Snap-on Cable Chain for Direct Drive Ender-3

I swapped to a direct drive due to friction in my bowden tube. I used the Direct Drivinator

(listed below) but I didn’t plan out my cable management until after I had printed my part. (On a side note–I didn’t realize I needed to extend the extruder motor wiring until after I had done the mod, but that’s another story) I really liked NG Design’s cable chains. Following suit, I wanted something that snapped on, requiring minimal screws/loosenings and re-tightenings.

The anchors on the extruder motor and the x-axis gantry both snap on.

The lower anchor requires that you loosen screws securing the electronics case cover to slide it in, and then re-tighten the screws. Note: I rerouted the wires from the electronics case to come up by the z-axis limit switch. I used the wire protector stencil to draw a rounded curve (aligh the back edge of the rectangular notch for the z limit switch with the back edge of the stencil) on the electronics case which I then cut with my dremel. Then you can insert the two pieces of the wire protector.

I used 50 chain links: 21 on the upper chain, 29 on the lower chain. I’ve included a gcode for printing 25 at a time.

Thanks to the designers of:
https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:3769941 NG Designs
https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:3589452 Madau3D