Snapmaker U1
The Snapmaker U1 is a very interesting tool-changer 3D printer with four independent nozzles that I would love to get my hands on, but that has some issues that make me hesitant to(...)
#toolchanger
Snapmaker U1
The Snapmaker U1 is a very interesting tool-changer 3D printer with four independent nozzles that I would love to get my hands on, but that has some issues that make me hesitant to(...)
Snapmaker U1 tool changer
The 3D printing world has been abuzz over the past couple of weeks with this, and after watching pretty much all the (p)reviews I could find on YouTube, I’m very curious to see wha(...)
#3dprinting #hardware #kickstarter #multimaterial #printer #snapmaker #toolchanger
Pfff. I have an #E3D #toolchanger with 2 toolheads, but the print quality wasn't top, and I don't have the time nor desire to carefully tune profiles. On the other hand, having 2 toolheads is awesome for printing e.g. PLA supports for PETG etc and works so much better than an #MMU or equivalent. And then there's the #PrusaXL that I would want, but is just too expensive to justify. Bah
I printed a multicolor calicat on my toolchanger. I used a small wipetower as I still haven’t properly calibrated purges. I’ll try to tweak it soon, but I’m also thinking of building a pebble wiper.
The tool head with a Revo Micro installed of my E3D Tool Changer. It’s working great so far. Now I want to buy both a hardened and a high flow nozzle.
First print with the Revo Micro on the tool changer. I finally got around to installing it, and it turned out to be quite easy. I didn’t have to change the fan connector as I thought. I still have to do proper X/Y and PID calibration, but this works for now.
It heats up incredibly fast.
I’m thinking of selling my E3D Tool Changer as I don’t have time to use it anymore. Though I don’t know where I could find anyone interested in it.
Toolchanging Printers Get a Nozzle Hanky Like No Other
When it comes to toolchanging 3D printers, idle nozzles tend to drool. Cleaning out that nozzle goo, though, is critical before switching them into use. And since switching nozzles can happen hundreds of times per print , having a rock-solid cleaning solution is key to making crisp clean parts. [Kevin Mardirossian] wasn't too thrilled with the existing solutions for cleaning, so he developed the Pebble Wiper, a production worthy nozzle wicking widget that's wicked away nozzles thousands of times flawlessly.
With a little inspiration from [BigBrain3D's] retractable purge mechanism, [Kevin] is first purging tools onto a brass brad. Rather than have filament extrude into free space, it collects into a small bloblike "pebble" that cools quickly into a controlled shape. From here, after one quick flick with a servo arm and a small wipe with a silicone basting brush, the nozzle is ready to use. The setup might sound simple, but it's the result of thousands and thousands of tests with the goal of letting no residual ooze attach itself to the actual part being printed. And that's after [Kevin] put the time into scratch-building his own toolchanging 3D printer to test it on first. Finally, he's kindly made the files available online on Github for other hackers' tinkering and mischief.
So how well does it work? Judging by the results he's shared, we think spectacularly. Since adopting it, he's dropped any sacrificial printing artefacts on the bed entirely and been able to consistently pull off stunning multimaterial prints flawlessly with no signs of residual nozzle drool. While toolchanging systems have been great platforms for hacking and exploration, [Kevin's] Pebble Wiper takes these machines one step closer at hitting "production-level" of reliability that minimizes waste. And who knows? Maybe all those pebbles can be sized to be ground up, remade into filament, and respooled back into usable filament?
#3dprinterhacks #news #3dprinter #3dprinternozzle #multimaterial #nozzlecleaning #toolchanger #toolchanging
Removable Extruder Pulls Out the Stops on Features
For all of us fascinated with 3D printing, it's easy to forget that 3D printer jams are an extra dimension of frustration to handle. Not to mention that our systems don't really lend themselves well to being easily disassembled for experiments. For anyone longing for a simpler tune-up experience, you're in luck. [MihaiDesigns] is dawning on what looks to be a cleanly designed solution to nozzle-changing, servicing, and experimenting.
The video is only 39 seconds, but this design is packed with clever editions that come together with a satisfying click. First, the active part of the extruder is detachable, popping in-and-out with a simple lever mechanism that applies preload. For consistent attachment, it's located with a kinematic coupling on the side with a magnet that helps align it. What's neat about this design is that it cuts down on the hassle of wire harnesses; tools are set to share the same harness via an array of spring-loaded pogo pins. Finally, a quick-change extruder might be neat on its own, but [MihaiDesigns] is teasing us with an automatic tool change feature with a handy lever arm.
This is a story told over multiple sub-60-second videos, so be sure to check out their other recent videos for more context. And for the 3D printing enthusiasts who dig a bit further into [MihaiDesigns'] video log, you'll be pleased to find more magnetic extruder inventions that you can build yourself.
The world of tool-changing 3D printers is simply brimming with excitement these days. If you're curious to see other machines with kinematic couplings, have a peek at E3D's toolchanger designs, Jubilee, and [Amy's] Doot Changer.
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