A remix of [http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:11978](http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:11978) to remove the top bar in the links and instead provide springy clips which can be easily removed and replaced to keep the cables in the chain, while still allowing them to be replaced without having to thread everything through from the end.

The files named CableChain*.stl are included here, but came from thing 11978 (though the fixed version here had to be run through the netfabb repair service).

See a dry run of a chain attached to my solidoodle at [http://youtu.be/j9XkiM4_Mn4](http://youtu.be/j9XkiM4_Mn4)

I've also included a couple of Solidoodle specific parts for mounting the cable chain ends on the extruder and the back of the case and included a part extracted from [http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:111213](http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:111213)

The original version of this thing used bits of 1.75mm filament instead of springy clips, but it was too easy to break the filament. The springs work much better.

The long drawn out description and history of this thing can be found at [http://tomhorsley.com/hardware/solidoodle/solidoodle-chain.html](http://tomhorsley.com/hardware/solidoodle/solidoodle-chain.html)

Instructions

The files included with this thing fall into a few different categories.

• new-chain.scad

The main openscad source file with all the module definitions.

The parts for the cable chain itself:

• nobar_sixteen.stl, nobar_sixteen.scad

An array of 16 cable chain links (will fit on a 6 inch bed).

• spring_sixteen.stl, spring_sixteen.scad

An array of 16 spring clips used to close the links.

• end_two.stl, end_two.scad

The two cable chain end pieces.

Solidoodle specific parts I used for mounting the cable chain:

• barclip.stl, barclip.scad

Special clip to hold a 8mm bar just above the top of the Solidoodle for the chain slide on. I needed to print this with the detect thin walls option in slic3r or the support in the front didn't print.

• extruder-chain-mount.stl, extruder-chain-mount.scad

Complicated infrastructure built on top of the mk5 extruder filament clip. Definitely needs to print with supports.

• filament-cap.stl, filament-cap.scad

Cap to go over the top filament guide on the extruder-chain-mount to keep the filament from snaeking out of the guide.

• top-chain-mount.stl, top-chain-mount.scad

Special clip to go in the back corner of the Solidoodle to mount the cable chain and allow the cables to drop through a hole to the motherboard on the back of the printer.

Files extracted from thing 11978:

• CableChain.stl
• CableChainEnds_fixed.stl
• end1_fixed.stl
• end2_fixed.stl

File extracted from thing 111213:

• mk5_extruder_filament_guide_fixed.stl

Obsolete old version of new-chain.scad included in case anyone actually wants the version that used bits of filament in place of the spring clips (but I don't recommend this version):

• bad-chain.scad

To print just the cable chain, print one copy of end_two.stl and as many copies of nobar_sixteen.stl and spring_sixteen.stl as you need to make the chain as long as desired. The pieces simply clip together, and the ends have bolt holes for mounting.

For my Solidoodle 2, I used 23 links in my chain and also needed two of the barclip.stl parts, and one each of extruder-chain-mount.stl, filament-cap.stl, and top-chain-mount.stl (as well as a spare 8mm rod to go in the barclip).

Category: 3D Printer Accessories