Using silicone tube instead of springs. 10mm outer diameter and 4mm inner. It works well although I probably could use a little longer piece of tube to get it more springy. Now it’s very rigid.
Actually it should be quite rigid, springy beds introduce ugly arifacts.
@Vaclav_Hula Yes, but there’s a risk when homing the z-axis that the z end stop would not engage. This is because the x-asis on my printer is not firmly attached to the z-axis. The weight of the x-axis with extruder is not enough to compress the tube now. This could of course be solved by adding an additional safety z end stop.
@Per_Zimmerman @Vaclav_Hula I agree with better stability from rigid beds, even the springs if used should be of the very strong variety… better deal with the accidental bed crush elsewhere if you are after good prints.
Now that’s a great idea.
@Florian_Ford @Vaclav_Hula I did’t want them to be too long and risk having a more unstable bed, but I think its possible to use a thinner tube. Get a little more springy up/down movement.
Is this cast?
what is it used for? Does it already have the center hole or did you drill it? Do you have a link anywhere for such a tube?
My first thought is that long term you may have to deal with material creep causing the silicone to lose elasticity over time.
@Florian_Ford not sure, but I think its for water/liquid. Wasn’t any special rather than maybe the dimensions. It’s a tube, it has a hole in it.
Only function of the silicone is to push the bed against the leveling screw. If you need to compress the silicone by the bed for any other reason you are doing something seriously wrong.