¶ Step 1 - Prepare the joiner parts - Part 1
- 2x vc4_xy_joiner_upper plate
- 2x vc4_x_endstop printed part
- 2x vc4_xy_joiner_middle plate
- 8x M5x60 Countersink Screw
- 2x Low Profile Screw 30mm
- 14x Aluminium Spacer 5x8x14mm
¶ Step 2 - Assemble the left joiner - Part 1
- vc4_xy_joiner_upper plate
- M5x60 Countersink Screw
- M5x30 Low Profile Screw
- Insert the screws on the plate and flip the assembly upside down as shown.
¶ Step 3 - Assemble the left joiner - Part 2
- Aluminium Spacer 5x8x14mm
- Insert one Aluminium spacer on each screw
- vc4_x_endstop printed part
- Align the printed part and insert it through the aluminium spacers.
- vc4_xy_joiner_middle plate
- Align the plate and insert it through the screws.
¶ Step 4 - Prepare the joiner parts - Part 2
- 2x vc4_xy_spacer
- 4x Ball Bearing 695ZZ
- 8x Ball Bearing F695ZZ
- 4x Mini Precision Shim 8x5x1mm
- 4x Aluminium Spacer 5x8x27mm
- 4x Heavy-Duty Idler – The latest V-Core 4 kits now feature these heavy-duty idlers as a replacement for the previously used bearing stack assemblies.
¶ Step 5 - Assemble the left joiner - Part 3
- Install the following components in the order shown in the image:
- Mini Precision Shim
- F695ZZ Ball Bearing (Flange at the bottom)
- 695ZZ Ball Bearing
- F695ZZ Ball Bearing (Flange at the top)
- Aluminium Spacer 5x8x27mm
- Aluminium Spacer 5x8x14mm
- Insert the aluminium spacers on the designated screws.
¶ Step 6 - Prepare the gantry extrusion parts
- 4x M5x8 Cap Head Screw
- 6x T-Nut M5 Square type for 2020
- V-Slot 2020 - 525mm
¶ Step 7 - Assemble the left joiner - Part 4
- Insert two T-Nut Square type for 2020 on the top slot.
- Insert one T-Nut Square type for 2020 on the lower slot.
- Gently insert the V-Slot 2020 extrusion inside the vc4_xy_spacer. The two square T-nuts must be facing the opening on the printed part, as shown.
- Ensure the extrusion and the printed part are flush.
¶ Step 8 - Assemble the left joiner - Part 5
- Push the two T-Nut Square type to the end of the assembly
- Flip the gantry upside down and push the single T-Nut Square type underneath the printed part, ensuring it is aligned with the hole on the printed part.
- Repeat Steps 7 and 8 and prepare the other end of the assembly.
¶ Step 9 - Assemble the left joiner - Part 6
- Take the assembly from the previous Step and insert the printed part holes in the aluminium spaces of the left joiner from Step 5
- Install the following components in the order shown in the image:
- F695ZZ Ball Bearing (Flange at the bottom)
- 695ZZ Ball Bearing
- F695ZZ Ball Bearing (Flange at the top)
- Mini Precision Shim
¶ Step 10 - Prepare the joiner parts - Part 3
- 2x vc4_xy_joiner_lower plate
- vc4_xy_trim_left printed part
- vc4_xy_trim_right printed part
- 8x M5 Hex Locking nut
- 8x M3x8 Cap Head Screw
¶ Step 11 - Assemble the left joiner - Part 7
- vc4_xy_joiner_lower plate
- 2x M5x8 Cap Head Screw
- Insert the screws through the plate, and tighten them to the t-nuts on the 2020 extrusion.
- M5 Hex Locking nut
- Thread a M5 hex locking nut in each screw
- Tighten the screws in each of M5 hex locking nuts were inserted
- Do not overtighten the screws as too much force can cause the gantry to bind when installed on the V-Core 4.
¶ Step 12 - Assemble the left joiner - Part 8
- vc4_xy_trim_left printed part
- 4x M3x8 Cap Head Screw
- Insert the screws through the printed part and tighten them to the plate
¶ Step 13 - Assemble the left joiner - Part 9
- Tighten the marked screw to better secure the gantry to the joiner.
- This is how the left joiner should look like, carefully inspect your assembly before proceeding.
¶ Step 14 - Assemble the right joiner - Part 1
- vc4_xy_joiner_upper plate
- M5x60 Countersink Screw
- M5x30 Low Profile Screw
- Insert the screws on the plate and flip the assembly upside down as shown.
¶ Step 15 - Assemble the right joiner - Part 2
- Aluminium Spacer 5x8x14mm
- Insert one Aluminium spacer on each screw
- vc4_x_endstop printed part
- Align the printed part and insert it though the aluminium spacers.
- vc4_xy_joiner_middle plate
- Align the plate and insert it though the screws.
¶ Step 16 - Assemble the right joiner - Part 3
- Install the following components in the order shown in the image:
- Mini Precision Shim
- F695ZZ Ball Bearing (Flange at the bottom)
- 695ZZ Ball Bearing
- F695ZZ Ball Bearing (Flange at the top)
- Aluminium Spacer 5x8x27mm
- Aluminium Spacer 5x8x14mm
- Insert the aluminium spacers on the designated screws.
¶ Step 17 - Assemble the right joiner - Part 4
- Take the assembly from Step 16 and insert the printed part holes in the aluminium spaces of the right joiner from the previous Step.
- Install the following components in the order shown in the image:
- F695ZZ Ball Bearing (Flange at the bottom)
- 695ZZ Ball Bearing
- F695ZZ Ball Bearing (Flange at the top)
- Mini Precision Shim
¶ Step 18 - Assemble the right joiner - Part 5
- vc4_xy_joiner_lower plate
- 2x M5x8 Cap Head Screw
- Insert the screws through the plate, and tighten them to the t-nuts on the 2020 extrusion.
- M5 Hex Locking nut
- Thread a M5 hex locking nut in each screw
- Tighten the screws in each of M5 hex locking nuts were inserted
- Do not overtighten the screws as too much force can cause the gantry to bind when installed on the V-Core 4.
¶ Step 19 - Assemble the right joiner - Part 6
- vc4_xy_trim_left printed part
- 4x M3x8 Cap Head Screw
- Insert the screws through the printed part and tighten them to the plate
- Tighten the marked screw to better secure the gantry to the joiner.
- Set the assembly aside, it will be used further in the Guide
¶ Step 20 - Prepare the x-axis rail parts
- 475mm MGN12C Linear Rail & MGN12C carriage holder
- 10x 2020 Drop-in T-Nut - M3
- 10x M3x8 Cap Head Screw
- V-Core 4 400 - 12 Screws + T-nuts
- V-Core 4 500 - 14 Screws + T-nuts
- 8x M3x8 Cap Head Screw with blue thread lock
- The plastic bag has a BT label
- 8x M3 Washer
¶ Step 21 - Remove the second carriage
- ONLY remove the second carriage if you are not assembling the IDEX variant.
- Keeping the second carriage in the X rail will result in poor belt tunning and input shaper results.
- Align the mgn12c carriage mount with the linear rail
- Slowly slide one carriage to the mount
- Carefully store the carriage, this will be essential for the IDEX upgrade.
- Ensure the carriage never leaves the mount, to avoid loosing any of the ball bearings inside.
¶ Step 22 - Prepare the linear rail for installation
- Remove the plastic stops installed in the ends of the linear rail
- 475mm MGN12 Linear Rail
- 10x M3x8 Cap Head Screw
- 10x 2020 Drop-in T-Nut - M3
¶ Step 23 - Assemble the x-axis gantry - Part 1
- X-Axis Gantry Assembly from Step19
- Linear rail assembly from the previous Step
- 2x align_2020_mgn12
- Use the jigs to align the mng12 linear rail on the 2020 extrusion
- Frame jig from Chapter One
- Insert the small tab between the gantry joiner and the linear rail as shown
- Push the linear rail against the frame jig to ensure they sit flush.
¶ Step 24 - Assemble the x-axis gantry - Part 2
- Fasten all M3x8 screws, starting from the jig side. The orange arrow indicates the direction to follow.
- Do not overtighten the screws as it can cause the linear rail to bind.
¶ Step 25 - Install the x-axis assembly - Part 1
- V-Core 4 Frame Assembly
- X-Axis gantry Assembly
- Carefully insert the gantry assembly into the V-Core 4 frame from the side, as shown.
- Place the Joiners on top of the linear rail carriages.
- When installing, keep the gantry's left and right orientation in mind. Installing it in reverse will prevent the belt routing from working.
¶ Step 26 - Install the x-axis assembly - Part 2
- 4x M3x8 Cap Head Screw with threadlock (blue on ends of screw threads)
- 4x M3 washer
- Insert an M3x8 Cap Head screw with an M3 washer through the joiner plate and tighten it to the linear rail carriage
- Don't overtighten the screws as it can cause the gantry to bind in the Y direction
¶ Step 27 - Install the x-axis assembly - Part 3
- 4x M3x8 Cap Head Screw
- 4x M3 washer
- Insert an M3x8 Cap Head screw with an M3 washer through the joiner plate and tighten it to the linear rail carriage
- Don't overtighten the screws as it can cause the gantry to bind in the Y direction
¶ Step 28 - Test the y-axis movement
- Test the movement of the y-axis over the full travel distance
- Small changes in resistance are normal, but becoming much harder to push, or binding completely are not
- If the Gantry feels hard to push, you can undo the M3x8 Cap Head screws installed on the previous Steps a quarter of a turn, ensuring there is no play between the joiner plates and the linear rail carriages
¶ Step 29 - Check the gantry alignment
- Move the gantry to the front.
- Both Joiners must hit the Y bumper printed parts at the same time.
- An exaggerated example of a misaligned gantry, there is a gap on one side, but not the other.
- The right side sits flush with the Y bumper, or vice versa.
- If your gantry isn't bumping into both printed parts at the same time, follow the next steps:
- Gently loosen all screws in both joiners.
- Push the joiners against the Y bumper printed parts by hand.
- Firmly Retighten all screws on both Joiners and go back to Step 27
¶ Step 30 - Prepare the belt
- Take the belt package inside the HW3693MK - Rat Rig V-Core 4.0 - Base Hardware Pack - All Versions and cut it in half, one half will be used for the top belt path and the other for the lower belt path.
- If you are building the hybrid machine you have 2 belt packages, you should use the longest one at this stage.
¶ Step 31 - Tip- How to easily insert the belts
- This step is not mandatory, it's just a Rat Rig tip on how to feed the belts on the idlers.
- Zip Tie
- The wider the zip tie is, the easier the process will be
- Bend the tip of the zip tie a little bit and feed it between the joiner assembly and the idler, as shown
¶ Step 32 - Tip- How to easily insert the belts
- Insert the belt between the zip tie and the idler
- Slowly feed the belt and pull the zip tie at the same time
¶ Step 33 - Route the top CoreXY belt
- Ensure the belt teeth are facing the stepper motor pulleys.
- Take one end of the top CoreXY belt, and feed it as shown:
- Feed the belt through the left stepper motor bearing stacks.
- Feed the belt behind the left xy_joiner, through the front tensioner and finally the front bearing stack on the xy_joiner.
- Take the other end of the top CoreXY belt, and feed it as shown:
- Feed the belt through the right stepper motor bearing stacks.
- Feed the belt around the rear bearing stack on the xy_joiner.
- Do not cut the excess belt at this stage.
¶ Step 34 - Route the lower CoreXY belt
- Ensure the belt teeth are facing the stepper motor pulleys.
- Ensure the belt teeth are facing the stepper motor pulleysTake one end of the lower CoreXY belt, and feed it as shown:
- Feed the belt through the left stepper motor bearing stacks.
- Feed the belt around the rear bearing stack on the xy_joiner.
- Take the other end of the top CoreXY belt, and feed it as shown:
- Feed the belt through the right stepper motor bearing stacks.
- Feed the belt behind the left xy_joiner, through the front tensioner and finally the front bearing stack on the xy_joiner.
- Do not cut the excess belt at this stage.
¶ Step 35
- Continue with the next guide: Bed Assembly