The Voron kit build thread

[Ken226]

If anyone needs one, i'm working on a gt2 belt tension meter. I kinda took inspiration from this one.

GT2 Belt Tension Meter w/Bearings by YesterdaysCoffee | Download free STL model | Printables.com

Revision of the excellent GT2 Belt Tension Meter by PF Makes. Please visit the original page for complete instructions. | Download free 3D printable STL models

www.printables.com

But, I want my version to be smaller and require fewer parts (especially the parts you can't print).

So as to hardware, mine will only require one bearing, m3 heat set insert and a m3x6mm socket head cap screw. The bearing will be the cheap and common 608 bearing (22x8x7mm). It will use a small rubber band fished through the back of the lever arm as a spring.


The gauge index is simply comparative, and doesn't correspond to any specific belt frequency or other value for tightness. This is intended to allow me to more easily and quickly adjust belts. Basically, i'll set one belt to a specific frequency with an audio spectrometer app on my phone, like Spectroid. Afterward, I can use this meter to match the other belts to the first one.

The parts for my prototype are printing now.

 

[Ken226]

It's pretty compact. Next to a business card.

The first prototype functions very good. My belts are set to about 140hz, which are about middle of the scale using the thin little rubber band I used.

but the index markings were too fine for a .4mm nozzle.

 

[Ken226]

Version 2.0 will have bigger markings, and engraved deep enough that they can be printed with a contrasting color infill.

At least, that is the plan. Prototype V2.0 is printing.



ETA: Not quite there yet. A few more design changes and a few more test prints...



Edited again: V3 does away with the heat set insert and m3 screw. The only part that isn't printed is the 608 2rs bearing. The little spool that captures the rubber band simply presses into the hole by hand, with a couple drops of super glue. V3 has additional modifications to the index markings, so they will print more clearly with a standard .4mm nozzle. It's proving quite tough to get something this small to print legibly using a .4mm nozzle. The number 4 seems to elude any possibility of being printed legibly.

 

[Ken226]

Ok, I finished the test print of my final version. It works very well, but I can't seem to get a very legible #4. Regardless, it seems more accurate than my spectroid app on my android.

Spectroid shows 145hz starting at "1-1/2 on my meter, and doesn't change until about 2-1/2. Basically, from 1-1/2, up to 2-1/2 on this little meter reads at 145hz on the spectroid spectrometer app.

 

[Just for fun]

Maybe make a number 4 like below. I don't know.. just an idea.

 

[Ken226]

Maybe make a number 4 like below. I don't know.. just an idea.
View attachment 470411

Yea, i think that might do it. Ill have to scroll through a couple hundred font's in my cad program to find one like that.

 

[Just for fun]

I didn't say it was going to be easy. LOL

 

[Ken226]

Maybe make a number 4 like below. I don't know.. just an idea.
View attachment 470411

I'm test printing this version. We shall see soon, if the Voron likes it better:

 

[Just for fun]

The design looks good.

 

[Ken226]

The final version. I added a couple of tabs to make it easier to compress when measuring belt tension. I also created a left handed version.

GT2 6mm and 9mm Belt Tension Meter by Ken226 | Download free STL model | Printables.com

A belt tension meter for GT2 6mm and 9mm belts. | Download free 3D printable STL models

www.printables.com