 19 Oct 2015 04:55:07 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?178,571729,572355#msg-572355 Re: backlash eliminating star https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?178,571729,572355#msg-572355
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o_lampe

Now the pulling force on the carrier-wheels is always aiming to the center-ring. No "forced wobble" anymore.

It's good to see someone improve my 'quick hack' :-)

Your centre ring will still move around when the carriages move up and down (it won't stay centred), and because the springs are shorter than the rubber bands, the difference in force between retracted and extended will be higher than the rubber bands. All this means that you'll still have 'forced wobble' with your system.

All of this is moot though, because the main issue with the current design is the top roller. The other two don't have much force on them, and if they wobble then they don't affect the effector very much if at all. It's only the top roller that causes the most issue. And either system (rubber bands or star arrangement) will preload the bearing on that top roller just fine. Granted, the rubber band system doesn't preload the rod ends, but mine don't have any slop in them at all so I didn't see it being necessary.

I'm getting really precise results out of mine now, hard to measure but it's probably around 50 microns. Not bad for window rollers.]]> nebbian Delta Machines Sun, 18 Oct 2015 21:58:45 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?178,571729,572231#msg-572231 Re: backlash eliminating star https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?178,571729,572231#msg-572231
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dc42
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dougal1957
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dc42
Dougal, which Igus rod ends do you use, and where do you get them from?

They are the IGUS KBRM-03 direct from IGUS They wont supply individual's (Unless your liberal with the truth Lol) only Businesses they come in at 1.92 + for quantities above 10 see KBRM-03 Rod Ends.

I have a second set in the post and Carbon Tube can be got from Carbon Tube

HTH

Doug

Thanks!

Do you find the 5mm x 3mm tube rigid enough? My 6mm x 4mm tube bends a little more than I would like, and I was thinking of going up to 8mm. But all the Igus joints I have found use the same hole and thread sizes.

Is there a reason why you chose the woven tube instead of the pulltruded tube?

Woven should be stiffer than Pulltruded as the thread weave is more multidirectional as far as I can ascertain whereas pulltruded all the thread's are in the longitudal direction I think that the 3x5 should be plenty stiff enough at a push you could use 3x5 on the ends and the use that in a 7x5 tube if you needed something stiffer (Both are available in pulltruded and woven styles).

Robotdigg also do a 3x6 Pulltruded tube set at 300 long (Assembled they come out at 343 centre to centre of the ends which could easily be spaced out to 350+ by use of a couple of Nuts at each end (I use one on each end anyway to stop the Epoxy gluing the end so I can re-use them if need be).

I will need to PM you next week for another mini sensor and a panel Dueboard as well so if you could put me one of each to one side it would be appreciated.

Have you got anywhere with the hall sensor boards yet?

Doug]]> dougal1957 Delta Machines Sun, 18 Oct 2015 14:22:49 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?178,571729,572226#msg-572226 Re: backlash eliminating star https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?178,571729,572226#msg-572226
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dougal1957
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dc42
Dougal, which Igus rod ends do you use, and where do you get them from?

They are the IGUS KBRM-03 direct from IGUS They wont supply individual's (Unless your liberal with the truth Lol) only Businesses they come in at 1.92 + for quantities above 10 see KBRM-03 Rod Ends.

I have a second set in the post and Carbon Tube can be got from Carbon Tube

HTH

Doug

Thanks!

Do you find the 5mm x 3mm tube rigid enough? My 6mm x 4mm tube bends a little more than I would like, and I was thinking of going up to 8mm. But all the Igus joints I have found use the same hole and thread sizes.

Is there a reason why you chose the woven tube instead of the pulltruded tube?]]> dc42 Delta Machines Sun, 18 Oct 2015 14:07:27 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?178,571729,572192#msg-572192 Re: backlash eliminating star https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?178,571729,572192#msg-572192
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dc42
Dougal, which Igus rod ends do you use, and where do you get them from?

They are the IGUS KBRM-03 direct from IGUS They wont supply individual's (Unless your liberal with the truth Lol) only Businesses they come in at 1.92 + for quantities above 10 see KBRM-03 Rod Ends.

I have a second set in the post and Carbon Tube can be got from Carbon Tube

HTH

Doug]]> dougal1957 Delta Machines Sun, 18 Oct 2015 12:41:48 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?178,571729,572175#msg-572175 Re: backlash eliminating star https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?178,571729,572175#msg-572175 dc42 Delta Machines Sun, 18 Oct 2015 12:02:14 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?178,571729,572138#msg-572138 Re: backlash eliminating star https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?178,571729,572138#msg-572138
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o_lampe
I've mounted my extruder in half height onto the x-tower. Others have mounted their stepper on the top horizontal struts... There is no standard answer to that.
The installation with springs and center ring are halfway up on the rods. In my case it would have a clearance of 12cm to the effector. The ring might never get in contact with the Bowden tube, we'll see.
-Olaf

Ah the halfway up the rods is the missing piece I thought you were going to attach at the upper carriage point 12 cm above the effector would work I reckon will be interesting to see your result's

Fortunatly I don't have the problem so don't need to stabilise it (I use openBuilds Mini V-Wheels on there Vee slot extrusion and use a custom slider block with eccentric spacers to allow for adjustment and use 4 wheels on each carriage (tho that could be reduced to 3 if needed).

On more resent builds I have used Robotdigg Alloy corners,Carriages,Effector and Linear rails which totally eliminates all of the problems with Backlash also now using IGUS rod ends which are really nice. Unfortunately all this comes at a cost.

Current build (For a Customer) is coming out at around £650 for a Kossel XL with 300mm diam bed 260mm height AC Bed Heater Duet Controller and PanelDue 5 inch display and bulldog XL Extruder]]> dougal1957 Delta Machines Sun, 18 Oct 2015 10:27:40 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?178,571729,572019#msg-572019 Re: backlash eliminating star https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?178,571729,572019#msg-572019 The installation with springs and center ring are halfway up on the rods. In my case it would have a clearance of 12cm to the effector. The ring might never get in contact with the Bowden tube, we'll see.
-Olaf]]> o_lampe Delta Machines Sun, 18 Oct 2015 04:06:38 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?178,571729,571883#msg-571883 Re: backlash eliminating star https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?178,571729,571883#msg-571883 dougal1957 Delta Machines Sat, 17 Oct 2015 14:29:13 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?178,571729,571881#msg-571881 Re: backlash eliminating star https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?178,571729,571881#msg-571881 I hope in my config, I can use the center ring ( where the springs meet ) as additional guide for my hotend wiring.
First have to buy a few ballpens to get some springs for a proof of concept. ;)
-Olaf]]> o_lampe Delta Machines Sat, 17 Oct 2015 14:07:13 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?178,571729,571772#msg-571772 Re: backlash eliminating star https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?178,571729,571772#msg-571772
Doug]]> dougal1957 Delta Machines Sat, 17 Oct 2015 06:29:59 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?178,571729,571729#msg-571729 backlash eliminating star https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?178,571729,571729#msg-571729 inspired by nebbians rubberband anti wobble hack, I sketched up a version that eliminates backlash in the rod ends as well as any play in the carriers.



It combines the well known "anti-backlash spring" between the rods and nebbians approach to eliminate wobble and play in the v-slot rollers.
Now the pulling force on the carrier-wheels is always aiming to the center-ring. No "forced wobble" anymore.

#see attachment
-Olaf
]]> o_lampe Delta Machines Sat, 17 Oct 2015 04:30:01 -0400