05. X-Axis Assembly

1x 362mm 2020 Extrusion

1x V-Minion X-Plate

2x M3 Nylon Locking Hex Nut

3x 2020 Square T-Nut - M5

2x 2020 Drop-in T-Nut - M5

4x M3x8 Cap Head Screw

5x M5x10 Cap Head Screw

x_gantry_end_cap printed part

V-Minion X-Plate

M3x8 Cap Head Screw

Slide the Z-axis up and down the rail to make sure it moves smoothly

If the carriage binds at all, slightly loosen the M3x8 screws and check again

M5x10 Cap Head Screw

2020 Square T-Nut - M5

Loosely thread the 2020 square T-Nuts onto the M5x10 screws. Do not tighten them at this point

362mm 2020 Extrusion

Slide the 2020 extrusion onto the 2020 square T-nuts as shown

Make sure that the 2020 extrusion end is flush with the side of the V-Minion X-Plate

Fasten the three M5x10 screws to secure the 2020 extrusion to the X-Plate

x_gantry_end_cap printed part

M3 Nylon Locking Hex Nut

Insert the M3 nylon locking nuts into the printed part as shown

M5x10 Cap Head Screw

2020 Drop-in T-Nut - M5

Loosely thread the 2020 T-Nuts onto the M5x10 screws. Do not tighten them at this point

X-axis end cap assembly

Slide the X-axis cap onto the end of the 2020 extrusion

Fasten both M5x10 screws to secure the X-axis cap to the extrusion

Take care not to over tighten the M5x10 screws as you can damage the printed part

1x Anti-Backlash Nut Block

2x M5x15 Low Profile Cap Head Screw

2x 2020 Drop-in T-Nut - M5

1x 250mm TR8*4 Leadscrew

2x M3x12 Cap Head Screw

x_wire_holder printed part

Anti-Backlash Nut Block

The following parts are provided with the anti-backlash nut

M4 Grub Screw

M4 Nut

Install the M4 grub screw into the anti-backlash nut block as shown. Stop turning the grub screw when it touches the bottom part of the nut block

Secure the grub screw by installing the M4 nut as shown

Anti-Backlash Nut Block

M5x15 Low Profile Cap Head Screw

2020 Drop-in T-Nut - M5

Loosely thread the 2020 T-Nuts onto the M5x15 screws. Do not tighten them at this point

Fit the anti-backlash nut block to the 2020 extrusion, but do not tighten the M5x15 screws fully

Thread the leadscrew through the anti-backlash nut block...

...and into the Z-axis spider coupler

Do not fasten the M5x15 screws, or the M3 screw on the spider coupler yet. We will do so after aligning everything in the next step

Begin by loosening the four M3x18 screws on the Z-axis stepper motor

To align the leadscrew, look at the V-Minion from above, as pictured:

Adjust the position of the anti-backlash nut left or right until the leadscrew is in-line with the Z-axis stepper motor

Secure the two M5x15 screws when this is achieved

Adjust the position of the Z-axis motor forwards and backwards until the leadscrew is parallel with the frame

Secure the four M3x18 screws when this is achieved

Take care not to over tighten the M3x18 screws as you can damage the printed parts

Fasten the M3 screw on the spider coupler to secure the leadscrew

x_wire_holder printed part

M3x12 Cap Head Screw

Fasten the x_wire_holder to the X-axis using the M3x12 screws

Take care not to over tighten the M3x12 screws as you can damage the printed parts

x_motor_cage printed part

1x 40mm NEMA17 Stepper Motor

3x M5x10 Cap Head Screw

3x 2020 Square T-Nut - M5

4x M3x8 Cap Head Screw

1x 20 Tooth 2GT Timing Pulley for 6mm Belt

x_motor_cage printed part

M5x10 Cap Head Screw

2020 Square T-Nut - M5

Loosely thread the 2020 T-Nuts onto the M5x10 screws. Do not tighten them at this point

x_motor_cage printed part

M5x10 Cap Head Screw

2020 Square T-Nut - M5

Loosely thread the 2020 T-Nut onto the M5x10 screw. Do not tighten it at this point

Assembly from Step 12

20 Tooth 2GT Timing Pulley for 6mm Belt

40mm NEMA17 Stepper Motor

Position the timing pulley as shown. Do not fully tighten the grub screws yet as the alignment will need to be adjusted later

Insert the stepper motor into the mount as shown

M3x8 Cap Head Screw

Fasten the stepper motor to the mount using the M3x8 screws

Take care not to over tighten the M3x8 screws as you can damage the printed parts

X-axis motor assembly from Step 13

Install the X-axis motor assembly onto the 2020 extrusion as shown

Push the assembly all the way along the X-axis for the moment

Do not fasten the M5x10 screws yet, this will be done later

1x 250mm MGN12 Linear Rail

10x M3x8 Cap Head Screw

10x 2020 Drop-in T-Nut - M3

Please refer to the Rat Rig Linear Rail Guide (Steps 1 & 2) for full details on preparing the rails before installation.

The linear rail carriages are not interchangeable. Do not try to use a carriage on a different linear rail than the one it was supplied with.

Frame assembly from Step 14

MGN12 Linear Rail

Remove the plastic stops installed in the ends of the linear rail

Do not allow the linear rail carriage to leave the end of the rail.

Insert an M3x8 screw in each of the holes on the linear rail

Loosely thread a 2020 T-Nut onto each of the M3x8 screws

Slot the assembled linear rail into the X-axis 2020 extrusion, do not fasten any of the M3x8 screws yet

x_idler printed part

1x M5x25 Cap Head Screw

3x M5x10 Cap Head Screw

4x 2020 Square T-Nut - M5

2x Micro Precision Shim

1x 20 Tooth 2GT Idler Pulley for 6mm Belt

x_idler printed part

M5x25 Cap Head Screw

Install one precision micro shim onto the M5x25 screw

Install the toothed 2GT idler onto the M5x25 screw

Insert the M5x25 cap head screw further in preparation for the next step

Similar to the Y-axis idler assembly, install the second precision micro shim onto the M5x25 screw

The assembly should have a micro precision shim on either side of the toothed idler

Fully insert the M5x25 as shown

M5x10 Cap Head Screw

2020 Square T-Nut - M5

Loosely thread the 2020 T-Nuts onto the M5 screws. Do not tighten them at this point

2020 Square T-Nut - M5

Insert one 2020 T-nut into the top of the 2020 X-axis extrusion as shown...

... and one into the underside of the extrusion

Install the X-axis idler onto the end of the 2020 X-axis extrusion

M5x10 Cap Head Screw

Insert one M5x10 screw in both the top and bottom of the X-axis idler, loosely fastening them into the 2020 T-nuts in the extrusion

Make sure the 2020 extrusion is fully inserted into the X-axis idler

Fasten all three M5x10 screws

Take care not to over tighten the M5x10 screws as you can damage the printed part

Fasten the M5x25 screw

Check that the toothed idler rotates without binding. If the idler is difficult to rotate, loosen the M5x25 screw until the idler rotates smoothly

Take care not to over tighten the M5x25 screw as you can damage the printed part

MGN12 Linear Rail

Make sure the linear rail is centred on the 2020 extrusion

The measurement between the linear rail and the side of the 2020 extrusion should be 4mm at all points

Fasten the M3x8 screws, starting from the left side

Double check the position of the linear rail

Fasten the remaining M3x8 screws, starting from the left side

Check that the carriage runs smoothly along the length of the rail

Push the X-axis motor as shown, it should be flush with the end of the linear rail

Fasten the marked M5x10 screw

Fasten the two marked M5x10 screws to fully secure the X-axis motor into place

Take care not to over tighten the M5x10 screws as you can damage the printed part

1x M6x12 Cap Head Screw

1x 3030 Drop-in T-Nut - M6

z_cap printed part

z_cap printed part

M6x12 Cap Head Screw

3030 Drop-in T-Nut - M6

Loosely thread the 3030 T-Nut onto the M6x12 screw. Do not tighten it at this point

Install the z_cap as shown

Fasten the M6x12 screw to secure the cap to the V-Minion frame

Take care not to over tighten the M6x12 screw as you can damage the printed part

Rotate the lead screw to lift the X-axis

Place two soda cans on top of the bed

Use two soda cans of the same brand if possible. Soda cans have very good dimension tolerances due to shipping and brand refill, this makes them a easy to source precise tool.

Make sure the Cans are fully seated on the bed

Place the Cans on the middle of the X-axis

Lossen the screws on the X-gantry plate

Cans are not included in the Rat Rig Kit!

Rotate the lead screw to lower the X-axis

If the X-axis is lowered too far, the gap on the right soda can will increase

Rotate the lead screw to lift the X-axis

If the X-axis is lifted too much, the gap on the left soda can will increase

Adjust the height of the X-axis until the gap on both soda cans is the same

Push the X-axis down with 2 fingers to really make sure the extrusion sits flush with the cans.

Re-tighten the screws on the X-gantry plate, making sure the gap on both soda cans remains the same