¶ 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 full kit - SKU: HW4424GC
¶ Step 2 - Tutorial: Unpacking, preparing and testing the linear rail - Part 1
- The linear rail is supplied with a protective oil coating on it. It is strongly recommended to prepare your work surface with paper towels and to wear disposable gloves
- Paper Towels
- Linear Rail
- The oil on the rails protects it from rusting. You must either replace this oil after cleaning (as directed below), or make sure not to remove all of the original oil during preparation
- An easy solution to both protect, and lubricate the rail, is using a light oil such as 3-in-1 or sewing machine oil
- Apply a small amount of oil to a paper towel and then apply the oil to the rail by wiping it with the oiled paper towel. This may be done prior to, or after the installation of the linear rails
- Do not remove the plastic stops installed in the ends of the linear rail at this point as they prevent the carriages from leaving the rail
- More advanced users may wish to fully grease the rail & carriages with a specialised bearing lubricant. It is important to use the correct grade and make sure there are no additives such as PTFE, graphite, molybdenum disulfide, etc. The recommended grade of grease is EP00 or EP000 as these lubricate well, without being too viscous
¶ Step 3 - Tutorial: Unpacking, preparing and testing the linear rail - Part 2
- With the linear rail still on the absorbent paper towels, carefully and slowly move each carriage from one end of the rail to the other
- The carriages should move smoothly over the entire length of the rail
- Small changes in resistance are normal, but the carriages becoming much harder to push, or binding completely are not
- Repeat the previous test whilst applying a small amount of force downwards on the carriages
- The carriages will likely travel more smoothly when applying a downwards force, this is normal
- If the carriage does not move smoothly, or binds completely, refer to the Linear Rail Troubleshooting Guide
¶ Step 4 - 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 (SKU: HW3629GC)
- 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 (SKU: HW3631GC)
- 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 (SKU: HW3633GC)
- V-Core 4.1 - 500: 1x Rat Rig V-Core 4.1 - Steel Gantry - 500 (SKU: HW4346GC)
¶ Step 5 - 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)
- 1x MGN12C Carriage Holder (SKU: HW3812GC)
¶ Step 6 - Remove the second X-axis carriage
- If you are building an IDEX variant of the V-Core 4.1, then please skip to the next step and do not remove the second X-axis carriage
- Prepared linear rail from step 4
- Remove the red plastic stop in one end of the linear rail
- MGN12C Carriage Holder
- Align the MGN12C carriage holder with the end of the linear rail
- Slide one of the MGN12C carriages off of the linear rail and on to the MGN12C carriage holder
- Secure the MGN12C carriage to the carriage holder by fastening a cable tie to either end of the carriage holder
¶ Step 7 - Assemble the X-axis gantry - Part 1
- Move each red plastic stop to the second hole in from the end of the linear rail as shown
- This prevents the linear rail carriage(s) from leaving the 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 8 - 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 9 - 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 10 - 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 27
¶ Step 11 - Prepare the upper XY joiner parts
- 2x Rat Rig V-Core 4.1 - XY Joiner - Upper (SKU: HW3767PC)
- 2x Rat Rig V-Core 4.1 - XY Joiner - Middle (SKU: HW3766PC)
- 2x vc4_x_endstop Printed Part (SKU: PP000273)
- 8x M5x60 Countersink Screw (SKU: HW3634SC)
- 2x M5x25 Countersink Screw (SKU: HW3772SC)
- 2x Hex Locking Nut - M5 (SKU: HW1039NC)
- 10x Aluminium Spacer - 5x8x14mm (SKU: HW3761NC)
¶ Step 12 - Assemble the XY joiner upper - Part 1
- vc4_x_endstop Printed Part
- 5x Aluminium Spacer - 5x8x14mm
- Insert an aluminium spacer into each hole of the vc4_x_endstop printed part as shown
- It may take a little force to insert the aluminium spacers into the printed part
- Make sure the aluminium spacers are fully inserted into the printed part, they should be flush with both sides as shown
- Prepare two of these assemblies
¶ Step 13 - Assemble the XY joiner upper - Part 2
- Rat Rig V-Core 4.1 - 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
- XY joiner endstop assembly from the previous step
- Rat Rig V-Core 4.1 - 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 14 - Assemble the XY joiner upper - Part 3
- 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 15 - Assemble the XY joiner upper - Part 4
- 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 17 and step 18
¶ Step 16 - Prepare the XY joiner idlers and spacers
- 4x Shim - Mini Precision Shim - 8x5x1mm (SKU: HW1630NC)
- 4x Rat Rig V-Core 4 - Heavy Duty Idler Pulley (SKU: HW3870WC)
- 4x Aluminium Spacer - 5x8x14mm (SKU: HW3761NC)
- 4x Aluminium Spacer - 5x8x27mm (SKU: HW3763NC)
¶ Step 17 - 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 15
- 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 18 - Assemble the right XY joiner - Part 1
- Upper XY joiner assembly from step 15
- 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 19 - Verify the XY joiner assemblies
- Make sure that the two XY joiner assemblies match the provided image:
- Left XY joiner assembly from step 17
- Right XY joiner assembly from step 18
- 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 22
- The right assembly will be needed in step 24
¶ Step 20 - Prepare the lower XY joiner parts
- 2x Rat Rig V-Core 4.1 - XY Joiner - Lower (SKU: HW3765PC)
- 2x Rat Rig V-Core 4.1 - Steel Gantry Support (SKU: HW4347GC)
- 1x vc4_xy_trim_left (SKU: PP000295)
- 1x vc4_xy_trim_right (SKU: PP000296)
- 8x Hex Locking Nut - M5 (SKU: HW1039NC)
- 4x M5x12 Cap Head Screw (SKU: HW1202SC)
- 4x T-Nut - Square Type for 20 Series - M5 (SKU: HW1522NC)
- 8x M3x8 Cap Head Screw (SKU: HW1502SC)
¶ Step 21 - Assemble the XY joiner lower
- Rat Rig V-Core 4.1 - 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 22 - Assemble the left XY joiner - Part 2
- Left XY joiner assembly from step 19
- 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 23 - Assemble the left XY joiner - Part 3
- vc4_xy_trim_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 24 - Assemble the right XY joiner - Part 2
- Right XY joiner assembly from step 19
- XY joiner lower assembly from step 21
- 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 25 - Assemble the right XY joiner - Part 3
- vc4_xy_trim_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 26 - Verify the XY joiner assemblies
- Make sure that the two XY joiner assemblies match the provided image:
- Left XY joiner assembly from step 23
- Right XY joiner assembly from step 25
- It is important to verify that the assemblies are correctly assembled. Incorrect assembly will lead to significant issues during later steps
¶ Step 27 - Assemble the left end of the X-axis gantry - Part 1
- Left XY joiner assembly from step 23
- X-axis gantry assembly from step 10
- 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 28 - 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 29 - Assemble the right end of the X-axis gantry - Part 1
- Right XY joiner assembly from step 25
- X-axis gantry assembly from step 10
- Align the right 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 30 - 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 31 - Remove the linear rail stops
- Full X-axis assembly from the previous step
- 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 32 - Next guide
- The next guide to follow will depend on your specific V-Core 4.1 configuration:
- If you are building a CoreXY or Hybrid variant of the V-Core 4.1:
- Continue to the Toolhead - CoreXY or Hybrid guide
- If you are building an IDEX variant of the V-Core 4.1:
- Continue to the Toolheads - IDEX guide