I just need to find a method to stiffen the braided loop over the top, so that it does not floop over. Any suggestions what I can add into the sleeve to keep it abit rigid / firm.
Some sort of prop from the gantry top on the left to the cable assembly.
You could print this in two parts to allow it to rotate during movement.
Try a thin coat-hanger (unfolded)
Maybe cut a length of filament and tuck it in the braided sleeve.
Maybe try some 6 mm Bowden tube in the braided sleeve and put on some cable ties
Braided loop should be stiff enough if you streched it to bundle the wires together, add heatshrink tube on one end and the other, secure with insulock, or just add heatshrink to the top loop (bend while heating) it should retain its shape until re heated
There is too much over the plate. You should home all axis’ and then where it’s attached on the top right back corner of the plate, detach it, take up most (not all!) of the slack and re attach.
You should have enough there for the print head to move freely all the way along the axis, but you don’t need slack when it’s homed like that. Effectively when touching the bed it’s at it’s maximum needed length. I’ll post a picture of mine in the next comment, see if it helps.
Here, check mine out. You can see that there isn’t a big loop of cable at the top:
Thanks guys , I need to remove slack @James_Cadman , that should help as you say. I try some of these ideas.
A long thick cable tie. ( the police handcuff kind)
A piece of copper wire stripped from some romex. Good and stiff and bendable to form.
I know you like the braided (yep, looks awesome!) but a plastic wrapped cable holder type might of been thicker and stiffer?
Some vinyl tube…or irrigation poly tube
something else I did that worked well. was heat shrink tubing. when shrunk it bends when not its stiff. I put wires down a long piece and shrunk it every 20 cm’s so was a bit like a cable chain with long links.
Design and print something. Remember you have a 3D printer.
I’ve used a thin laser cut of Delrin sheet… Printing semi flex should work too
why not just get one of these? They look better and they are pretty cheap. http://www.aliexpress.com/item/Free-Shipping-3D-printer-accessories-towline/32564633339.html?spm=2114.30010308.3.2.0iPAmy&ws_ab_test=searchweb201556_7,searchweb201644_3_505_506_503_504_502_10001_10002_10017_10010_10005_10011_10006_10003_10004_10009_10008,searchweb201560_2,searchweb1451318400_-1,searchweb1451318411_6452&btsid=9b432e25-9a2f-4e8e-aa5b-82a5262fdcc9
I second sliding a PTFE tube in the bundle.
PTFE tube all the way.