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Core One umbilical sagging  

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ProfChris
(@profchris)
Member
Core One umbilical sagging

I have recently upgraded from Mk3.9 to Core One including the MMU3.  With this configuration what strengthens the umbilical such that it desn't sag?  I have put a length of PTFE tube along it and secured the PTFE to the umbilical shroud on the Nesxtruder. but it still sags!  This becomes a problem when the head moves to the far left, the the umbilical contacts the side of the motor, and is forced down into the belts!!

I imagine that the correct solution will keep the umbilical over the top of the motor.  Help please.

Posted : 12/08/2025 2:23 pm
CJD
 CJD
(@cjd)
Trusted Member
RE: Core One umbilical sagging

It should be strapped to the swing arm, assuming we're talking about the same thing 

Posted : 12/08/2025 2:36 pm
ProfChris
(@profchris)
Member
Topic starter answered:
RE: Core One umbilical sagging

Yes - its all strapped to the swing arm, but there is still enough sag to cause issues with the left motor.

Posted : 12/08/2025 2:55 pm
hyiger
(@hyiger)
Estimable Member
RE: Core One umbilical sagging

 

Posted by: @profchris

I have recently upgraded from Mk3.9 to Core One including the MMU3.  With this configuration what strengthens the umbilical such that it desn't sag?  I have put a length of PTFE tube along it and secured the PTFE to the umbilical shroud on the Nesxtruder. but it still sags!  This becomes a problem when the head moves to the far left, the the umbilical contacts the side of the motor, and is forced down into the belts!!

I imagine that the correct solution will keep the umbilical over the top of the motor.  Help please.

Had the same thing happen. The PTFE tube is stiff enough to prevent the main cable from sagging but only if the tie wraps after the swing arm are secure and evenly spaced. I had the tie wrap closest to the print head slide closer to it's adjacent tie wrap which caused a sag.  

Posted : 12/08/2025 5:02 pm
ProfChris
(@profchris)
Member
Topic starter answered:
RE: Core One umbilical sagging

I checked that the ties were evenly spaced but still had the problem.  I have now temporarily solved the problem by attaching a length of cable chain between  the swing arm and the nextruder.  This provides enough support to keep the umbilical from sagging, and enables the head to move to all of its extreme positions, without trouble.

Before doing further work on this I'd like to hear whether Prusa think that this is a possible design fault, and any proposed solution. 

Posted : 19/08/2025 11:19 am
hyiger
(@hyiger)
Estimable Member
RE: Core One umbilical sagging

 

Posted by: @profchris

I checked that the ties were evenly spaced but still had the problem.  I have now temporarily solved the problem by attaching a length of cable chain between  the swing arm and the nextruder.  This provides enough support to keep the umbilical from sagging, and enables the head to move to all of its extreme positions, without trouble.

Before doing further work on this I'd like to hear whether Prusa think that this is a possible design fault, and any proposed solution. 

Not sure this is a design flaw since I don't see any other threads complaining of this issue. The PTFE tube is rigid enough that after properly attaching the main cable there is zero sag. Again for me this only happened when the tie wrap was too loose and slipped. 

6. Nextruder assembly | Checking the movement

Posted : 19/08/2025 1:56 pm
CJD
 CJD
(@cjd)
Trusted Member
RE: Core One umbilical sagging

Pics would help, right now its all speculation and hypothesis. But I agree, this is the first report of an unsolved sag issue - and the solved cases I've only seen here.

Posted : 19/08/2025 2:35 pm
ProfChris
(@profchris)
Member
Topic starter answered:
RE: Core One umbilical sagging

OK I've added 4 media images. one showing the general arrangement of the umbilical and position of ties. The other three shows what happens when the head moves along the back, to the left trapping the umbilical.  It may be that I have constructed this incorrectly, but on the face of it it looks accordance with the instructions.

I don't remember how it looked immediately after construction, but I have now printed a lot of ABS with a chamber temperature of 50 degrees, may be that has had an influence.  It looks as though the PTFE is not stiff enough to keep the umbilical lifted.

Adding cable chain to the umbilical and swing arm is currently providing a solution.

Posted : 20/08/2025 11:47 am
Robin Gale
(@robin-gale)
Member
RE:

Hey all I actually made a post about this exact thing in the general discussion section of the core one forum. I found even with 2x ptfe tubes acting to stiffen the extruder cable there was always a position or situation where it would still catch or snag, in the end I resolved it on mine and achived a really clean look using a Cable Chain aka linear cable guide as mentioned in the most recent post above mine. But I can confirm it has worked beautifully.

I printed mine in PETG and it has held up to about 38 hours of non stop printing in petg and ABS so far and best of all my issues with prints failing from snags has gone away.

 

Robin

This post was modified 2 weeks ago by Robin Gale
Posted : 20/08/2025 1:33 pm
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