Anycubic Kossel Rods Upgrade
If you really want to get rid of the ghosting, new lighter effector and lighter, more precise rods are the way to go.
Original rod with joints weights about 21 grams.
This upgrade rod weights only 9 grams even with the joints.
Step 1: Order new upgrade parts
We have chosen 6×4 mm rods as a compromise between the stiffness and weight.
If you want to go lower with the weight, although the difference will be small, you can use 5×3 mm rods and M3/3 joints.
Carbon rods 6x4x240 mm
We have choosen these high quality carbon rods. Please select OD 6 ID 4 240
BALL LINK V1 TYPE, 7 MM DIA, M4/3 SHORT
These lightweight joints help with ghosting and corner overshots. Please buy 2 packs - 2x 6 pcs. These joints have a 7 mm diameter hole for rods so there will be a 0.5 mm space for epoxy glue. You can get rid of the original brass spacers with these joints.
M4x20 set screw
Order this set of M4 set screws or get it at your local shop. You will need at least 12x M4x20 mm of them.
Loctite 3450 epoxy glue
Buy this or a similar epoxy glue in your country.
Step 2: Print this rod tool
You you are not going to cut the rods about 10-20 mm to achieve the same lenght as the original rods, you do not have to print this.
270 mm rod tool
Download these stl files for a rod tool (rod holder). It really helps with gluing the joints to the rods. This model was created by Robert Schmiedt, so you can thank him for his design.
Step 3: Prepare all parts.
As you can see in this pictures, the rods are very well packed.
Prepare all parts and start with assembly.
I highly recommend using some degreaser on the set screws and inside of the rods, the glue will work better.
These joints with 240 mm carbon rods will be a little bit longer, so you have two options:
1) Loose some of the printable height and modify rod lenght in your firmware.
2) Cut the rods about 10 mm so the distance between the axis remains the same
Step 4: Glue it together
Please note that the pictures and description will be without using the rod tool, I did not have any working printer at the moment.
Insert the set screw into the joint, tighten it and leave at least 10 mm of the set screw outside.
Apply epoxy glue on the screws and into the rods.
Insert the screw into the rod and let the glue work.
Step 5: Glue the other end
Apply the same procedure on the other end and make sure that the axis are parallel.
Step 6: Install new rods
Install new rods thesame way the old ones were installed.
Step 7: Modify your rod lenght if you need to
If you need to modify your rod lenght, follow one of these guides:
Step 8: Recalibrate the printer
I highly recommend recalibrating printer with delta calibration.
Hello fitted the mpjet rose joints to my kossel and they are awfully tight i applied silicone oil even tried silicone grease to no avail.
Any suggestions greatly appreciated.
Hi.
These joints are stiff, but there should not be much friction.
Although… they do not move as freely as original joints and that can be confusion for someone.
A good thing is that rods help with torque – they are used as a lever.
These joints are used by hundreds of Kossel owners, so do not be afraid.
Btw… try a lithium grease.
I must have a bad batch then as these have gone incredibly stiff after about 4 hours of printing.
Will give lithium a go thank you for the advice.
Also any advice on vref for the drivers im running 2208’s on the trigorilla currently at 0.750v?
Also thank you for all the work you’ve put in, your firmware was the only one to get my anycubic kossel linear plus working.
Hi, thank you.
Try that grease.
I run X, Y, Z motors at 0.9A and E at 0.85A.
Stock TMC2209 setting is 0.9A.
I cannot tell you the V ref, because I use UART for these settings.
But it should be easily googleable.
Hi there,
today the new carbon rods arrived.
The lengths of the rods are a bit different. Maybe 1mm or so. Is it bad ?
greetings
Hi, read step 3.
Hello
One question. In your description you say to order the m4x20 screws. But in the picture on the bag it says M3x20. I ordered the M4 but i cant get it in the joint without forcing it…… Are you sure M4 screws are the right ones or do i need the M3??
Hi, those set screws shoul cut a thread in the plastic part of the joint.
You need M4 set screws for this combination:
BALL LINK V1 TYPE, 7 MM DIA, M4/3 SHORT
Carbon rod OD 6 ID 4 240
Ok worked out after all. Had to use a little bit of force to screw them in, but all is fine now.
Thanks
I am glad to hear that.
What is your recommended method for cutting the rods to length?
Coping saw? Hacksaw?
Hi, I did not cut them.
But I would use a hacksaw for metal, it has tiny teeth.
Another solution would be using a dremel and some cutting accesories.
Any reason you didn`t go for mag ball upgrade?
Weight, speed limitations.
Using magnets which are really heavy and usually do not have enough force to hold together in high acceleration movements is not such a great idea…
Just collected all the necessary parts. Please, edit your post about the rod jig. If you don`t want to cut the rods, it`s totally useless…
Hi, I have added information to that part.
I thought that the information about cutting or not cutting the rods about 4cm lower on the page was enough…..
But!
The problem with not cutting them is that you will loose some of the printable height.