Z-Axis

Guide Rails

In 3D printers, the implementation of the Z-axis is crucial for the vertical movement of the print head. There are three common designs:

1. Bed Slinger: In this design, the X crossbeam is moved in height. The print head moves along the Y-axis, while the print bed moves along the X-axis.
2. Lowering the print bed: In printers where the print head performs the X-Y movement, the Z-axis is usually realised by lowering the print bed. There are two main variants of this design:
   • Cantilever print bed: Here, the bed is guided at the rear of the printer with two linear guides and moved with a single threaded spindle at the rear of the printer.
   • Double-sided bed guide: In this variant, linear guides are located at the four corners of the print bed. It is moved on both sides of the print bed using two spindles.
3. Cartesian printers: These printers are the most complex, as all axes are executed by the print head. Movement in all three directions is achieved by serially coupling three axes. An example of this design is the Voron2 printer.