Does Drag Chain orientation really matter on the Altmill? In his installation video Ben really emphasized that the female link needs to be on the top left side of the x axis (next to the clip for the y axis) and the male link needs to be on the back of the z axis bracket. I have some 3d printed hose and tube brackets that slide over the clip on the drag chain and get secured when the clip itself is locked down on the drag chain. If I do it the way Ben suggested this would place my clips between the X rail and the drag chain. I really cant see any negative with reversing the end link positions thus flipping the way the drag chain clips open. I just keep hearing Ben saying how important it is to keep the orientation he suggested!
Well one direction the cable chain opens, the other direction removes the hinge from it’s coupling.
Mind sharing the .stl for that hose adapter? I’d like to move my water lines outside the cable chain because with the 2x 1/4" air lines for the ATC spindle its mega cramped.
-Colin
I cant share the STL file because I don’t have them. I bought the Ultimate Tube Clips for Onefinity Cable Chains from PWNCNC. I did have to modify them slightly by trimming .050” off one of the two ears so they can fit past the locking clip. The modification was easily done on the router table with stop and a second guide fence. There is a post about it over on PWNCNC forums in the Altmill section.
I found this image in the AltMill Mk2 assembly instructions.
Doesn’t that picture show it in the orientation you want? If I understand things correctly the extra cables would be carried on the side away from the gantry plates.
Lol, I asked myself the same question when I installed my drag chains. I don’t remember what I ultimately did (and not at home this weekend) but I don’t think the orientation is that important. That said, it might be easier to snap open the clips if the hinge side is on the inside of the mill. If I recall, a screwdriver helps to snap them open and that would be easier to do from the outside.
If you’re 3D printing stuff, you might want to print a shim to put under the bracket that sits on the x rail. You’ll notice it doesn’t sit flat and if you over tighten the screw, it will bend the bracket.
@Headshop misread your post a bit. I thought you were 3D printing yourself. Without a printer, a regular shim would work. But that’s not your post’s topic so disregard 