Introduction: How to Remove Ember's Linear Drive

By

Because sometimes you really just want to remove Ember's linear drive. Just ask our quality engineer Dan!

Step 1: Remove Front Panel

There are four screws holding Ember's front panel on. Two M3x12mm (use an M2 hex key) screws above the middle platform and two on No. 10 torx head screws on the bottom. You can probably remove the torx screws with the M2 hex key as well.

Step 2: Remove Two Bottom Screws From the Back Panel

You don't need to take the whole back panel off but the bottom two will get in the way removing the frame. They are M3x12mm and can be removed with an M2 hex key.

Step 3: Remove Side and Top Frame Screws

There are three sets of four screws that mount the extrusions to the body of Ember. Two sets are located on either side towards the bottom of Ember (M4x12mm) and the third is on the top of Ember (M4x30mm w/ washer). These can all be removed with an M2.5 hex key.

Step 4: Unplug Door Sensor and Frame Grounding Cable

The door sensor and grounding cable are attached to the frame and will need to be unplugged before lifting off the frame. Their connections are located on the right side of Ember. The door sensor is the two wire black cable closer to the back of Ember along the ports labelled switches (circled in blue). I usually use a hex key to depress the cable lock of the door sensor. The grounding cable is held on via a No. 10 torx screw, but again you can probably use an M2 hex key. It's a green cable and the screw is circled in green.

Step 5: Lift Off the Frame and Door

Now with the all the frame bolts undone lift off the frame and the door from Ember, be careful to guide the cables on their way out so you don't ruin the plug.

Step 6: Remove the Build Arm

There are four M6x15mm screws that hold the build arm on you can remove them with an M4 hex key.

Step 7: Unplug the Z-drive Homing Sensor From the Top

There's a three conductor blue wire that runs to the homing sensor on top of the Z-drive. Unplug it and slip it out of the cable routing harness.

Step 8: Remove Spill Guard (if You Have One)

If you have a spill card just slide it off rotating it in the opposite direction the arrow points.

Step 9: Remove the Resin Tray Platform and Spacer Ring

There are six M3x20mm screws that hold the resin tray platform and spacer ring on. Remove these with an M2 hex key and slide the platform off and slide the spacer ring off the top.

Step 10: Remove the Linear Drive Assembly

Remove the four M3x25mm screws (M2 hex key) that attach the linear drive to the central moulding. Tilt the linear drive to free it from its drive belt. Slide the linear drive up and pass the Z-axis homing sensor cable through the hole in bottom of the linear drive mounting plate.

Step 11: Remove the Drive Pulley

If you aren't dismantling the whole drive you can ignore the rest of these steps. But for the determined, proceed! There are two set screws fixing the drive pulley in place, loosen but do not remove them (they can be hard to find). The pulley should just slide off.

Step 12: Remove Z-drive Mounting Plate

Four (M4x10mm) screws affix the mounting plate to the drive take them off with an M2.5 hex key and slide it off.

Step 13: Remove the Homing Sensor Bits

There are two plastic parts on the top of the Z-drive that hold the homing sensor in place and the homing sensor trigger. The trigger is held on by two M6x25mm with lock washers use an M4 hex key to remove. The homing sensor itself is held on by two M6x45mm screws with lock nuts and washers use an M4 hex key and a 10mm wrench.