The Buffer Unit (A5) will be released in ~2 weeks. You will gain access to all future Buffer Unit updates when purchased. 

Info

Development Update from Printables

18 June - The A5 release 

(actual info about A5 further down)

I want to thank you for your continued interest and support in the Buffer Units. The latest update was originally scheduled for release on June 18, but I'm incorporating some late development changes to the PTFE-guide (basically changing the input hole for the PTFE-guide for easier loading). I decided that it was better to make the unit perfect, rather than releasing a version that is 95% there a bit earlier. 

This product has evolved into something much more substantial than I could have ever imagine. It has created a lot of work that I did not expect from the initial launch of the product.  I was initially hoping for 100 sold Buffer Units this year. But I could never imagine me surpassing that figure within less than a month. It is clear that I have a huge responsibility to make this product better than ever before. That's why I'm really taking the effort of making the A5 version truly great. 

I've also launched my own company, LGB Engineering. It's a company owned and operated by me and it will help me transform the Buffer Unit in to an official product. It's really nothing crazy, I'm not trying to create the next big thing. This step will just make me provide awesome stuff in a more official capacity, (and of course needed for me to properly tax my income).

Goodbye Printables?

No, not at all. But I will stop selling stuff on Printables. This is due to the Stripe payment services provided by Printables making it very difficult for my accounting work. That is why I have instead created a new website powered by Shopify: LGB-Engineering.com. It's not entirely finished yet, but it will be a simple way of buying and accessing purchased 3D-models. Don't worry, if you have purchased the files on Printables you will also gain access to them on lgb-engineering.com! 

The new website will also allow me to create easily accessible resources for each setup, including a more comprehensible assembly instructions layout, part lists and the ability to provide high resolution images. 

Don't worry, I will still be very active on Printables, publishing free 3D-models, setups for the Buffer Unit and communicating with the community. 

Now finally, version A5!

(actual pictures will soon be up!!!)

Version A5 is reworked from the ground up, incorporating tons of exciting features boosting its performance. Here are the main features in a nutshell:

• No spool slip without the risk of spools falling of (new mini-roller at the front)
• Over 50% increased rewind length
• Better rewind strength, eliminating stuck spools.
• Improved PTFE-routing.

Mini-roller

The biggest change is the incorporation of the third, smaller roller at the front of each module. This roller vastly improves the performance of the Buffer Unit. Here is how the mechanism now works:

1. The spools turns the front-roller as usual, slowly raising the Arm-assembly upwards together with the spool.
2. When the spool is almost raised to the maximum height, it starts to touch the new “mini-roller”, turning it.
3. More pressure gets put on the mini-roller when the spool is further raised, and less on the Front-roller. 
4. Finally, there is not enough friction to turn the front-roller and the spool slips on the roller surface, effectively working as a clutch limiting the windup. 

The mini-roller ensures that the spool will slip at the top regardless of difference in spool-to-roller friction. This means that you can run cardboard spools on high friction TPU-sleeves, without the worry of them not properly slipping in the topmost position 

Gears

The gears in the mechanism have been completely reworked, with emphasis on efficiency. With the combination of improved efficiency and a lower gear ratio, the A5 version removes the problem of spools getting stuck in the top position. The higher efficiency partly comes from higher dimensional accuracy, a result of the gear teeth being larger and thus easier to print.

I have also put a lot of time in to the gears allowing for a larger rewind length, balancing rewind strength and rewind length. The new A5 version has a 55% increased rewind length compared to previous versions. 

PTFE-Routing

The PTFE-routing underneath the modules was pretty good before, but not perfect. I wanted to improve the routing in anticipation of the CORE One setup, making it possible to route all PTFE-tubes to the central module. This makes it easier to then route the tubes together straight towards the MMU3. This is especially important for the CORE One, where routing space will be limited on top of the CORE One.

Routing is now easier then ever, where the PTFE-tube can follow smooth channels on the bottom of the Buffer Unit.

Other things!

There will be no 685 and 686 versions of the buffer unit, both bearings will be compatible with the same A5 parts. All bearing pins and holes are double stacked, so any bearing will fit. This of course simplifies things.

The R- and L-Arm are now providing more support all around the back-roller, making the assembly more sturdy. The “lever-rack” (formerly “ring-gear”) is now secured with one of the screws used to attach the R- and L-Arm to each other, making it simpler.

The whole assembly uses 40 less screws than previous versions. There is no longer any need for screws in the bearing pins, making assembly much faster. The new pins are very simple, won't break at all, and are much more reliable. 

The PTFE-guide is much more securely held in place on version A5.

One last thing, I've added connections for a simple spring as an added option to ensure proper rewinding. Its not required, but it can help if you experience extra friction from your bearings. I want to give a huge thanks to @dolphinboy for helping me develop it!

Early access release

I wasn't able to nail the previously stated release date as stated before. I'm already working with some beta-testers who are already getting access to the A5 version, and I will soon further expand this early-access group before officially publishing the files. The official release of the file will have the stamp of approval of a perfectly working version, once that happens. If you are willing to gain access to the A5 early and willing to provide valuable feedback → please contact me.

Thank you guys for your continued patience

- Ludvig (G) Broomé