¶ Step 1 - Tools for this guide
- The following tools are required for this guide:
- Allen key / hex wrenches in the following sizes: 2.5mm, 3mm & 4mm
- A spanner / wrench in the following size: 8mm
- Rat Rig Nut Driver - M3
- The M3 Nut Driver is included in the V-Core 4.1 upgrade kit - SKU: HW4424GC
¶ Step 2 - Prepare the X-axis linear rail & gantry tube
- The SKUs for the V-Core 4.1 X-axis linear rail and gantry tube vary depending on the size:
- V-Core 4.1 - 300: 1x Linear Rail - MGN12 475mm (Set aside during disassembly)
- V-Core 4.1 - 300: 1x Rat Rig V-Core 4.1 - Steel Gantry - 300 (SKU: HW4344GC)
- V-Core 4.1 - 400: 1x Linear Rail - MGN12 575mm (Set aside during disassembly)
- V-Core 4.1 - 400: 1x Rat Rig V-Core 4.1 - Steel Gantry - 400 (SKU: HW4345GC)
- V-Core 4.1 - 500: 1x Linear Rail - MGN12 675mm (Set aside during disassembly)
- V-Core 4.1 - 500: 1x Rat Rig V-Core 4.1 - Steel Gantry - 500 (SKU: HW4346GC)
¶ Step 3 - Prepare the X-axis linear rail fasteners and tools
- Hex Locking Nut - M3 - Flanged (SKU: HW4422NC)
- M3x12 Cap Head Screw (SKU: HW1292SC)
- V-Core 4.1 - 300: 10 of each
- V-Core 4.1 - 400: 12 of each
- V-Core 4.1 - 500: 14 of each
- 2x align_1818_mgn12 Printed Part (SKU: PP000407)
- 2x vc41_xy_spacer Printed Part (SKU: PP000392)
¶ Step 4 - Assemble the X-axis gantry - Part 1
- If available, insert a red plastic stop into the second hole from each end of the linear rail as shown
- This prevents the linear rail carriage(s) from leaving the rail during assembly
- If you no longer have the red plastic stops from when you assembled your V-Core 4.0, just make sure that the linear rail carriage(s) cannot leave the linear rail during assembly
- M3x12 Cap Head Screw
- Starting at one end, insert an M3x12 Cap Head Screw into every other hole of the linear rail
¶ Step 5 - Assemble the X-axis gantry - Part 2
- Linear rail assembly from the previous step
- Rat Rig V-Core 4.1 - Steel Gantry
- Align the linear rail assembly with the steel gantry, making sure that each M3x12 Cap Head Screw passes through the hole in the steel gantry
- 2x align_1818_mgn12 Printed Part
- Install an alignment tool on to each end of the linear rail as shown
¶ Step 6 - Assemble the X-axis gantry - Part 3
- Rotate the X-axis gantry assembly onto its side as shown
- Hex Locking Nut - M3 - Flanged
- Rat Rig Nut Driver - M3
- Starting at one end, use the Rat Rig Nut Driver and a 2.5mm hex key to fasten an M3 Flanged Hex Nut onto each of the M3x12 Cap Head Screws within the steel gantry
- Fully tighten all of the M3 Flanged Hex Nuts to secure the linear rail to the steel gantry
- Assembly Tip: If the M3 Flanged Hex Nuts fall out of the nut driver, you can attach a magnet to the shaft of the nut driver. Doing so will temporarily magnetise it
¶ Step 7 - Assemble the X-axis gantry - Part 4
- Remove both alignment tools
- Store the alignment tools for future use, they are no longer needed for the rest of the assembly guide
- 2x vc41_xy_spacer Printed Part
- Install one vc41_xy_spacer printed part onto each end of the gantry as shown
- Set the X-axis assembly aside until step 23
¶ Step 8 - Prepare the upper XY joiner parts
- 2x Rat Rig V-Core 4.0 - XY Joiner - Upper (Set aside during disassembly)
- 2x Rat Rig V-Core 4.0 - XY Joiner - Middle (Set aside during disassembly)
- 2x Rat Rig V-Core 4.0 - XY Joiner Endstop Bumper Assembly (Set aside during disassembly)
- 8x M5x60 Countersink Screw (Set aside during disassembly)
- 2x M5x25 Countersink Screw (SKU: HW3772SC)
- 2x Hex Locking Nut - M5 (SKU: HW1039NC)
¶ Step 9 - Assemble the XY joiner upper - Part 1
- Rat Rig V-Core 4.0 - XY Joiner - Upper
- M5x25 Countersink Screw
- Insert the M5x25 Countersink Screw into the middle countersunk hole on the upper XY joiner plate as shown
- Flip the assembly upside down
- Rat Rig V-Core 4.0 - XY Joiner Endstop Bumper Assembly
- Rat Rig V-Core 4.0 - XY Joiner - Middle
- Install the XY joiner endstop assembly and the middle XY joiner plate onto the M5x25 Countersink Screw as shown
- Prepare two of these assemblies
¶ Step 10 - Assemble the XY joiner upper - Part 2
- Hex Locking Nut - M5
- Fasten an M5 Hex Locking Nut on to the end of the M5x25 Countersink Screw as shown and fully tighten it
- Prepare two of these assemblies
¶ Step 11 - Assemble the XY joiner upper - Part 3
- 4x M5x60 Countersink Screw
- Flip the assembly over and install an M5x60 Countersink Screw into all four remaining countersunk holes as shown
- Prepare two of these assemblies
- Set these assemblies aside until step 14 and step 15
¶ Step 12 - Note: Regarding idler pulleys
- Depending on when the V-Core 4.0 you are upgrading was originally purchased, you will have one of two different idler pulley designs:
- Rat Rig Heavy Duty Idler Pulley
- Bearing Stack Idler Pulley
- 1x Ball Bearing - 695-2RS
- 2x Ball Bearing - F695-2RS
- The remainder of the guide will only specify the Rat Rig Heavy Duty Idler Pulley in both imagery and written instructions. If you have the Bearing Stack design, just use those instead whilst making sure the stack is correctly assembled
¶ Step 13 - Prepare the XY joiner idlers and spacers
- 4x Shim - Mini Precision Shim - 8x5x1mm (Set aside during disassembly)
- 4x Rat Rig V-Core 4 - Heavy Duty Idler Pulley (Set aside during disassembly)
- 4x Aluminium Spacer - 5x8x14mm (Set aside during disassembly)
- 4x Aluminium Spacer - 5x8x27mm (Set aside during disassembly)
¶ Step 14 - Assemble the left XY joiner - Part 1
- From this point onwards the XY joiners are no longer identical. It is important to keep track of which is the left XY joiner, and which is the right XY joiner
- Upper XY joiner assembly from step 11
- Install the following components in the positions shown:
- Shim - Mini Precision Shim - 8x5x1mm
- Rat Rig V-Core 4 - Heavy Duty Idler Pulley
- Aluminium Spacer - 5x8x14mm
- Aluminium Spacer - 5x8x27mm
¶ Step 15 - Assemble the right XY joiner - Part 1
- Upper XY joiner assembly from step 11
- Install the following components in the positions shown:
- Shim - Mini Precision Shim - 8x5x1mm
- Rat Rig V-Core 4 - Heavy Duty Idler Pulley
- Aluminium Spacer - 5x8x14mm
- Aluminium Spacer - 5x8x27mm
¶ Step 16 - Verify the XY joiner assemblies
- Make sure that the two XY joiner assemblies match the provided image:
- Left XY joiner assembly from step 14
- Right XY joiner assembly from step 15
- It is important to verify that the assemblies are correctly assembled. Incorrect assembly will lead to significant issues during later steps
- Set both of these assemblies aside
- The left assembly will be needed in step 19
- The right assembly will be needed in step 21
¶ Step 17 - Prepare the lower XY joiner parts
- 2x Rat Rig V-Core 4.0 - XY Joiner - Lower (Set aside during disassembly)
- 2x Rat Rig V-Core 4.1 - Steel Gantry Support (SKU: HW4347GC)
- 1x X-axis Gantry Trim Assembly - Left (Set aside during disassembly)
- 1x X-axis Gantry Trim Assembly - Right (Set aside during disassembly)
- 8x Hex Locking Nut - M5 (Set aside during disassembly)
- 4x M5x12 Cap Head Screw (Set aside during disassembly)
- 4x T-Nut - Square Type for 20 Series - M5 (Set aside during disassembly)
- 8x M3x8 Cap Head Screw (Set aside during disassembly)
¶ Step 18 - Assemble the XY joiner lower
- 1x Rat Rig V-Core 4.0 - XY Joiner - Lower
- 2x M5x12 Cap Head Screw
- Insert an M5x12 Cap Head Screw through each of the middle holes on the XY joiner lower plate as shown and then turn the assembly over
- Rat Rig V-Core 4.1 - Steel Gantry Support
- Install the steel gantry support onto the two M5x12 Cap Head Screws. Make sure the cutout in the steel gantry support faces upwards
- 2x T-Nut - Square Type for 20 Series - M5
- Loosely thread a T-Nut onto each of the two M5x12 Cap Head Screws. Do not tighten them at this point
- Prepare two of these assemblies
¶ Step 19 - Assemble the left XY joiner - Part 2
- Left XY joiner assembly from step 16
- XY joiner lower assembly from the previous step
- Install the XY joiner lower assembly onto the left XY joiner assembly as shown
- Make sure the assemblies are oriented correctly
- 4x Hex Locking Nut - M5
- Fasten an M5 Hex Locking Nut on to the end of all four M5x60 Countersink Screws as shown and fully tighten them
¶ Step 20 - Assemble the left XY joiner - Part 3
- 1x X-axis Gantry Trim Assembly - Left
- Align the printed part with the XY joiner assembly as shown
- 4x M3x8 Cap Head Screw
- Insert an M3x8 Cap Head Screw into each of the four holes in the printed part and fasten them into the XY joiner assembly
- Be careful not to overtighten the screws as you can damage the printed parts
¶ Step 21 - Assemble the right XY joiner - Part 2
- Right XY joiner assembly from step 16
- XY joiner lower assembly from step 18
- Install the XY joiner lower assembly onto the right XY joiner assembly as shown
- Make sure the assemblies are oriented correctly
- 4x Hex Locking Nut - M5
- Fasten an M5 Hex Locking Nut on to the end of all four M5x60 Countersink Screws as shown and fully tighten them
¶ Step 22 - Assemble the right XY joiner - Part 3
- 1x X-axis Gantry Trim Assembly - Right
- Align the printed part with the XY joiner assembly as shown
- 4x M3x8 Cap Head Screw
- Insert an M3x8 Cap Head Screw into each of the four holes in the printed part and fasten them into the XY joiner assembly
- Be careful not to overtighten the screws as you can damage the printed parts
¶ Step 23 - Verify the XY joiner assemblies
- Make sure that the two XY joiner assemblies match the provided image:
- Left XY joiner assembly from step 20
- Right XY joiner assembly from step 22
- It is important to verify that the assemblies are correctly assembled. Incorrect assembly will lead to significant issues during later steps
¶ Step 24 - Assemble the left end of the X-axis gantry - Part 1
- Left XY joiner assembly from step 20
- X-axis gantry assembly from step 7
- Align the left XY joiner with one end of the X-axis gantry assembly
- Make sure that the square T-Nuts on the XY joiner are aligned with the cut-out on the X-axis steel tube as shown
- Push the left XY joiner assembly onto the end of the X-axis gantry assembly. The two assemblies should 'click' together
¶ Step 25 - Assemble the left end of the X-axis gantry - Part 2
- Verify that there is no gap between the marked printed part and the left XY joiner
- Turn the assembly upside down
- The marked gap between the XY joiner and the steel gantry tube is normal, do not worry about it
- Loosely fasten the two marked M5x12 Cap Head Screws to secure the assembly together
¶ Step 26 - Assemble the right end of the X-axis gantry - Part 1
- Left XY joiner assembly from step 22
- X-axis gantry assembly from step 7
- Align the left XY joiner with the other end of the X-axis gantry assembly
- Make sure that the square T-Nuts on the XY joiner are aligned with the cut-out on the X-axis steel tube as shown
- Push the right XY joiner assembly onto the end of the X-axis gantry assembly. The two assemblies should 'click' together
¶ Step 27 - Assemble the right end of the X-axis gantry - Part 2
- Verify that there is no gap between the marked printed part and the left XY joiner
- Turn the assembly upside down
- The marked gap between the XY joiner and the steel gantry tube is normal, do not worry about it
- Loosely fasten the two marked M5x12 Cap Head Screws to secure the assembly together
¶ Step 28 - Remove the linear rail stops
- Full X-axis assembly from the previous step
- If they were installed in step 4, remove both of the red plastic stops from either end of the linear rail
- Set the X-axis assembly aside, it will be needed in later guides
¶ Step 29 - Next guide
- The next guide to follow will depend on which variant of V-Core 4.0 you are upgrading:
- If you are upgrading a CoreXY or Hybrid variant of the V-Core 4.0:
- Continue to the Toolhead - CoreXY or Hybrid guide
- If you are upgrading an IDEX variant of the V-Core 4.0:
- Continue to the Toolheads - IDEX guide