Step 1: Prepare the cable carrier

Remove all of the snap-in tabs from the z-axis cable carrier. The z-axis cable carrier is the shortest cable carrier in the kit.

Remove the tabs Remove the tabs Remove the tabs

Step 2: Orient the cable carrier

There is only one orientation that the z-axis cable carrier mounts to the cross-slide and z-axis, and it is determined by the orientation of the end pieces. Inspect the images below to see how the cable carrier will be mounted, but do not attach it at this time.

Z cable carrier orientation (z-axis end) Z cable carrier orientation (z-axis end) Z cable carrier orientation (cross-slide end)

Step 3: Lay everything into the cable carrier

Keeping the mounting orientation of the cable carrier in mind, lay the UTM cable, the z-axis water tube (0.95m), the vacuum pump cable (z-axis section), the camera, the z-axis motor cable (z-axis section), and the z-axis encoder cable (z-axis section) into the open cable carrier. The ends of all cabling and tubing should be offset from the z-axis end of the cable carrier as follows:

Cable/Tube Extension
(beyond the Z end)
Z-axis water tube
0.95m long		 10cm
UTM cable
End with the yellow and black connectors		 10cm
Camera 15cm
Vacuum pump cable (z-axis section)
End with the quick-connect terminals		 30cm
Z-axis motor cable (z-axis section)
End with the white motor plug		 100cm
Z-axis encoder cable (z-axis section)
End with the white encoder plug		 100cm
Cables and tube extensions Cables and tube extensions Cables and tube organization

Organization is important!

When laying the cables and tube in the cable carrier, ensure that none of the items criss-cross over each other. If they do, you will have trouble snapping in the tabs and you risk compressing the tube and preventing water flow.

Step 4: Snap in some tabs

Snap in three cable carrier tabs at both ends of the cable carrier, and a handful more spread throughout the middle so that as you mount the assembly, the cables and tubing will stay in place. Do not snap in all of the tabs at this time because that will make it difficult to make adjustments if needed.

Snap in some tabs

Step 5: Mount the cable carrier

Carefully drape the cable carrier assembly into position. Attach the cross-slide end of the cable carrier to the cross-slide using two M5 x 30mm screws, M5 flange locknuts, and the 60mm cable carrier spacer block. The screws should thread firmly through the cable carrier end piece.

Drape the cable carrier into position Drape the cable carrier into position Mount the cable carrier to the cross-slide

Now attach the z-axis end of the cable carrier to the lowest vertical cable carrier support on the z-axis using two M5 x 16mm screws and M5 flange locknuts. The screws should thread firmly through the cable carrier end piece.

mount the cable carrier to the z-axis

Step 6: Connect the z-axis motor and encoder

Feed the z-axis motor and encoder cables up through the slots in the vertical cable carrier supports, and then through the slot in the z-axis motor mount. Then connect the cables to the motor and encoder.

Connect the z motor and encoder cables Connect the z motor and encoder cables Connect the z motor and encoder cables

Step 7: Add the vertical motor housing

Attach the 80mm vertical motor housing to the z-axis extrusion using M5 x 10mm screws and tee nuts.

Add the vertical motor housing

Step 8: Snap in the remaining tabs

Once everything is situated well, snap-in the remaining cable carrier tabs, ensuring that you maintain organization of the cables and tube.

Snap in the remaining tabs

Not easy to adjust

Once you snap-in the remaining tabs, it will become impossible to adjust anything without removing the majority of the tabs first. Make sure everything is in place before you make a bunch of extra work for yourself.

What’s next?