BMG + V6 + ABL Direct Drive Extruder

Last updated: July 31, 2021 (see Change log section near the bottom of this post)

A compact and easy to print direct drive mount for BMG extruders, V6 hotends, and ABL setups. This is compatible with open carriage printers such as an Ender 3 (Pro), Tevo Tornado, Alfawise U20, etc.

This excellent design is originally made by Adolf_Muffin, but I made a couple of improvements:

• M3 nut mounting holes and screws.
• Better BLTouch mount - the original was fragile and it would hit the tension belt adjuster at max X.
• Better cable route on Carriage Mount - moved the original cable route from the right to the left.
• List of screws and nuts needed.
• NEW: MGN12 Linear Rail compatible ²

• Guides for Slicing, Assembly, Firmware Config, and Calibration. — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — —

  ### Check out the remixes for different machines:

• Tronxy X5S by SoDakDave

• Ender 3 V2 by db9mat ¹

• CR-10 V2/V3 by IssaP ### For 18mm EZABL / Capacitive Probes

• Check out CephDigital's remix!
  His post includes probe offsets and other important details! — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — —

  ### Quick note about the components:

  • This mount should be compatible with GENUINE or CLONE components.
  • As of July 20, 2020, the carriage mount and BLTouch mount does not fully support the Ender 5. The current models can work, but you're going to have to do some post processing. New models coming soon.

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  ¹Requires additional hardware: 4x M3x5 heated brass inserts
  ²Requires additional hardware: 4x M3 screws

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  🔪 Slicing the parts

I'm using PrusaSlicer, but any slicer will do!

*Make sure to download the CORRECT AND MOST LATEST files, so the first two downloads! RH indicates the "standard" BMG's, and LH indicates the "mirrored" BMG's! Don't know which one you have? Click here to go to the BMG's store page.

• Print the Fan Ducts, Motor Mount, and Carriage Mount inPETG or ABS! Everything else can be printed with PLA. *For the MGN12 Carriage Plate, refer to the original creator's settings: https://youtu.be/rN0T-T9uDG8?t=152
• I recommend 0.2 mm layer height, and around 2 mm perimeters/walls for the Motor Mount and Carriage Mount.
• Use any strong infill type you want, like Rectilinear/Grid/Gyroid.
• Scroll down to find an image of recommended print orientations. To enlarge this image, right-click it and view it in a new tab.

Recommended print orientations.

🔩 Hardware Required

You will need the following hardware:

*1x BMG extruder ¹ *1x V6 Hotend (assembled) *1x Pancake Motor *2x 5015 blower fans wired in parallel ² *1x BLTouch sensor *13x M3 nuts *4x M3 x 6 mm BUTTON head *2x M3 x 8 mm any *4x M3 x 10 mm any ³ *1x M3 x 10 mm BUTTON head ³ *1x M3 x 12 mm any *4x M3 x 20 mm any

• If you're using a 4020 axial fan for cooling the hotend, use4x M3 x 25 mm screws.

• If you're using a 4010 axial fan for cooling the hotend, use4x M3 x 15 mm screws. ¹Your BMG should've came with 3x M3x35 screws already.
  ²Click here how to wire 5015's in parallel. This applies to Ender 3's, but may apply to other printers.
  ³If you have an Ender 3 (Pro), you can use your old extruder M3 x 10 mm button head screws. May apply to other similar printers.

  🧱 Assembly

  Click this Imgur link to access the assembly guide: https://imgur.com/a/UwM568h

For MGN12 linear rail users
Assemble the linear rail plate first onto your printer, as shown by the original creator here: https://youtu.be/rN0T-T9uDG8?t=215. Remember, you will need to have screws and the printed tools for proper alignment.

🖥 Firmware Config

You must make these changes in your firmware. Sending the commands via Pronterface or OctoPrint works too.

• BMG E-steps (need to calibrate later): 415 steps/mm
• BLTouch probe offsets for RH BMG's: X = +45.8, Y = +14.2 ¹
• BLTouch probe offsets for LH BMG's (not tested): X = +37.5, Y = +14.2 ¹

• If your prints are off-centered, you may have to use these home offsets: X = -4.55, Y = -15.60. ² Marlin commands (RH):

  M92 E415
  M851 X45.8 Y14.2
  M206 X-4.55 Y-15.60
  M500

  Marlin commands (LH):

  M92 E415
  M851 X37.5 Y14.2
  M206 X-4.55 Y-15.60
  M500

  ¹These BLTouch XY probe offsets were measured in Fusion 360, so it'll most likely be different IRL. See 'Fine Tuning' below for further calibration.
  ²These home offsets will vary on different machines. See 'Fine Tuning' below for further calibration.

  🛠 Calibration

Last few essentials before printing!

1. Heat tighten your nozzle.
2. Calibrate your E-steps.
3. Set your Z-probe offset (see 1st video below).
4. Get those perfect first layers (see 2nd video below).
5. Save settings to EEPROM or in your slicer.
6. Print!
7. (optional) Post a Make! I'd love to see your setup and thoughts! :D 📏 Fine Tuning

• Prints still off center? You may need to adjust your home offsets. See this written guide here, jimleesheep's Make, or the video below!
• Probing looks off center? You may need to adjust your XY probe offsets. See this written guide by TH3D, near the bottom of the page.
• If you'd like to further fine tune your printer, see the last video below or go directly to Teaching Tech's Calibration tool!

  ⏭ What's Next

The following items may be added or changed in the next version.

These are ordered by priority (1 being the highest). No ETA as of Feb. 8, 2021.

1.Create M3 hex nut cutout for front hotend fan mount - A user reported that the screw holes eventually became loose. 3.Remove BLTouch cable route - Looking back at it, it seemed pointless to add. 5.Redesign cable route for Carriage Mount - My idea was to remix the cable route so the E3D V6 thermistor molex connector can fit in-between the BMG and Carriage Mount. Next update will have more room, and the cables will route on the right-side. 7.Potential BLTouch mount rework - A user suggested a rail-like system similar to this design. The current design can be a bit finicky during mounting. 9.Ender 5 compatibility - Based on these user submitted pictures, the Carriage and BLTouch mount is interfering with the frame of the printer and the belts. The user had to readjust the X-endstop to make sure the BLTouch doesn't crash on the frame. 11.Hex cutout tolerances - A user reported that the nuts fall out of the hex cutouts during installation.
7.EZABL Mount - This mount will most likely replace the right fan mount.

📝 Change log

Any changes to this Thing are noted here.

July 31, 2021 — Remixed X-Axis Linear Rail For MGN12 Linear Rail
by dopesoner930 for this extruder. Added more info regarding the linear rails in sectionsSlicing andAssembly*.Mar. 18, 2021 — CephDigital has created an EZABL/capacitive probe mount. Linked the remix in this post. Thanks again CephDigital! **Feb. 14, 2021 — RenamedAdditional Calibration toFine Tuning. Specified which fans to use inHardware Requirements andAssembly Guide. Feb. 8, 2021 — Added a small guide on how to wire 5015's in parallel inHardware Required* section. Added some emojis to make this wall of text more "pretty".Jan. 19, 2021 — Added 3 remixes in theSummary for different machines. Added a small note regarding probe/home offsets. Added another link inFine Tuning regarding XY probe calibration. **Dec. 10, 2020 — Minor changes to thumbnails. Overhauled the sections. Expanded hardware list. AddedFirmware Config andCalibration section. ChangedDesign To-do List toWhat's Next. Minor changes to Assembly Guide. Dec. 9, 2020* — Changed post name and thumbnails. Dec. 4, 2020 — AddedDesign To-do List section. **Nov. 5, 2020 — Updated myThings I'm using for my setup section. Updated pics. Nov. 3, 2020* — Improved slicing guide. Moved various sections in this description.Oct. 28, 2020 — Changed Y BLTouch probe offsets from negative to positive values. **Oct. 9, 2020 — Minor changes to the title, description, and Assembly Guide. Sept. 3, 2020* — Updated .zip files. Removed version numbers.July 20, 2020 — CheckQuick note about the components section. Thankstsndr for the heads up! **July 11, 2020 — Uploaded bundled .zip files (has .stl + .step files) for LH and RH BMG's + made some changes to Assembly Guide (now V1.2) + There's been minor changes to both Motor Mounts (now v1.1). June 11, 2020* — Addressed some "bugs" in Assembly Guide (now V1.1), modified this descriptionJune 11, 2020* — V1.0 parts release

🔗 Things I'm using for my machine

For those who are curious!

• Want to quiet your Ender 3 without the need of Noctua fans and buck converters? Click this guide!
• 3DMaker Engineering Torque Wrench
• V-Twin Kinetic Extruder Visualizer
• BLTouch calibration tool
• BLTouch cover
• My 'Ender 3 Cable Chain Extruder Mount'
• V-Slot snap on cover
• My PrusaSlicer profiles are based off of this