Direct drive / EZStruder with small nozzle diameters

[Highcooley]

On different forums people state that direct drive extruders are problematic with small nozzle diameters. Can anybody confirm or refute this? My Kraken has two 0.4mm, a 0.6mm as well as a 0.25mm nozzle. I got two EZStruders for the 0.4mm nozzles which work fine. The 0.6mm won't cause problems anyway and definitely needs a direct drive for high speed extrusion, but I'm not sure about the 0.25mm. Since I've got two unused Steve's extruders as well as two spare MK7 drivegears, I could print extruders or go for Steve's. I hear that the Berry Tripper is quite a good geared solution for a self printed version. Any suggestions and comparisons of geared extruders as well as self printing vs. Steve's?

[Jimustanguitar]

I hear a lot of hype about direct drive extruders skipping and slipping, but I've not had that experience. I think the real problem here is steps per mm. If you've got a direct drive extruder, a small nozzle diameter, and a thin layer height, you're toeing the line on not extruding very smoothly because of what I'll call "low step frequency". I'm sure there's a better term for it

The EZStruder is set to 90-100 steps per mm compared to the original Steve's extruder which was geared down to 400-500 steps per MM... I think if you're having trouble with step resolution, you ought to try switching your extruder to .9 degree motors.

[critical_limit]

Has anybody attachted a geared Motor to the EZStruder?
Most geared Motors have 8mm rods, so which hobbed gear can be used?

Any links for this?

Thanx
Dirk

[JFettig]

I was just thinking it wouldn't be very difficult to make an adapter plate for one of these: http://www.omc-stepperonline.com/geared ... s-c-4.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[0110-m-p]

I've had problems with printing ABS through my 0.25mm E3D V5 nozzle with the EZStruder. Didn't really skip, but just didn't seem powerful enough. I didn't try too long before going back to the 0.4mm nozzle which runs fine.

[Highcooley]

I hear a lot of hype about direct drive extruders skipping and slipping, but I've not had that experience. I think the real problem here is steps per mm. If you've got a direct drive extruder, a small nozzle diameter, and a thin layer height, you're toeing the line on not extruding very smoothly because of what I'll call "low step frequency". I'm sure there's a better term for it

The EZStruder is set to 90-100 steps per mm compared to the original Steve's extruder which was geared down to 400-500 steps per MM... I think if you're having trouble with step resolution, you ought to try switching your extruder to .9 degree motors.

Hmmm, right...that makes sense as well as the torque problem. So a Berry Tripper http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:86631 could actually be a nice alternative. I just don't trust printed gears that much Are they usually more precise than Steve's threefold gear?

[bot]

Has anybody tried going to 0.9 degree steppers like Jimustanguitar suggested? That seems like the easiest solution to try. I have been creeping up on the limit of the stock setups resolution, so I'm looking at options now.

[critical_limit]

Has anybody tried going to 0.9 degree steppers like Jimustanguitar suggested? That seems like the easiest solution to try. I have been creeping up on the limit of the stock setups resolution, so I'm looking at options now.

Yepp,

I´m using 0.9° Steppers with 32 Microsteps on a azteeg X5 Board. Working good with 0.35 Nozzle printing ABS with E3D V6 and 40mm/s at 0.1mm Layerheight. But have to raise the temp 5°C compared to a 0.4 Nozzle.

Tried a 0.25 Nozzle as well, but didn´t work. Pressure must be so high, that the hobbed gear is eating the Filament. Maybe a stronger Spring will help. Didn´t checked it again.

[bot]

Thank you, your reply is very useful. I wanted to go to a .25mm nozzle. I wonder what would be needed for that to work.

[Jimustanguitar]

Has anybody attachted a geared Motor to the EZStruder?

TrickLaser Brian has done this, I think it was a prototype for the Nemesis II... One with the EZStruder, and another with the Goliat extruder. Maybe he'll chime in on the convo and share his thoughts.

Pictures:
https://www.facebook.com/themakerhive/p ... permPage=1" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
https://www.facebook.com/themakerhive/p ... permPage=1" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
https://www.facebook.com/themakerhive/p ... permPage=1" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[enggmaug]

I personally use .25 nozzle on my kraken, with EZstrudder, and often print at 0.1 mm layer height.

I have had issues in the begining, but then, following another thread on this forum, I ran a drill in the nozzle in order to lower its exit channel length. I reduced it's length as much as I could without enlarging the nozzle tip.

It works very well now, no problem at all.

[Glacian22]

I made an adapter plate a while ago, if anyone needs one: http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:131310" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[jdurand]

BTW, what's the current trick for getting the sign-in to work on Thingverse? I used to contribute to them but they changed their login and now it just loops, signing in...done...signing in...done... forever.

[bot]

Enggmaug, you are a genius! Or you and the person who you heard that idea from. I can't wait to try a .25mm nozzle now. Just need to get someone with a lathe or something to bore out a bit from the nozzle...

Daaaaaaaaad!

[geneb]

The trick to printing with a .25 nozzle is to go very slow. It's not rocket science.

g.

[bot]

It's kinda like rocket science, what with the nozzle and the pressure and the expansion of heated materials.

[Jimustanguitar]

It's kinda like rocket science, what with the nozzle and the pressure and the expansion of heated materials.

I've never heard about die swell on a Saturn-V though

[jdurand]

I've stood under a Saturn V and looked up, I thought the engines were swell! Of course I was young and some people still used the term swell.

[bot]

Yeah, come to think of it, rocket science is the easy stuff. 3D printing is the new rocket science. Hell, brain surgery is nothing, I should know!

[bvandiepenbos]

The ezStruder works better with a planetary geared stepper motor. The OEM motor barely has enough torque to work reliably with a .35 or .4 nozzle.

[Eaglezsoar]

The ezStruder works better with a planetary geared stepper motor. The OEM motor barely has enough torque to work reliably with a .35 or .4 nozzle.

Can you show us how you mounted a geared motor to an ezstruder?

[enggmaug]

Enggmaug, you are a genius! Or you and the person who you heard that idea from. I can't wait to try a .25mm nozzle now. Just need to get someone with a lathe or something to bore out a bit from the nozzle...

Daaaaaaaaad!

As I remember, it was mhackney who gave me that tip. He is the genius.

I tried finding the exact thread, I believe it was this one :http://forum.seemecnc.com/viewtopic.php ... ole#p36953


EDIT : It actually starts on page 24 of the very same thread when mhackney started his investingations about E3D nozzles bore length.

[bvandiepenbos]

The ezStruder works better with a planetary geared stepper motor. The OEM motor barely has enough torque to work reliably with a .35 or .4 nozzle.

Can you show us how you mounted a geared motor to an ezstruder?

Eagle see this new post I made about this http://forum.seemecnc.com/viewtopic.php?f=35&t=7011" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[mhackney]

I can say, now, in about a year of printing with my modified E3D and Kraken nozzles that I've had absolutely NO ISSUES with over 1000s of prints from small high detailed to large 12+ hour prints. I've received 100s - literally - of emails and PM from folks who have done the mod and had positive results. I've had a few who didn't. I really suspect that those who didn't have other issues that are not resolved. Extruding filament precisely and reliably is a complex process with lots of parameters. It takes a consistent, dedicated approach to resolving the gremlins, but one you do, the things you can make are amazing!

cheers,
Michael

[JFettig]

What mods do you speak of?