A1 FREE FLOAT WIRE KIT ( Drag Chain )

This makes your tool head wire stay suspended freely floating in the air. for a clean clip-less and low strain management of your A1 tool head wire!
 

Boost MeIf you use this model and like it please give it a boost. I still don't have an AMS lite, but I really really want one so please give this a boost so I can get one!

+ Fast print
+ Low strain on wire from gentle bending
+ No tools needed 
+ No hardware needed 
+ works well with DIAMOND BACK Drag Chain or CANDY CHAIN

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Notice: you may have good success for a while if you print the wire sheath in common PLA or PETG but for it to really last it needs to be printed in TPU. I know not every one has TPU so you can print a PETG wire sheath and run with that while your TPU is being shipped to you. In fact the wire sheath in the moving picture is actually Generic PETG! Please choose one of the TPU colors in the Bill of materials above for purchase from this page. 

The TPU for AMS is between Blue and Green, TPU 95 HF is between blue and yellow (there is no green TPU 95 HF) 

PRINT INSTRUCTIONS:

(1) Make sure you use the print profile I provided to get the best results for the wire sheath.
(2) Remove the build support from the gantry side wire keeper end part. it will not fit all the way down next to the wire cutter probe bracket if you don't.

Enjoy!

INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS: 

Begin with a clean area that allows you to move the A1 printer because you will need easy access to all sides of the printer to begin the installation. be prepared to pinch, squeeze and push the wire sheath into place with some strength while being careful with your tool head wire at the same time. its not going to slide into place easily but you can do it. make sure you have a nice snack to get your strength up so you can complete this installation and still have the energy to go back on line and give this model a boost :D 

(1) After printing you must install the wire keeper end parts first, one on the tool head and one on the right side of the gantry.
(2) when installing the wire keeper end part on the the gantry side make sure that its on all the way so that the clip snaps in place under the 45 deg bracket of the filament cutter probe.
(3) carefully open one end of the wire sheath and start putting the wire into it at the end of the wire sheath and do so near one of the wire keeper end parts. (only open the wire sheath the least amount while still being able to put the wire in, if you open it to much it may crack. this is trickiest part)
(4) after the wire is in one end of the sheath keep working in the wire until you have about 2 inches (50mm) of wire into the end of the wire sheath.
(5) at this point pinch the end of the sheath with the wire inside so that you can push it into the wire end keeper part on the tool head, be careful to not scratch your build plate with the nozzle as the machine tool head might move down. 
(6) once you have gotten the end of the sheath with the wire in it into the wire end keeper on the tool head about 1/8" (3mm) push the sheath down while rocking the sheath gently left and right in the x axis to help it go all the way down until the sheath is fully seated against the end stop inside of the wire end keeper.  
(7) repeat steps 4 - 6 for the other end of the wire sheath.
(8) carefully work the wire into the wire sheath until you get the last bit of wire into the sheath at the middle of the wire sheath. it helps if you move the tool head to the left side of the machine because it will slightly straiten out the curve of the sheath at the top.   
(9) NOTE: if the wire sheath is not fully seated on both ends into each of the wire end keepers you will not be able to get the wire completely inside of the wire sheath.

Carefully open just the end of the wire sheath and insert about 2 inches of wire into the sheath
also make sure that the very tip of the gantry wire end keeper is locked in under the bracket for the wire cutter probe.


 

Pinch the wire sheath with the wire inside of it and push it into the wire end keeper.

 

 

 

only about 2 inches is needed to start fully seating the sheath into the wire end keeper.

 

 

carefully push down and rock the wire sheath left and right to fully seat the wire sheath into the wire end keeper.
you will see the left and right side of the end of the wire sheath go down a little bit each time you rock the sheath left and right. 
it should be inserted a good ½ inch (14mm) when fully seated. 
 

carefully work the wire into the wire sheath starting from each end until you get to the middle. opening the gap between the to ends by moving the tool head to the left to straiten the curve of the wire sheath at the top can make it a little easier to get the last little bit in and you are all done!

! NOTE ABOUT FILAMENT ! - Make sure your filament is dry to 10% relative humidity.
! NOTE ABOUT CLEAN BUILD PLATE ! - Make sure you clean your build plate from finger oil ETC. and completely rinse detergents with hot water or IPA.  
! NOTE ABOUT RATING ! if you failed to dry your filament and clean your build plate and the print fails it is your fault. please do not give me the 3 star review from a failed print on your machine that you did not correctly prepare for this pint.
 

 

this took a lot more revisions than I thought it would for such a seemingly simple idea…

Here is a pile of revisions I went through to get this model to the point that I felt it was right. 
This represents about a week of work. and this is only of this design, there were other design ideas I tried before that led to this design.

 so please give this model a boost if you appreciate what this model does for your A1.

Boost MeIf you like using this model please give this model a boost. thank you. 

Thank you for printing and using this A1 FREE FLOAT WIRE KIT model