Spring wire covers..

[IPvFletch]

I'm using the giant Springs that Bart listed, from McMaster-Carr, and I have them cut to the right length and fed the wires in, but I'm having trouble getting the springs to seat inside the aluminum extrusions or plate for the X carriage. I'm not sure what to do other than twist it and hope it begins to thread itself into the extrusion enough that it will be held in place. I got it to work on the Left extrusion (for the X wiring) but can't get it into the X carriage plate itself, and THAT is actually accessible from both sides!! Do I just stick some needle nose pliers in and try to pull it through?

Bart said something about stretching the spring a bit, which made sense when I read it, but now that I'm trying it, I don't see how to stretch the spring esp when working with the extrusions...

I might end up doing what I did for my extruder carriage and just mounting it sideways using some zip ties. It shouldn't look too bad, and should work just as well... It just isn't as purdy..

[bdring]

Twisting/threading it might actually make it harder to install.

There are two ways to temporarily reduce the diameter. The first is stretching it and the second is twisting it. Twisting one way reduces the diameter and twisting the other increases the diameter.

I actually tried to find a tap and spring pitch to match so it could be threaded. I'll bet someone with a lathe could make a tap to match the spring pitch.

[Oli]

[deleted]

[mxk]

On the gantry, use forceps or needle nosed pliers to reach thru the hole and grab the spring, then twisting counterclockwise (to compress it) pull hard while also pulling backwards and clockwise on the main body of the spring (to compress it). Curse roundly as the pliers let go, and keep trying. It does work. Once you get one coil thru the gantry hole it holds quite well.

I wish I had thought to do like Oli said on the extrusion, but got frustrated and settled for zip ties. Maybe on my next one.

[IPvFletch]

On the gantry, use forceps or needle nosed pliers to reach thru the hole and grab the spring, then twisting counterclockwise (to compress it) pull hard while also pulling backwards and clockwise on the main body of the spring (to compress it). Curse roundly as the pliers let go, and keep trying. It does work. Once you get one coil thru the gantry hole it holds quite well.

I wish I had thought to do like Oli said on the extrusion, but got frustrated and settled for zip ties. Maybe on my next one.

I think I needed more cursing.. or was it more cowbell.. I forget now..

I can probably get the X gantry spring through, but the other end going into the extrusion will be much harder, since there's no through-hole for me to put the forceps through so easily. Also for the heat bed. The extruder spring should be simple enough though.. LOL!!