April 16, 2017
Description
ANET A8 - EXTENDED VERSION 220x280mm!
There is an easy and inexpensive way to increase the build space on your Anet A8 by
60mm. It is possible to directly install a larger 220x280mm heatbed on the A8 printer, the screw locations are identical, so the bed will fit directly on the stock heatbed carrier, but to utilize its larger dimensions, the rear plate must be moved backwards so longer y-bearing rods (450mm) as well as longer M8 rods can be installed, which are both necessary to get those required 60mm of extra y-motion. Moving the rear plate can now be easily done with this adapter I created.
Another pleasant side effect which I have noticed with this conversion is that the adapters also seem to to reduce vibrations during printing.
Print this adapter part, one unchanged and another one mirrored for the opposite side. Remove the rear plate on the A8 and mount the printed adapter parts in its place using the same screws and nuts that your rear plate was mounted with. You can tighten the screws through the openings in the adapter part. Then attach your rear plate to the adapter with an M5 screw and nut in the middle. Use a large washer. After tightening the adapter to the chassis, you can now use the two original screw holes for M5 screws and nuts to secure the rear plate even better, but first you´ll have to enlarge the openings on the rear plate to 5mm, be careful when drilling! Once everything else is tightened, you can add another M5 screw and nut to crosswise secure the adapter to the chassis, but it will also work without it. If you do so, then start drilling by making a smaller hole first before using a full 5mm drill bit.
Remember to be careful and go really slowly when drilling any of your printers acrylic parts, they will crack very easily if pushed too hard!
Replace your y bearing rods with 450mm long ones and also install longer M8 rods. Instead of buying new M8 rods, you can also use two M8x50mm bolts and M8x35mm coupling nuts to extend your existing M8 rods.
The adapter has openings which allow it to be bolted to a baseplate if you are using one.
Parts needed:
Total conversion cost about 40$, build time 2-3 hrs (not including print time).
IMPORTANT NOTE: SOME HEATBEDS USE A DIFFERENT PINOUT THAN ANET SO MAKE SURE YOU HAVE CONNECTED IT CORRECTLY BEFORE YOU SWITCH ON YOUR PRINTER!
*** PLEASE SHARE YOUR MAKE IF YOU PRINT THIS ITEM. ***
*** THIS ITEM HAS BEEN TESTED AND FOUND FULLY FUNCTIONAL. CREATING AND FINALIZING IT HAS TAKEN HOURS OF DESIGNING, MODIFICATIONS AND SEVERAL TEST PRINTS TO GET EVERYTHING RIGHT. PLEASE CONSIDER LEAVING A TIP VIA PAYPAL IF YOU FIND THIS ITEM USEFUL: e-mat-paypal(a)netti.fi ***
Update 1.8.2017:
Leo_N was kind enough to design a modified version of his rear frame brace (visible in the last photo above), which will fit this extended version of the frame. The file for the frame brace has now been added.
License:
Creative Commons - Attribution - No Derivatives
E-Mat
