V-Core 3.1 IDEX
About the V-Core 3.1 IDEX¶
The "IDEX" (or Independent Dual Extruder) version of the V-Core 3.1 was designed, in part, to fill the gap left by the discontinuation of the Rat Rig V-Cast.
Variants¶
Due to the space constraints caused by requiring two EVA tool heads, the IDEX V-Core 3.1 was developed into two separate designs. This page details the design which maintains the same external dimensions as the existing V-Core 3 sizes. This comes at the expense of a reduced build volume in X and Y. The alternate design, unofficially dubbed the "wide boy", increases the frame size in the X-axis direction, but maintains the original print volume.
Details of the "wide boy" design can be found on its own page accessed by clicking here.
Kinematics¶
Adaptions to the kinematics were required to make IDEX work on the V-Core 3.1. The kinematics chosen are widely known as "Dual Markforge" kinematics. Two NEMA17 new stepper motors are used to drive the Y-axis (one per side), and then the existing A/B NEMA17 steppers are used to drive the two tool heads.
Development Timeline¶
11/10/2022 - Published to Rat Rig Lab
04/07/2022 - V-Core 3.1 IDEX prototype design complete
14/04/2022 - Prototyping for V-Core 3.1
24/01/2021 - V-Core 3.0 IDEX prototype design complete
30/09/2021 - Prototyping
Known issues¶
The Y-axis endstop has an interference issue with the Y-axis IDEX belts
Gallery¶
CAD¶
Click here to view the CAD on the Rat Rig Fusion 360 viewer
Bill of Materials¶
BOM Limitations
The bill of materials below is based upon a full machine build with a 300x300x300 print volume.
Components required to build the EVA3 tool heads are not listed.
| SKU | Product name | QTY | Length (mm) |
|---|---|---|---|
HW306BRC |
T-Slot 3030 - Black - 400mm | 1 | 400 |
HW306BRC |
T-Slot 3030 - Black - 420mm | 1 | 420 |
HW306BRC |
T-Slot 3030 - Black - 440mm | 5 | 440 |
HW306BRC |
T-Slot 3030 - Black - 450mm | 2 | 450 |
HW306BRC |
T-Slot 3030 - Black - 505mm | 4 | 505 |
HW306BRC |
T-Slot 3030 - Black - 510mm | 4 | 510 |
HW201BRC |
V-Slot 2020 - Black - 166mm | 2 | 166 |
HW201BRC |
V-Slot 2020 - Black - 185mm | 1 | 185 |
HW201BRC |
V-Slot 2020 - Black - 422mm | 1 | 422 |
| 3060 90 Degree Corner | 2 | ||
HW1018NC |
Aluminium Spacer - 6mm | 19 | |
HW1019NC |
Aluminium Spacer - 9mm | 2 | |
HW2948WC |
Ball Bearing - 695ZZ | 18 | |
HW1309WC |
Ball Bearing - F688ZZ | 3 | |
HW2947WC |
Ball Bearing - F695ZZ | 36 | |
HW2954PC |
Bed Plate - Cast tooling plate - Pre-Machined - 229x229x5mm | 1 | |
HW1502SC |
Cap Head Screw M3x8 | 38 | |
HW1292SC |
Cap Head Screw M3x12 | 98 | |
HW1866SC |
Cap Head Screw M3x18 | 20 | |
HW1504SC |
Cap Head Screw M3x20 | 8 | |
HW1868SC |
Cap Head Screw M3x35 | 10 | |
HW1869SC |
Cap Head Screw M3x40 | 4 | |
HW0000SC |
Cap Head Screw M4x40 | 2 | |
HW1285SC |
Cap Head Screw M5x10 | 22 | |
HW1202SC |
Cap Head Screw M5x12 | 3 | |
HW2110SC |
Cap Head Screw M5x18 | 6 | |
HW1060SC |
Cap Head Screw M5x35 | 3 | |
HW2138SC |
Cap Head Screw M5x40 | 2 | |
HW2140SC |
Cap Head Screw M5x55 | 4 | |
HW2957SC |
Cap Head Screw M5x65 | 2 | |
HW2958SC |
Cap Head Screw M5x70 | 2 | |
HW1836SC |
Cap Head Screw M6x12 | 141 | |
HW2827SC |
Cap Head Screw M6x16 | 4 | |
HW1870SC |
Cap Head Screw M6x20 | 9 | |
HW1916BC |
Cast 90 Degree Corner Bracket for 3030 - 6 Slot - Black | 10 | |
HW1874SC |
Countersink Screw M3x12 | 12 | |
HW2349SC |
Countersink Screw M5x16 | 3 | |
HW2173SC |
Countersink Screw M6x14 | 12 | |
HW2990GC |
Coupler - Rigid Type - Black 25x20mm - 5mm to 8mm | 3 | |
HW2126GC |
Dowel Pin - 3x35mm | 12 | |
HW2954GC |
FlexPlate Set - Powder coated PEI 210x210mm | 1 | |
HW1251NC |
Hex Locking Nut - M3 | 26 | |
HW1374NC |
Hex Locking Nut - M4 | 2 | |
HW1039NC |
Hex Locking Nut - M5 | 13 | |
HW2201PC |
idler_plate_v1.0 | 2 | |
HW1915PC |
Joining Plate for 3030 - 90 Degree - Black Anodized | 20 | |
HW2956EC |
Keenovo 180x180 250W Silicone Heater Pad | 1 | |
HW2191SC |
Lead Screw - TR8*4 Metric Acme Lead Screw - 380mm | 3 | |
HW2915GC |
Leadscrew Nut - POM - TR8*4 | 3 | |
HW2353GC |
Linear Rail - MGN12 350mm + MGN12C carriage | 2 | 350 |
HW2036GC |
Linear Rail - MGN12 400mm + MGN12C carriage | 3 | 400 |
| Linear Rail - MGN12 400mm + 2 x MGN12C carriage | 1 | 400 | |
HW2127GC |
Magnet - 20x10x5mm - Two hole (M3 Countersink screws) | 6 | |
HW1630NC |
Mini Precision Shim - 8x5x1mm | 38 | |
HW1078EC |
Nema 17 Stepper Motor - 48mm - 1.8degree/step, 76oz-in | 7 | |
HW2950WC |
Rat Rig Bi-Material Lead Screw Decoupler | 3 | |
HW2125GC |
Rubber foot with metal insert - Heavy Duty - 28x22x16.5mm | 4 | |
HW2128GC |
Steel Ball - 12mm - Threaded M5 | 6 | |
HW1665NC |
T-Nut - Drop In for 2020 - M3 | 22 | |
HW1821NC |
T-Nut - Drop In for 3030 - M3 | 76 | |
HW1383NC |
T-Nut - Drop In for 3030 - M5 | 4 | |
HW1361NC |
T-Nut - Drop In for 3030 - M6 | 166 | |
HW1522NC |
T-Nut - Square type for 2020 - M5 | 24 | |
HW2118WC |
Thrust Bearing F8-16M | 3 | |
HW1654WC |
Timing Pulley - 2GT (2mm) - 20 Tooth - For 9mm Belt - 5mm Bore | 4 | |
| vc3_idex_bed_arm_plate | 3 | ||
| vc3_idex_bed_joiner_plate | 2 | ||
HW3146PC |
Rat Rig V-Core 3.1 - IDEX Motor Plate v1.0 | 2 | |
HW2949PC |
VC3-XY_Joiner_Plate_v1.1 | 2 | |
HW1315NC |
Washer Simple M5 | 20 | |
HW1314NC |
Washer Simple M6 | 20 |
Printed Parts¶
EVA3 & IDEX Printed Parts
EVA3 does not currently support IDEX, therefore modified EVA3 back printed parts are provided in the CAD (eva3_idex_back_x1 & eva3_idex_back_x2).
Printed parts required to build the EVA3 tool heads are not listed below.
| Name | QTY |
|---|---|
| 3030_y-axis_passthru_idex_3.1 | 2 |
| bed_arm_back_3.1 | 1 |
| bed_arm_left_3.1 | 1 |
| bed_arm_right_3.1 | 1 |
| bed_cable_relief | 1 |
| idex_bed_arm_part | 3 |
| idex_bed_joiner_part | 1 |
| idex_dowel_mount | 3 |
| lead_screw_constraint_front_left_3.1 | 1 |
| lead_screw_constraint_front_right_3.1 | 1 |
| lead_screw_constraint_rear_3.1 | 1 |
| lead_screw_motor_cage_back_3.1 | 1 |
| lead_screw_motor_cage_back_trim_3.1 | 1 |
| lead_screw_motor_cage_front_3.1 | 2 |
| lead_screw_motor_cage_front_trim_3.1 | 2 |
| pillow_block | 3 |
| x_endstop_block_3.1 | 2 |
| xy_idler_left_3.1 | 1 |
| xy_idler_right_3.1 | 1 |
| xy_idlers_bottom_left_idex_3.1 | 1 |
| xy_idlers_bottom_right_idex_3.1 | 1 |
| xy_joiner_left_3.1 | 1 |
| xy_joiner_right_3.1 | 1 |
| xy_motor_cage_idex_bottom_left_3.1 | 1 |
| xy_motor_cage_idex_bottom_right_3.1 | 1 |
| xy_motor_cage_idex_top_left_3.1 | 1 |
| xy_motor_cage_idex_top_right_3.1 | 1 |
| y_belt_clamp_idex_left_3.1 | 1 |
| y_belt_clamp_idex_right_3.1 | 1 |
| y_belt_tensioner_idex_left_3.1 | 1 |
| y_belt_tensioner_idex_right_3.1 | 1 |
| y_motor_cage_idex_bottom_left_3.1 | 1 |
| y_motor_cage_idex_bottom_right_3.1 | 1 |
| y_motor_cage_idex_top_left_3.1 | 1 |
| y_motor_cage_idex_top_right_3.1 | 1 |
License¶
Unless specified otherwise, all content published on the Rat Rig Lab is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License