Z-Axis Cable Carrier
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.
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.
Step 3: Lay everything into the cable carrier
Keeping the mounting orientation of the cable carrier in mind, lay the following items into the open cable carrier. The cross-slide end of all items should be sticking out from the cross-slide end of the cable carrier by approximately 5cm. This will leave the appropriate remaining length of each item sticking out from the z-axis end of the cable carrier.
| Item | Cross-slide end description |
|---|---|
| Z-axis water tube (0.95m long) | Either |
| Z-axis UTM cable (1.0m long) | End with the 90-degree connector |
| Camera (1.0m long) | End with the 90-degree connector |
| Z vacuum pump cable (1.0m long) | End with the 90-degree connector |
| ZZ motor cable (1.8m long) | End with the 90-degree connector |
| ZZ encoder cable (1.8m long) | End with the 90-degree connector |
The exact number of pins in each connector may vary from the images below depending on when your kit was manufactured.
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.
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 cable carrier spacer block. The screws should thread firmly through the cable carrier end piece.
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.
Step 6: Connect the z-axis motor and encoder
Feed the ZZ 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.
Step 7: Add the vertical motor housing
Attach the vertical motor housing to the z-axis extrusion using M5 x 10mm screws and tee nuts.
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.
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.