{"id":72130,"key":"3D_Printed_Micromanipulator","title":"3D Printed Micromanipulator","latest":{"id":1209533,"timestamp":"2025-11-28T02:35:25Z"},"content_model":"wikitext","license":{"url":"https://www.appropedia.org/Appropedia:Copyrights","title":"CC-BY-SA-4.0"},"source":"[[File:3dp microman complete.JPG|thumb]]\n\n{{MOST}}\n\nPicture of the parts required to assemble the micromanipulator.\n\n[[File:3dp microman parts.JPG|thumb|center]]\n\n== Bill of Materials ==\n\n* 3 pieces of [http://www.openbeamusa.com/ OpenBeam], 75mm long.\n* 3 pieces M5 threaded rod, 65mm long.\n* 3 M3 x 10mm flat head socket screws.\n* 6 M3 x 6mm socket head cap screws.\n* 4 M3 x 20mm flat head socket screws.\n* 4 M3 x 25mm socket head cap screws.\n* 15 M5 hex nuts.\n* 6 MR105zz roller bearings (NOT PICTURED).\n* 3 printed knobs.\n* 3 printed straddle ends.\n* 2 printed straddle carriages.\n* 1 printed vertical straddle carriage.\n\n== Assembly ==\n\n# Jam M5 nuts on one end of each of the threaded rods, chuck into a drill and remove burrs from the threads by rotating in #600 emory cloth or sandpaper.\n# Thoroughly clean the threaded rods and 3 nuts with alcohol in a sonicator for 5 minutes.\n# Run a 2.5mm drill bit in the holes for the captive nut retainer screws.\n# Run a 5mm drill bit through all of the leadscrew holes in all the straddle ends and straddle carriages.\n# The carriages should be very snug on the OpenBeam, but should slide reasonably easily. Run carriages back and forth on a long piece of OpenBeam until they slide easily.\n# Line up the MR105zz bearings with their pockets in the straddle ends and run a M5 x 40mm screw them and the straddle end. Place the screw head on the side with the deeper pocket. Place a nut and washer on the M5 screw and tighten to pull in and align the bearings in the straddle end.\n# Use the same technique to pull the captive nuts into their pockets in the straddle carriages.\n# Thread the M5 x 6mm captive nut retainer screws into the straddle carriages. Do not tighten the screws!\n# Tap threads into the carriage holes with the M3 tap or by \"plastiforming\" threads simply by running a screw into them.\n# Thread a single nut onto each of the leadscrews.\n# Ensure that enough thread extends from the back of the straddle end to engage two more nuts.\n# Hold the properly positioned nut in place while starting the jam nut. Tighten the jam nut in place.\n# Again check that there is sufficient threaded rod extending from the end of the straddle end. Adjust if necessary.\n# Jam nut the free end of the threaded rod.\n# Tap one end of each of the OpenBeam pieces with a M3 tap.\n# Gently tap the threaded end of a piece of OpenBeam into each of the straddle ends. Secure in place with a M3 x 10mm flat head socket screw.\n# Align the flats on the jam nut and the pocket in a knob and gently tap the opposite end of the threaded rod to engage with the knob.\n# Countersink the four holes on the OpenBEam side of one of the carriages (not the vertical carriage). Insert the M3 x 20mm flat head socket screws into the countersunk holes. This is the Z-carriage\n# Apply a light coating of grease to the interiors of the carriages.\n# Align the captive nut with the threaded rod and slide the carriages onto the pieces of OpenBeam.\n# Advance the carriage until the threaded rod is all the way through the carriage and then tighten the captive nut retainer screws.\n# A completely assembled axis should look as pictured.\n# The completely assembled axes should look as pictured.\n# Connect the straddle end of the Y axis to the straddle carriage on the X-axis with the four M3 x 25mm socket head capo screws.\n# Attach the Z-carriage to the Y-carriage with the four screws that were inserted into the Z-carriage. Tighten the screws step-wise, rotating through each screw to avoid breaking one of the carriages.\n\n<gallery>\nFile:3dp microman deburr.JPG|thumb|1. Remove burrs from threaded rod.\nFile:3dp microman clean rods.JPG|thumb|2. Thoroughly clean threaded rod and 3 nuts.\nFile:3dp microman drill nut retainer.JPG|thumb|3. Run 2.5mm drill through captive nut retainer screw holes.\nFile:3dp microman drill leadscrew.JPG|thumb|4. Run a 5.5mm drill bit through leadscrew holes.\nFile:3dp microman wearin carriage.JPG|thumb|5. Slide carriage up and down a long piece of OpenBeam.\nFile:3dp microman pull in bearings.JPG|thumb|6. Pull bearings into pockets with M5 screw.\nFile:3dp microman pull in nut.JPG|thumb|7. Pull captive nut into carriage.\nFile:3dp microman retainers.JPG|thumb|8. Thread in, but do not tighten the captive nut retainers screws.\nFile:3dp microman nut1.JPG|thumb|9. Thread a single nut onto the lead screw.\nFile:3dp microman nut position.JPG|thumb|10. Check position of nut.\nFile:3dp microman nut2.JPG|thumb|11. Start jam nut.\nFile:3dp microman position check.JPG|thumb|12. Check the position again.\nFile:3dp microman jam free.JPG|thumb|13. Jam nut free end.\nFile:3dp microman tap obeam.JPG|thumb|14.. Tap OpenBeam end with M3 threads.\nFile:3dp microman install end.JPG|thumb|15 Screw OpenBeam in place.\nFile:3dp microman knob.JPG|thumb|16. Align flats on outer nut and knob and tap into place.\nFile:3dp microman screw carriage.JPG|thumb|17. Install screws in one of the carriages. This is the Z-carriage.\nFile:3dp microman grease.JPG|thumb|18. Apply a small amount of grease to carriage interiors.\nFile:3dp microman carriage.JPG|thumb|19. Slide carriages onto OpenBeam.\nFile:3dp microman retainer.JPG|thumb|20. Tighten retainer screws.\nFile:3dp microman assembly1.JPG|thumb|21. Assembled axis.\nFile:3dp microman all axes.JPG|thumb|22. Completed set of axes.\nFile:3dp microman xy.JPG|thumb|23. Connected X- and Y-axes.\nFile:3dp microman xyz.JPG|thumb|24. All axes assembled.\n</gallery>\n\n== Assembled piece ==\n\n[[File:3dp microman complete.JPG|thumb|center|Completed assembly.]]\n\n{{Page data\n| license = CC-BY-SA-3.0\n}}\n\n[[Category:MOST methods]]"}