Origin: An overlooked pain point

Every 3D printer user has experienced this scenario: too many components are hidden behind the printer — buffers, diverters, cables, filament tubes, and so on. Want to operate them? Difficult! The posture is extremely awkward, and you even need to move the printer up and down, which is exhausting… Printers are becoming more refined, but the operating space for maintenance is getting smaller and smaller.

So I thought: could I make a base that allows the printer to “turn” and “shift” itself, bringing the hardest-to-reach parts right to your hands?

This is the starting point of Xuan Gui.

Why is it called “Xuan Gui”?

“Classic of Mountains and Seas, Classic of the Southern Mountains” records a mythical creature—”It resembles a turtle with a bird’s head and a snake’s tail, and its name is Xuan Gui.” It has the shape of a turtle shell but can turn flexibly; its appearance is steady, but inside it hides ingenuity.

This name aptly summarizes the dual nature of this base:

• “Gui” (Turtle) — During daily printing, it is rock-solid and immobile;
• “Xuan” (Swivel) — For maintenance, it rotates and slides flexibly, adjusting the printer to the most convenient position.

Static and dynamic, turtle and swivel — Xuan Gui.

What exactly can it do?

Xuan Gui gives your printer three degrees of freedom: front-to-back movement — side-to-side movement — 360° rotation; of course, it can also be locked in place, unable to move.

Combining these three movements, you can have your printer face you at any angle — no more struggling to turn a heavy machine around.

More than just maintenance: two details you might like even more

🔄 Hidden Feature: Build Plate Storage Slot

The front of the Xuan Gui features a clever storage slot that can hold up to 4 build plates simultaneously. Commonly used PEI, low-temp, and high-temp plates are all neatly stored in the base, ready for use, so you no longer need to rummage through drawers to find them.

After printer maintenance, simply slide the build plate back into the base — the machine is back in place, and so are the tools.

🛡️ Worried about vibrations? Check out PU-coated bearings

All four rollers of the Xuan Gui use PU-coated bearings. Polyurethane elastomers inherently possess excellent shock and vibration absorption properties, effectively filtering out micro-vibrations transferred to the desktop during printer operation, while significantly reducing rolling noise between the rollers and the desk.

Simply put: it’s stable and quieter.

Ingenious Design: Two Sets of Rollers, One Clever Idea

The core design of Xuan Gui is hidden where you can’t see it.

At the bottom of the base, there are two sets of rollers, each independently controlled by left and right selector knobs:

• The left selector knob controls the left set of rollers;
• The right selector knob controls the right set of rollers.

Inside each set of rollers, a timing belt connects them, ensuring that the rollers in the same set rotate in opposite directions. The brilliance of this design is that:

• By simply setting both selector knobs to the same marked position, your printer can move in the corresponding direction or be locked.

Two selector knobs, four movement modes — achieving comprehensive movement with minimal operation.

Stability is Key: Locking Mechanism

Flexibility during maintenance is important, but stability during printing is even more critical.

Both selector knobs on the Xuan Gui are designed with locking positions. When a knob is set to the lock position, all four rollers’ rolling directions face the center of the base — at this point, the base cannot move or rotate, and the entire printer is firmly “pinned” in place.

During daily printing, Xuan Gui is a rock-solid base; when maintenance is needed, unlock it, and it immediately transforms into a flexible turntable. Stability and flexibility, switch with one click.

Why do you need a Xuan Gui?

Printing and Assembly Suggestions

• Recommended filament: ABS or PETG, high rigidity required, PETG is recommended.
• Supports: Some parts may require minimal supports; please refer to the print profile for details.
• Regarding tolerance: To ensure overall rigidity, some tolerances are designed to be small. Please ensure your printer and filament are calibrated before printing; you can also adjust contour compensation yourself.
• Assembly: When installing the rollers and timing belt, ensure appropriate tension; too tight or too loose will affect movement accuracy and smoothness.
• IMPORTANT: Please read the assembly instructions carefully!!!
• Note: I only have a P1S, but based on current information, the footpad size and spacing for P2S/X1/X2D are the same as P1. Xuan Gui should therefore also be suitable for the aforementioned printer models.

Conclusion

Xuan Gui is not a complex product, but it solves a real yet long-overlooked problem.

If you’re tired of “moving the machine” and “finding build plates” every time you do maintenance, why not print a Xuan Gui? It will help you steady your printer, turn it flexibly, and tidy up your desktop at the same time.

For any questions or improvement suggestions, feel free to discuss them in the comments section. Happy printing! 🐢

Disclaimer

I designed and created this model (hereinafter referred to as “Xuan Gui”) out of personal interest, and it is publicly released on the MakerWorld platform completely free of charge, without collecting any fees or returns.

3D printing models, from printing and assembly to daily use, involve various potential risks, including but not limited to equipment failure, material failure, and operational errors, which may lead to personal injury or property loss. I hereby explicitly state:

Any individual or entity using the “Xuan Gui” model is deemed to have fully acknowledged and voluntarily assumed all risks of use. I shall not be held liable for any equipment damage, property loss, personal injury, or any other form of damage resulting from the production, assembly, operation, or use of this model.

Users should independently assess the compatibility and safety of this model with their own printers and related equipment, and maintain necessary safety awareness and operating procedures during use, ensuring that the selector knobs are in the correct position and the printer is securely placed.

🔧 Safety first, use at your own risk.