Zip-ties for Tensioning

Maybe a "micro-instructable"...

Ever since I saw it described on the Robo3d forums, I've used zip ties for tensioning the timing belts on my printers... if the belt stretches, it's easy to take up the slack, and since the teeth of the belt interlocks with itself, you don't have to worry about the end becoming undone.

If you need to loosen them you end up cutting and replacing them, but that hasn't been a problem for me.

Tip: They come in many colors; make the "loop forming" (never need to be undone) zips a different color than the "tensioning" zip ties. And make sure the tail on the tensioning ones won't run into anything -- if you cut the tail, you can't tension them nearly as easily.

Comments

[Minus1x]

Thanks for the Idea! I'm building a printer right now and don't have any 3D parts on it except the extruder i bought. Everything is plywood and aluminum. I was having a hard time figuring out a way to keep the X axis belt tight. This worked great. Once I get it up and running I will start printing replacement parts for a lot of this but for now this is working great. Thanks!