Modular Vibration-reducing Legs with Antishock Sock

Hello to the community!

The Modular Vibration Reduction Leg is designed to enhance the stability and quietness of your 3D printers and other vibration-producing devices. I strongly suggest printing the cat springs and optional socks using TPU. I used a generic material with a Shore D hardness of 64 for the sock, which offers added protection and stability. You can print the top and bottom components, which consist of four pieces, with either PETG or PLA. Some parts might require printing supports.

The cat springs play a crucial role in mitigating vibrations from the printer to the surface and shielding from external shocks. For a better understanding, I've included initial test. Your support in further testing and feedback would be invaluable. Assembly is simple, and you can find visual guidance in the provided images. The hole diameter measures around 18mm but is adjustable to meet your needs.

Remember, you can modify the cat springs by adjusting infill and wall layers, impacting their flexibility. During my testing, I discovered that springs printed with three walls and 10% gyroid infill noticeably reduced vibrations in my Anycubic Kobra 2.

Ghosting, Inertia, Energy Absorption

The phenomenon of ghosting in 3D printing occurs due to the inertia experienced when the print head rapidly changes direction. This rapid change can create a tiny 'echo' or 'shadow' effect in the printed design, especially when the printer is operating at high speeds, like 300mm/s, 22 min 3D Benchy.

Let's dive into the physics:

Inertia and Vibrations: When the print head (or print bed, depending on the printer type) quickly changes direction, it doesn't stop instantaneously. Due to its inertia, it momentarily overshoots its stopping point and then comes back. This motion creates vibrations. If these vibrations are not absorbed, they can cause the print head to make minor unwanted movements, resulting in ghosting.

Spring Absorption: My anti-vibration legs, especially with the cat springs, act like shock absorbers. Just as shocks on a car absorb bumps from the road, my springs absorb and dissipate the vibrational energy that could otherwise lead to ghosting. Instead of transferring the vibrations to the print, they're significantly reduced, leading to a clearer print.

Damping with TPU: The cat springs made from TPU serve a dual purpose. First, TPU itself has excellent vibration-damping properties, which means it can absorb a good amount of vibrational energy. Second, the spring design increases the time over which the vibrations die down. The optional sock, further ensures that any leftover vibrations don't reach the printer's main body.

Stabilizing the Base: A stable base is crucial in preventing ghosting. The Vibration Reduction Leg ensures that any vibrations originating from the print bed or the ground don't adversely affect the print head's movement. The more isolated the printer is from external vibrational sources, and echo-vibrations from the printer, the better its performance.

My design essentially isolates the printer from both its self-generated vibrations (from rapid print head movements) and external vibrations. This leads to reduced ghosting and higher quality prints, even at high speeds.

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This project culminates extensive prototyping and testing. I invite everyone to participate, test, and refine the existing designs. Your insights and innovations can advance this initiative, ensuring optimal solutions for all. As your setup may differ from mine, please test with various infill and wall count settings when printing the cat springs. Finding your ideal spring may require time, as printer weight often concentrates more at the back, and those springs may need sturdier infills.