¶ Introduction
This section of the guide will step you correctly installing and routing the hybrid belts on the V-Core 4.1 .
¶ Step 1 - Tools for this guide
- The following tools are required for this guide:
- Allen key / hex wrench in the following size: 2.5mm
- A pair of scissors
¶ Step 2 - Prepare the hybrid belts
- 1x Timing Belt - GATES - 2GT 9mm (3.2 meters pack) (SKU: HW4226GC)
- The timing belt is provided in a single 3.2 meter length and is long enough to fit all sizes of V-Core 4.1
- Cut two identical lengths of belt depending on the size of V-Core 4.1 being assembled
- V-Core 4.1 - 300: 2x 1110mm belts
- V-Core 4.1 - 400: 2x 1310mm belts
- V-Core 4.1 - 500: 2x 1510mm belts
- It is important that both belts are an identical length otherwise issues can occur during tensioning
¶ Step 3 - Prepare the hybrid belt mounts
- 2x vc4_y_belt_clamp_body (SKU: PP000275)
- 2x vc4_y_belt_clamp_cap (SKU: PP000276)
- 4x M3x12 Cap Head Screw (SKU: HW1292SC)
- 6x M3x8 Cap Head Screw (SKU: HW1502SC)
¶ Step 4 - Install the left hybrid belt mount
- X-axis gantry left-hand side
- Prepared vc4_y_belt_clamp_body printed part
- Align the vc4_y_belt_clamp_body printed part with the X-axis gantry as shown. The four Cap Head Screw heads should seat fully into the underside of the hybrid belt mount
- Make sure that the printed part is seated fully on the top of the X-axis. Failure to do so will lead to issues with the hybrid belt
- 2x M3x12 Cap Head Screw
- Insert an M3x12 Cap Head Screw into each of the two central holes in the hybrid belt mount and then fasten them into the threads below
- Be careful not to overtighten the screws as you can damage the printed parts
¶ Step 5 - Install the right hybrid belt mount
- X-axis gantry right-hand side
- Prepared vc4_y_belt_clamp_body printed part
- Align the vc4_y_belt_clamp_body printed part with the X-axis gantry as shown. The four Cap Head Screw heads should seat fully into the underside of the hybrid belt mount
- Make sure that the printed part is seated fully on the top of the X-axis. Failure to do so will lead to issues with the hybrid belt
- 2x M3x12 Cap Head Screw
- Insert an M3x12 Cap Head Screw into each of the two central holes in the hybrid belt mount and then fasten them into the threads below
- Be careful not to overtighten the screws as you can damage the printed parts
¶ Step 6 - Route the left hybrid belt - Part 1
- Left hybrid belt mount
- 1x Length of hybrid timing belt from step 2
- Take one end of the timing belt and orient it so that the toothed side faces towards the loop in the hybrid belt mount, and that the cut end aligns with the slot as shown
- Slowly insert the timing belt into the slot on the hybrid belt mount as shown, routing it around the loop and out of the open slot
- The teeth of the belt should mesh together in the slot, locking the belt in place
¶ Step 7 - Route the left hybrid belt - Part 2
- Take the loose end of the left hybrid belt and route is as follows:
- On the left-hand side of the X-axis gantry assembly: Route the belt upwards toward the hybrid stepper motor assembly
- On the left-hand hybrid stepper motor assembly: Feed the belt around rear idler, then the pulley on the stepper motor, and finally around the front idler
- The teeth on the belt should face the teeth on the stepper motor pulley. If they do not, double check that the belt is oriented correctly
- Route the belt to the front of the V-Core 4.1 assembly whilst making sure to keep it above the X-axis gantry
- On the left-hand belt tensioner: Feed the belt around the upper belt tensioner idler and then back towards the left hybrid belt mount
- On the left-hand hybrid belt mount: Feed the remaining belt through the loop in the hybrid belt mount and out of the slot, making sure the teeth mesh together as shown in step 4
¶ Step 8 - Secure the left hybrid belt
- X-axis gantry left-hand side
- vc4_y_belt_clamp_cap printed part
- Align the vc4_y_belt_clamp_cap with the vc4_y_belt_clamp_body printed part
- 3x M3x8 Cap Head Screw
- Insert an M3x8 Cap Head Screw into each of the three holes in cap and then fasten them into the heated inserts below
- Be careful not to overtighten the screws as you can damage the printed parts
¶ Step 9 - Route the right hybrid belt - Part 1
- Right hybrid belt mount
- 1x Length of hybrid timing belt from step 2
- Take one end of the timing belt and orient it so that the toothed side faces towards the loop in the hybrid belt mount, and that the cut end aligns with the slot as shown
- Slowly insert the timing belt into the slot on the hybrid belt mount as shown, routing it around the loop and out of the open slot
- The teeth of the belt should mesh together in the slot, locking the belt in place
¶ Step 10 - Route the right hybrid belt - Part 2
- Take the loose end of the right hybrid belt and route is as follows:
- On the right-hand side of the X-axis gantry assembly: Route the belt upwards toward the hybrid stepper motor assembly
- On the right-hand hybrid stepper motor assembly: Feed the belt around rear idler, then the pulley on the stepper motor, and finally around the front idler
- The teeth on the belt should face the teeth on the stepper motor pulley. If they do not, double check that the belt is oriented correctly
- Route the belt to the front of the V-Core 4.1 assembly whilst making sure to keep it above the X-axis gantry
- On the right-hand belt tensioner: Feed the belt around the upper belt tensioner idler and then back towards the right hybrid belt mount
- On the right-hand hybrid belt mount: Feed the remaining belt through the loop in the hybrid belt mount and out of the slot, making sure the teeth mesh together as shown in step 9
¶ Step 11 - Secure the right hybrid belt
- X-axis gantry right-hand side
- vc4_y_belt_clamp_cap printed part
- Align the vc4_y_belt_clamp_cap with the vc4_y_belt_clamp_body printed part
- 3x M3x8 Cap Head Screw
- Insert an M3x8 Cap Head Screw into each of the three holes in cap and then fasten them into the heated inserts below
- Be careful not to overtighten the screws as you can damage the printed parts
¶ Step 12 - Align the hybrid stepper pulleys - Part 1
- On the left-hand hybrid stepper motor assembly: Loosen both set screws within the stepper motor pulley
- On the right-hand hybrid stepper motor assembly: Loosen both set screws within the stepper motor pulley
- Move the X-axis gantry forwards and backwards slowly over the entire travel distance, this will cause the belts to take their natural positions on all of the idlers and will correctly align the stepper motor pulleys
¶ Step 13 - Align the hybrid stepper pulleys - Part 2
- Inspect both of the hybrid motor assemblies and verify that there is a small gap between the edges of the belt and the flanges of the pulleys:
- If there is, they are correctly aligned and you can continue
- If the belt is touching either of the flanges, you can either move the X-axis gantry forwards and backwards a few more times, or manually nudge the stepper motor pulley up or down to create the gap
- On the left-hand hybrid stepper motor assembly: Tighten both set screws within the stepper motor pulley to secure it in place
- On the right-hand hybrid stepper motor assembly: Tighten both set screws within the stepper motor pulley to secure it in place