I have an Ender 5 Plus with some upgrades (“Old” MicroSwiss Direct Drive, Exoslide XY, custom shroud) and I occasionally have the issue in which the Cables for the Print head as well as the Filament Feeding Tube interfere or get caught on something on the printer.

The most recent example was when I printed (or wanted to print) something and in the middle of the night I woke up and checked up on it and it had a layer shift. Turns out that the filament feeding tube got caught in the X belt of the exoslide and prevented it from moving properly.

I already printed some brackets for the cables on the backside to the print head but the tube is still fairly unstable and flopping over after some time. The same with the filament feeding tube, since they are delivered in a spiral they are fairly fixed in that position and while I could and now have oriented it into a position that it wouldn’t get caught, I need a more permanent solution.

What I am looking for is something to keep the cables upright, maybe even some “boom arm” that has some clips on it that pull/hold the cables up but also not as tight so that it interferes with anything…

Here is an image of my Printer. which pretty much shows the issue.

  • @[email protected]English
    1•1 year ago

    TL;DR No.

    short version: No. Bad design.

    longer version: Drag chains 101: defined bending radius, no overlapping cables, and strain relief on both ends. This design has none of those properties.

    very long version: Read up on energy chains.

    • @[email protected]English
      2•1 year ago

      Great points. I appreciate the critique. Can you recommend a design that ameliorates the issues you mentioned?

      • @[email protected]English
        2•1 year ago

        I make my own when I need them, so I am not aware of good models for the Ender 5. With the points mentioned, I think you could tell whether a chain is good or not.

        Quick search. This looks promising: https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:4635454

        This is the interface/linking I use. One detail that isn’t visible: the “hub” isn’t a cylinder. It’s a truncated cone.

        end pice:

        • @[email protected]English
          1•1 year ago

          Thank you so much for this. I definitely have a better idea of what to look for. I see exactly what you mean regarding the linkage. I have yet to see that system for limiting the radial movement. I love the elegant simplicity. I haven’t had any problems with my current chain, but I will definitely incorporate these elements into the next chain I print.