xTool D1 Laser Air Assist and Drag Chain Upgrade

[@miket3445]

That drag chain is best mod for the D1 I’ve seen…..well done👍

[@gomerphillip5816]

I have made to my d1 a drag chain from a measuring tape. It works very well :)

[@gomerphillip5816]

I use the original cable

[@Fleshybitz]

I like your version of the drag chain. I have a 20W and it seems like it will crash in the chain when it does full travel towards it

[@jonjingleheimerschmidt5153]

A Tie Wrap is the kind with the wire in the middle that you twist around to secure thinngs, very often garbage or grocery bags. They're usually made of paper/plastic and have a metal wire. A Zip Tie is the plastic fastener which one pokes one end of the notched/ribbed strip into the other end which has a locking mechanism. They are typically not reusable. I asked for Tie Wraps when I meant Zip Ties at the hardware store and we wound up walking clear across the store 'cause they don't store them in the same place! :) Thank you for these videos though they have cause me some difficulty. I was previuosly thinking that a cheap K40 would be the way to go but now I'm leaning heavily towards the XTool. Of course, this is in the delusional fantasyland where I can afford such awesome things! :)

[@rogersshop]

I'm a retired electrician and while many call them zip ties, Ty Rap is a brand name electrification.us.abb.com/products/wire-cable-management/ty-rap-cable-ties that is generic to electricians for cable ties.

[@jonjingleheimerschmidt5153]

​@@rogersshop Hilarious. Ketchup / Catsup / Rotten Tomato Sauce... what's in a name?

[@elguapo1507]

I say tomato, you say potato! 😂

[@3DJapan]

I love the D1 but I don't love the cable dragging around the work area. It hasn't happened yet but I'm afraid the cables will hit the material and move it during engraving.

[@rogersshop]

Exactly why I added the drag chain. I also have a second D1, but it is dedicated to the RA2 rotary, so the cable is not an issue in this case.

[@elguapo1507]

Proper engineering skills! 👍

[@infernusifrit9348]

I measured min & max travel. Then applied a very sticky double stick tape to the bottom of the frame and pressed the control wire to it. Finally, I double checked travel & all worked out neatly and fine.

[@3dPrintCreator]

Lol, you own a Xtool D1, and use a soldering iron to cut the opening for the air assist. Great video, I loved the things you showed./

[@rogersshop]

The D1 does not cut transparent acrylic very well and the soldering iron was quick and easy!

[@ysvleis]

Thank you for this vid!

[@johncorbin355]

Are those drag chains able to be 'added' to?? If I buy 2 can they clip together to make a longer chain? I am getting the new D1 rail extensions and will likely need a little more than 1m in length

[@rogersshop]

Yes, and very easy to do.

[@WarJakEnterprises]

Amazon sells a 1.5 meter drag chain that works great on my D1 Pro extended.

[@proflowmotorsports]

Looks good

[@michaelbaykara2322]

good engtraving content, i have a question: i want to add a drag chain to the x gantry- is this possible or recommended?

[@rogersshop]

It could be done, and I also looked into doing it if there was a problem with cable interference. But, since it has not been any problem, I have left as-is.

[@michaelbaykara2322]

@@rogersshop thank you Roger

[@danielprovenzano163]

Will the drag chain riser block work on the Xtool D1 Pro 20w?

[@rogersshop]

Yes. Frames are the same

[@emilellis]

Great video. What length cable did you use for the stepper motor?

[@rogersshop]

1 meter.

[@forrestthompson1974]

Where can I get that extension cable? Mine keeps unplugging.

[@SeanMcClintic]

Does the drag chain reduce the working area? I see that you ran a perimeter, but it looks like it stops short of the right hand side? Did you just take that into consideration? I know there are no end stops so I would fear absentmindedness leading to crashing into that drag chain.

[@rogersshop]

No, it does not. The X axis does not move that far to the right. I was careful to check this when I was mounting the brackets.

[@AFatalPapercut]

drag chains are great for cable management but they can however induce tension points along specific points of the wires, that do not really change due to the fact it's keeping the wires in place as well. IDK how well it works on laser engravers but on some 3d printers it actually works against you and can harm the wires over time.

[@roberthowell3610]

Just order the very NICE air assist that XTOOL sells for the D1................................ IT IS AWESOME.

[@rogersshop]

I saw that it was offered, but for what they are charging, I decided to pass and make my own (which works perfect).

[@TheAwesomeSam]

are you able to cut through 1/4" acrylic with using the air assist? I am interested in getting the xTool D1 for that purpose.

[@miket3445]

I’m told that diode lasers don’t work with clear acrylic……May work with coloured ….

[@elohimembroidery]

Have you tried to curl the block chain over (like you have done for the gantry) on the frame end of the black chain and maybe gotten the 30mm height you determined was needed? Excellent video and I love your channel.

[@rogersshop]

That made the laser head cables too short and I didn't want to replace those too.

[@ysvleis]

For what it’s worth, I did that exact thing today with my D1 and curved both ends over (gantry and other end) and was able to use stock cabling no problem. Works fine and wires still have some slack.

[@ozziesoto2955]

Can this mod be done to the D1 PRO?

[@rogersshop]

I don't see why not, at least the drag chain. Not familiar yet with the new 20 watt output laser module, so not sure about the air assist.

[@markbigham6653]

Did the wiring to the laser have to be lengthened?

[@rogersshop]

To the laser head, no. Only one of the stepper motor cables.

[@jbrown27b]

i ordered the longer cables for the stepper motor and it would not move side to side just made a awful noise so no drag chain for me i really want to do this

[@rogersshop]

If you get the wrong cable, it will lock up the stepper motor. Some cables are not universal, such as those made for some 3D printers, such as Creality, as the pinout is different.

[@bgateb]

@@rogersshop had the same issue with mine; ordered the ones you linked in the description; any suggestions?

[@rogersshop]

@@bgateb Take a close look at the ends to make sure that a pair of wires is not swapped on one end. Needs to be straight through.

[@miket3445]

Same experience with Jamie and Bgatep…..used link and my cables I got were twisted into the plug……had to cut and resolder the wires……..for some reason the cables from that link have changed.

[@bgateb]

@@miket3445 I returned the cables as I didn't want to fuss with rearranging them -- I just ended up having it exit out of the drag chain "early" to get a little extra length out of the stock cable; works fine and has full range of motion with just enough slack to not put any strain on the connector.

[@markbigham6653]

One more question. How tall is the white block you printed?

[@rogersshop]

30mm

[@markbigham6653]

@@rogersshop thank you

[@markbigham6653]

@DK I made mine from the material I used to make my enclosure which is wood.

[@matiasparodi2217]

Great video Roger! Your solution with the drag chain is awesome! Where I can buy the wire for the stepper motor?

[@rogersshop]

1M Stepper motor cables amzn.to/3AFL7d0 I just added it to the description.

[@matiasparodi2217]

@@rogersshop thank you so much Roger! I really appreciate it!

[@rogersshop]

@DK You will need to shorten it as it comes out of the package as it is several links too long. Very easy to do.

[@rogersshop]

@DK If you get the cable in the description, a re-pin is not needed.

[@Uneasy80]

what did you use as the air pump, fish aquarium pump?

[@rogersshop]

Yes, it is a 2 speed Pawfly aquarium pump. I use these on all of my air assisted lasers. They are quiet and put out a good air flow.

[@rpace6821]

@@rogersshop Did you make the Nozzels that fit over the Laser or buy them?? OK NM you made them! Darn

[@rogersshop]

@@rpace6821 Yes, I made them and did a lot of experimenting before I settled on one. xTool does offer an air assist kit that makes this much simpler. But that takes the fun out of it...........

[@rpace6821]

Are you selling the air nozzels?? I've only seen 1 guy on etsy selling them. How much would you charge to make one, (not sure what Diameter mine is, D1 10W Diode)? I'm in Tampa area FLA

[@rogersshop]

@@rpace6821 I can make you one, but need to know the diameter of the lens as they vary. If you have a digital caliper, let me know the diameter in mm. This style assist nozzle does require notching the orange shield. I did it with a soldering iron.

[@michaelmcglynn7329]

Where can we find the STL for that little riser block?

[@rogersshop]

I made this "on the fly" as a .16 layer and 100% infill block with PLA, then drilled and tapped the holes for the drag chain bracket mount and drilled holes for the 3mm machine screws mount to the frame above the motherboard. the question for me is "did I keep that file"? I will need to do some searching on my 3D printer laptop.

[@michaelmcglynn7329]

@@rogersshop I don't think that's necessary. If you can just measure the block and post the dimensions, that would help

[@rogersshop]

@@michaelmcglynn7329 Upper section of block is a 30mm cube. Holes are 3mm, spaced equal. Lower part is 25mm wide, 25mm high, and 20mm long (check your drag chain mount bracket as they are not all the same). I originally tried this without the riser block and it threw off the geometry too much and the chain would not roll up properly without catching on occasion. Drag chain bracket mount to block are holes drilled with #29 bit and tapped 3mm x 50 pitch. Printed at 100% infill for this purpose.

[@ofcleveland]

@@rogersshop Is the mount piece you made for sale? Would love to purchase from you for my d1. Thanks

[@rogersshop]

@@ofcleveland Are you talking about the riser block? Yes, I can make you one. email me at [e-mail]

[@markbigham6653]

How many links in the drag chain?

[@rogersshop]

36. But, this number will depend on what drag chain you use.

[@rogersshop]

@DK It is longer than that. You will have pieces left over.