SolidCore CoreXY 3D Printer

Modular Scalable Linear Rails Balanced Carriage Pull Enclosure BOM utilizes most available parts All Metal Parts or 3D Printed Z-Axis: Independent Driven or Shared Belt Routing

The CoreXY motion system is a good solution if you’re looking to print faster. The 3d printer kinematics has become more popular in the last couple of years as users and DIY builders agree on an increase in print quality. The motion system is more lightweight compared to other 3d printer kinematics such as cartesian 3d printer kinematics. A light-weight gantry is needed to increase print speed without affecting print quality. This is all important when attempting to get a smooth finish on 3d printed parts.

CoreXY Kinematics

The corexy kinematics is a complex motion system where X or Y motors move together or opposite of each other to move the carriage from left to right or towards or away . If you were to move just one motor you would see the print head move diagonal.. If the two motors move opposite of each other the print head will move along the X-axis, If the two motors move in the same direction the carriage will move along the Y-axis.

CoreXY Motor Movement

  • Both Motors Move Clockwise >> Carriage Moves Left
  • Both Motors Move Counter Clockwise>> Carriage Moves Right
  • Both Motors Move Opposite of Each Other>> Carriage Moves Toward & Away
  • One Motor Moves>> Carriage Moves Diagonal

Is CoreXY better?

The advantages of the core xy design:

  • Faster print speeds without a reduction in the quality of your prints and this is mainly down to the fact that it doesn’t have many moving parts.
  • A CoreXY printer will have a smaller overall size without sacrificing build volume
  • Print faster without leaving behind artifacts in your print. This is because there are no moving parts of the significant mass. With other printer designs, there’s typically a moving gantry that is attached to the stepper motors or the print bed.
  • The advantage is that there is less momentum when the motion system must suddenly change direction.
  • Core XY uses two motors offset from the carriage 
  • high accuracy and better
  • A good corexy printer can handle almost the same acceleration settings as a delta printer. They can be as fast, but without the pain of calibration.
  • A corexy can print faster with better accuracy because of the lower inertia or weight of the moving parts.
  • Better center of inertia

See CoreXY Architecture 

CoreXY Design Advantages 

  1. It can result in faster print speeds without a reduction in the quality of your prints and this is mainly down to the fact that it doesn’t have many moving parts.
  2. A CoreXY design will have a smaller footprint by being smaller in overall size without having to sacrifice build volume. See CoreXY Design

CoreXY vs Cartesian

The difference between corexy and the cartesian motion system is that the corexy reduces inertia from the static motor positions while the cartesian setup uses at least one motor to drive along each axis. The weight of the motor increases inertia making it more difficult to change direction. Which results in the corexy theoretically being faster in and more accurate than the cartesian.

Belt System & Layout

There are two main ways to implement the corexy kinematics. Either a stacked pulley arrangement or a crossed belt also known as a belt twist. The crossed belts design allows for each belt to take different paths, creating an x-shape configuration.

Belt Path

The corexy belt path can be implemented in two different ways. Either a stacked pulley arrangement or a crossed belt. The crossed belts design allows for each belt to take different paths, creating an x-shape configuration.

Belt Tensioning

If your printer belt tension is off, it’s going to be very obvious in your completed print. You may even notice that something doesn’t look quite right as your design is being printed. Listed below are the print defects that are most likely to occur if your belt tension isn’t what it’s supposed to be.

Related Content

SolidCore DIY 3D Printer

SolidCore CoreXY BOM

SolidCore Documentation

SolidCore CoreXY Frame

SolidCore Thingiverse 3D Printer Build Plans

SolidCore Kinematic Bed Mounting System Setup

3D Printer Kits & Parts

Related Content

CoreXY Theory

CoreXY vs Cartesian

There are a few different types of 3d printer kinematics to choose from, with cartesian kinematics being the most common. Recently the corexy architecture has become more popular. In this guide, we will compare corexy vs cartesian kinematics in terms of their speed and print quality so that you can understand the difference in each…

CoreXY 29 by Shane Hooper

CoreXY Belt Routing

CoreXY Belt Routing  One of the most important parts for corexy movement is belt routing. Here’s a guide to the mechanics of corexy belt routing pulley layout in order to get accuracy and constant belt tension. Belt Routing Methods There are two main ways to implement the corexy belt path. Either a stacked pulley arrangement…

CoreXY 29 by Shane Hooper

CoreXY Kinematics

CoreXY Kinematics Explained? The corexy kinematics mechanical arrangement includes a unique motor movement where the X or Y motor move together or opposite of each other to move the carriage from left to right or towards or away . If you were to move just one motor you would see the print head move diagonal..…

CoreXY 29 by Shane Hooper

Large CoreXY Build-Hardware And Firmware Settings That Increase Performance

CoreXY Scalability The scalability of a core-xy printer can be an issue when it comes to hardware design and implementation. An increased belt path can also introduce problems resulting in artifacts in 3d printed parts. A rigid gantry setup is needed and proper binding is a must. 9mm and 12mm belts are available to account…

CoreXY 29 by Shane Hooper

Belt Frequency And Tensioning

Loose belts are a common problem for users and cause a variety of issues. It may or may not be obvious that your 3d printer is experiencing issues. Belt tensioning defects can occur.

CoreXY 29 by Shane Hooper

SolidCore Kinematic Bed Setup

While this write up is still a work in progress as I continue to research kinematic mounting and the math used to find the angle that properly constrains the bed to allow for thermal expansion. This is the documented details of how the SolidCore kinematic mounting system should work.  So comment or correct me if…

CoreXY 29 by Shane Hooper

DIY 3D Printer Plans

SolidCore CoreXY 3D Printer

Modular Scalable Linear Rails Balanced Carriage Pull Enclosure BOM utilizes most available parts All Metal Parts or 3D Printed Z-Axis: Independent Driven or Shared Belt Routing

by Shane Hooper

SolidCore CoreXY – Frame

Frame Profile Specs Size 2020 or 20mm x 20mm Style T-Slot Buy SolidCore Frame Kit Frame BOM Part List Part Quantity Description Source Documentation Folder Frame Extrusions 2020 T-Slot ZylTech Frame Size List Frame Folder 570mm Long 6 Vertical (Tall) ZylTech Frame Size List Frame Folder 430mm Long 3 Vertical (Z-Axis Rail) ZylTech Frame Size…

by Shane Hooper

SolidCore Kinematic Bed Setup

While this write up is still a work in progress as I continue to research kinematic mounting and the math used to find the angle that properly constrains the bed to allow for thermal expansion. This is the documented details of how the SolidCore kinematic mounting system should work.  So comment or correct me if…

by Shane Hooper

SolidCore ToolChanger

Although this page will be used to document and collect resources to implement a toolchanger on the SolidCore printer, we’ve only completed one so far for this case study. The following design analysis is discussing a toolchanger project we prototyped for our customer, Nandan. The majority of the topic currently being discussed is of the…

by Shane Hooper

Kinematic Bed Mounting

SolidCore CoreXY Z-Axis Bed Leveling We recently started working on the SolidCore 3d printer’s bed leveling and mounting system. The z-axis uses a 3-point kinematic bed mounting with magnetic pivot spheres on each mount This properly constrains the bed at 3 points of contact. The original SolidCore Z-axis design was somewhat primitive because we only…

by Shane Hooper

Triple Z Bed Leveling Setup

The CoreXY motion system is a good solution if you’re looking to print faster. The 3d printer kinematics has become more popular in the last couple of years as users and DIY builders agree on an increase in print quality. The motion system is more lightweight compared to other 3d printer kinematics such as cartesian…

by Shane Hooper

Triple Independent Motors Z Axis

The latest design update uses three Z-axis stepper motors. In this arrangement the belt routing to the stepper motor drive the lead screw. Each lead screw will be constrained by an MGN12 linear rail. This should also minimize vibrations that might be transferred from the motors to the z-axis. The belt to pulley ratio gives…

by Shane Hooper