ikea Lack filament guide (Festo push-in connector adaptor) [REMIX]

ikea Lack filament guide (Festo push-in connector adaptor) [REMIX]

Description

This replaces the original ikea Lack filament guide entirely so that the original hole can be used for this remix and the filament feeding dry-box port referenced below.

Note:  From my own experience and testing you may find that 4mm OD fittings and tube are better for short distances. longer lengths coupled with internal friction inside the tube create significant drag on the filament and your extruder may skip.

Requirements

• Push-in male fitting
  • 1x QS-1/8-4 Festo push-in male connector (or equivalent), or
  • 1x QS-1/8-8 Festo push-in male connector (or equivalent).
• Tubing
  • An appropriate length of OD 4mm polyethylene tubing.
  • An appropriate length of OD 8mm polyethylene tubing.
• 1x https://www.printables.com/model/481689-filament-feeding-dry-box-port
• 1x https://www.printables.com/model/486535-filament-spool-sled (optional)

Instructions

Preparing and Installing

• If you are using the original ikea Lack filament guide you will need to remove it first.
  • Unload any filament loaded into your printer and feed it out of the filament guide back onto its spool. Clear the top of the enclosure of any items so your workspace is clear.
  • Remove the filament guide top cap using a flat head screw driver.
  • Use the same flat head screw driver to tap the flute down from the top so it can be removed from inside the enclosure. Take care not to damage your print bed in the process!
• Print the adaptor-cap and flute included with this model.
  • If you don't use the optimized gcode, ensure the infill is dense enough to support the threads of the Festo connector.
• Pass the replacement flute up from inside the Ikea Lack enclosure taking care to ensure the wide section of  guide slot is parallel with your printers X-axis.
• Screw the Festo QS-1/8-4 or QS-1/8-8 push-in male adaptor into the adaptor-cap.
• Push the adaptor-cap onto the flute, sandwiching the top of the ideal lack table between it and the flute you just installed.
• Check to ensure the flute has not moved, its flange should be flush with the underside of the enclosure. It is a friction fit, so no glue should be required.

Connecting to your dry-box port

• Using a suitable length of OD 4mm polyethylene tubing
  • Push one end into the Festo push-in connector on the dry-box port.
  • Push the other end into the Festo push-in connector on the ikea lack enclosure.
• Take care to give generous curvature to the tubing so that the filament is not unnecessarily stressed or rubs excessively inside the tubing.
• Feed the filament from your dry box though the dry-box port, through the tubing, through the adaptor-cap/flute and into your printers enclosure.
  • The last 150mm or so of your filament will free to enter your extruder and shouldn't snag or rub as the extruder moves back and forth along the X-axis.
• Load the filament into your printer as per normal.
• Print happy in the knowledge that your filament will stay much drier.

Note:

This should work best for any printer that uses a direct feed extruder. Printers that use a bowden system should work provided you load the filament into that system once it enters the enclosure (Although, you should optimize the location of this filament guide through the enclosure to make it easier to line up with your printers bowden feed).