Genmitsu 3018 Pro Clamping Kit Instructions

Note: This is just one of many easy enhancements I have posted for the Genmitsu 3018 Pro CNC Router. None of my enhancements require any modifications to the stock hardware. Just bolt them on and go. If you look under my postings you'll see others including the Cable Chain, X,Y & Z Limit Switches, Vacuum Adapter, Cushion Feet, Clamping Set, E-Stop Mount and more.

One of the biggest challenges in setting up work on a CNC is getting it clamped down properly. There is a ton of clamping accessories out there to purchase, each with good and bad points. I chose to 3D print a clamping set based off the basic design of other sets I have used on larger equipment. This basic set should get you started and you can expand it with your own design pieces as specialized needs arise.

The kit consists of T-Slot bolts, wheel nuts, step blocks and two different types of step clamps. I chose to make a total of 6 sets of each.

Also I design everything in OpenSCAD which is a free CAD program. I have included all of the source files I made which you can modify as you'd like.

I 3D printed everything using PETG filament with 100% infill (they need to withstand a little more pressure than usual) and no supports. It probably doesn't matter what filament is used but I find that PLA tends to melt and malform sometimes with temperatures and ABS can be a little brittle when trying to snap the chain links together.

For the bolts I found that a standard 5/16-18 Carriage Head bolt (available at your local hardware store), fits perfectly into the slots of the aluminum table provided. I would suggest getting a few different lengths of these such as 1" (the one I use the most), 1-1/2" and 2". You will also need to buy standard 5/16-18 Nuts which are used in the wheel nuts.

The only tricky part of the 3D printing is the wheel nuts. With many 3D printers you can define a "Filament Layer Change" where the printer will stop at a layer and ask you to change the filament. If you do this and stop it at the wheel nut print right at the top of the hex nut cutout then you can press the steel nut into the piece and then continue printing. The print will finish up in the area above the nut leaving the nut embedded inside. This can be more of a challenge if you have something like the Bambu AMS as it does not facilitate stopping for a filament change in the same way. You may need to get creative if you run into these challenges for your printer. Also I found quite often there was left over filament inside the wheel nuts that caused issues so after printing I used a 5/16-18 tap tool to run though each nut and clean them up. This may not be required in your case.

I have included a few pictures showing how to use the clamps in some basic situations.