Assemble the Nimble Sidewinder V2

The Nimble Sidewinder V2 in detail

General overview of the parts of the Nimble Sidewinder V2.

Before we begin

Because of the process used to make the plastic parts (SLS) there is a possibility of powder remaining inside some of the smaller openings. For instance, there might still be a little powder left in the holes for the mounting bolts. This is the moment to inspect the parts and to make sure they are all powder free.

Step 1

Assemble gear and hob

• Slide the hob(K) into the gear(G).
• Slide the bearings (H) on both ends of the gear and hob.

Step 2

• You will use the Worm bearings (part J) and both the shell housing (part B) and Worm lid (W)
• Insert one bearing into each of the parts.
• This can require a little force. If you cannot get it right, you can use the Worm (part I) to push the bearings in properly.
• Do this for both the top shell and worm lid.

Step 3

• Place the Base (A) of the Nimble flat on the table.
• Place the assembled gear shaft in the base, making sure the bearings fit inside the housing.

Note

This is a good moment to put the lubrication on the gear. Just a drop is enough.

Step 4

Place Top Half (B) on the base.

Step 5

• Insert the Worm (I) in the Top housing.
• Place the Worm lid (W) over the Worm and click into place.

Step 6

Assemble Breech

• Place the bearing into the space of the breech.
• Insert breech pin through breech body and bearing from the same side shown in diagram.

Nimble Sidewinder V2 is now assembled.

Attach the mount on the printer

Each printer is different so the actual parts will vary, but overall the steps are the same.

Make sure that you install all the nuts and or inserts needed in the Mount before attaching it. Screw the Mount down onto the printer. For Cartesian and CoreXY printers this is usually done by attaching the Mount to the x carraige.

Insert the PTFE

Every hot-end needs a PTFE tube down the inside. With the Nimble there is no need to clamp the PTFE tube, the Nimble locks it into place. So any bowden connector or PTFE clamp is not needed. Slide the PTFE tube into the hot-end making sure it goes as deep as it can go. Slide the Clip (F) over the PTFE tube in the correct orientation and slide it down onto the Mount. (As shown above) Slice the PTFE tube flush with the Clip. We use the Clip in this way to make sure you get the right length of PTFE tube. You are now ready to install the Nimble Sindewinder V2.

Installing Stepper side

Overall the steps are to install the Bracket, install the Coupler, slide the drive cable in and tighten everything down.

Mounting the Drive cable

Step 1

Mount stepper to Bracket

• Mounting the Bracket (part M) to your stepper, using the M3 screws (O). The center hole will make sure the stepper is centered in the Bracket. If the center hole is too big, please try to center the Bracket as perfectly as you can.

Step 2

Bolt Bracket to printer

• Mount the stepper to your printer frame. The image shows it being mounted to a 20x20 aluminium profile. Other methods can be; mounting it to the base, attaching it to a bracket and mounting that to your printer or any other way of fixing the stepper to your printer.

Note

The mounting hardware is not included with the Nimble.

Step 3

Insert Coupler on stepper shaft

• Place the Coupler (part L) on the shaft of the stepper. The Coupler should fit through the top hole of the Bracket. Slide it down until there is approx 1.5 mm space between the stepper base and the Coupler. See step 12

Step 4

Tighten bottom set screw

• Rotate the Coupler until the bottom set screws are perpendicular to the flat on the stepper shaft (if there is one). Make sure there still is approx 1.5 mm space between the stepper base and the Coupler and tighten the bottom set screw (part N).

Step 5

Slide Drive Cable Sleeve into Sleeve Clamp (Stepper side)

• Take the Sleeve Clamp (part C) and slide the Drive Cable Sleeve (part S) in the top, as far as it will go. There is a little step in the bottom of the sleeve clamp to make sure the sleeve goes in just to the right depth.
• Clamp the sleeve using the M3 screw (part P) and a nut (part Q). Tighten the screw nice and tight. There is a little ridge inside the sleeve clamp to prevent you from squeezing the sleeve too far and jamming the drive cable.

Step 6

Insert Sleeve clamp into stepper bracket, taking note of the 3 tabs

• Mount the Sleeve Clamp (E) to the Bracket.
• There is a flat tab with a bump underneath, that should line up with the hole after locking the sleeve clamp in place. It should click into the small hole in the bracket.

Step 7

This could need force, we designed it to be tight.

• If it takes too much force, use a adjustable wrench or something for the first time.
• It needs to be tight as the surface of the clamp smooths out over time.

Step 8

Slide Drive Cable into Coupler.

• Now, take the drive cable itself (part T), both ends have square sides pressed into it. Even here it is reversible. Slide one end into the Drive Cable Sleeve and thread it all the way through. It will slide into the Coupler. Slide it all the way down and clamp it using the remaining 4 set screws (part N)

Step 9

Slide Drive Cable Sleeve into Sleeve Clamp (Nimble side)

• Back to the Nimble side.
• Slide the Sleeve, now containing the drive cable as well, into the next Sleeve Clamp (part D) and push it down as far as it will go. Use the M3 screw (part P) and the half nut (part Q) to clamp the sleeve.

Note

After mounting the Nimble in place, you can loosen this screw a little to adjust the direction of the drive cable. Allow it to have a relaxed and free arch to the stepper.

Step 10

Insert square end of Drive Cable into worm gear inside Nimble

• Insert the drive cable into the worm and then slide it down. To place the sleeve clamp correctly, make sure you line up the tabs with the 3 slots on the Nimble and in such a way that when locked, the notch ends up next to a mount screw. This can take a little push the first time. As long as you make sure it is aligned properly, this is not a problem.

Step 11

• Mount the Sleeve clamp on the Sidewinder.
• Tighten the sleeve clamp by rotating clockwise.

The Nimble Sidewinder V2 is now ready for calibration.

Using the Nimble Sidewinder V2

First run the extruder a minute or two, with no filament clamped. Just to bed the gears and drive cable in. Extrude and retract a few times. (You will have to switch off the temperature control as most controllers will not move the extruder stepper unless the hot end it up to temperature) Use M302 P1 on RepRapFirmware to switch cold extrusion on (allow extrusion while cold) and M302 P0 to switch it off again. For other firmware use M302 S0 to switch cold extrusion on and M302 S170 to set extrusion to a minimum temp of 170C.

Insert filament

To insert filament, open the breech block. You do this by squeezing together the “ears” of the breech block and pulling outwards. You can leave the shafts of the breech block in or, for better visibility, take the whole breech block out.

Now you can see the top of the hot end (usually, depends on the adapter used) and slide the filament in. If the hot end is up to the correct temperature, you can purge the old filament by simply pushing down on the filament and feeding it into the hot end. After the old filament is cleared you can close the breech block.

Note

this is is an excellent way to get a sense of the efficiency of your hot end. You can feel the resistance of the hot end and how easy it is to push the filament through.

To close the breech block, place the shafts into the slots of the “forks” on the Nimble, rotate until vertical and the ears click into place. The Nimble is now ready to use.

If the hot end is up to temperature, you can now test the extrusion. Simply extrude about 10 mm and observe how the filament comes out of the hot end. It should be a neat straight line.

Tuning the firmware

Before using the Nimble you need to tune the firmware and calibrate the extrusion. You will need to tune the firmware first, as the Nimble is quite a different type of extruder.

See the Tuning the Firmware page.