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5. Head Carriage - Board, Tube And Cable

Overview

Install the head carriage assembly on the X rail slider, pre-install double-row tube on the X-rail support profile, install PP_YCarriageBoard_A_V1.0 board with FFC cables, install PPA1-HeadCarriageBoard-V1.0 board, install top camera assembly, connect circuit interface on head carriage, connect air tube on head carriage, install head carriage shell.

Required Parts And Accessories

  • PPA1 Head Carriage Assembly *1
  • Air Tube 2P-2m *1
  • PP_YCarriageBoard_A_V1.0 *1
  • FFC-0.5-40P-500mm *1
  • FFC-0.5-40P-800mm *1
  • PPA1-HeadCarriageBoard-V1.0 *1
  • Top Camera Assembly *1
  • SHCS M3X12 *4
  • Hex Flange Nut M3 *4
  • SHCS M3X5 *2
  • BHSHCS M3X6 *22
  • Hex Spacer FF M3X40 *6
  • Double-sided Adhesive Tape 5mm-10m *1
  • Pneumatic Fitting PC4-M5 *2
  • Micro T Connector *2
  • Rubber Tube D6-L30 *4
  • Rubber Tube D4-L200 *2
  • Rubber Tube D4-L65 *2

Head Carriage Assembly & Top Camera Assembly

Head Carriage Assembly Top Camera Assembly

Assembly

1. Install The Head Carriage

Install the head carriage assembly on the X rail slider

Note

The nozzle stepper assemblies will interfere with the operation, please move the steppers to one end of the rail and install two screws first, then move the steppers to the other end and install the other two screws.

Then use the BHSHCS M3X6 screws to secure the end of the tension springs. The springs will provide additional security for nozzle heads.

Warning

Do not overstretch the spring, it may cause failure. Move the nozzle closer to the fixing point first, then fix the corresponding spring end.

2. Add The Vacuum Tube

Pre-install double-row vacuum tube on the X-rail support profile.

Pass the vacuum tube through the inclined hole on the left Y slider, extend it to a distance of about 25cm from the end of the right side of the X rail support profile.

Press about half (50mm more) of the vacuum tube into the aluminum profile, leaving half of the tube on the outside of the profile.

At the end of the vacuum tube extending from the right side of the profile, cut the end of one vacuum tube to make the distance between the ends of the two tubes is about 40mm.

Use Rubber Tube D6-L30 to connect the two vacuum tubes to the top ports of the left and right solenoid valves respectively. The longer vacuum tube is connected to the left.

The vacuum tube can now follow the movement of the head carriage to bend and expand in the X-direction.

3. Install Y Carriage Board

Install PP_YCarriageBoard_A_V1.0 board with FFC cables.

Connect each of the two FFC cables to the board's connectors. Cable length of 500mm facing X direction.

Note

All FFC cables are oriented the same way: conductor contact side down, reinforcement side up.

Gently pull out the black plastic, stuff the cable, then stuff the plastic.

Use BHSHCS M3X6 or SHCS M3X5 screws to mount the PP_YCarriageBoard_A_V1.0 board to the left Y slider assembly. Be careful not to damage the FFC connector when installing the screws.

Note

The FFC end can be bent forward to follow the direction of movement and avoid friction.

Cut 2 pieces of double-sided tape with a length of 200mm, paste them on the back side of the X-rail support profile. Remove the protective layer of double-sided tape and attach the FFC cable to the back side of the profile.

Note

Now you can also use printed clips to reinforce the installation of the FFC to avoid double sided tape failure. Please get the STL on the download page.

4. Install Head Carriage Board

Install the PPA1-HeadCarriageBoard-V1.0 board.

PPA1-HeadCarriageBoard-V1.0 board overview.

Use BHSHCS M3X6 screws and Hex Spacer FF M3X40 to mount the board on the back side of the head carriage assembly.

5. Install Top Camera Assembly

Use two BHSHCS M3X6 screws to mount the top camera assembly to the bottom of head carriage.

6. Head Carriage Connections

Connect circuit interface on head carriage as follows:

Connect the steppers to the corresponding connectors.

Note

It's best to dispose of the TopCamera wire properly to avoid interference and stability problems.

7. Head Carriage Vaccum Tube

Connect air tube on head carriage.

Prepare the tubes as follows:

Connect the end of the Rubber Tube D6-L30 to the ports on the back of the solenoid valves.

Connect the end of the Rubber Tube D4-L65 to the two sensor ports correspondingly.

Install two Pneumatic Fitting PC4-M5 to the top of the two nozzle steppers, insert the end of Rubber Tube D4-L200 to the top of two connectors correspondingly.

8. (Optional) Install Head Carriage Cover

Place the stepper motor wires inside the shell.

Move the Rubber Tube D4-L200 tubes from the top slit to the top of the shell.