Monolithic Platform for E3Dv6 Hot End

[BONE]

That is a good idea for the wiring location. There is a plug that goes there help hold the hotend. The pins hold the plug in. I was going to redesign the plug also, now I'm rethinking it all over again.

[BONE]

Printed the latest design to trial fit a few upgrade parts. Layer fan is going to be tight.

[Fiddler2070]

Just got my Monolithic Platform with E3D v6 together and working. Worked right really well right out of the gate, super excited. Printed a test piece to make sure that everything worked right and now back onto a customer job. The thermistor on the stock hotend fell out and snapped a wire. There was lots of smoke, luckily I was there when it happened. That silicone does not hold very well in a straight hole.

With the new setup, I gained about 11mm more height and can print just over 400mm now.

Couple of issues with having the new platform close to the bed. One, it's hardier to see right where the nozzle is printing. Second, watch out for the arms hitting the binder clips when getting close to the perimeter. Going to to have to work on both those issues.

Installed:

20141102_124056.jpg

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_iBZOQ6m1IU[/youtube]

How fast are you printing there?

Also, Bone, can you post your 2mm shorter design? I looked at the file in Inventor and he used a workplane then extruded down. I'm not sure how to change the height of the support pillars since he didn't go up and use a extrusion value. I also like your 3mm hole for the pins. I tend to like my tolerances tighter and then loosen them up if I need to.

Fiddler

[BONE]

Fiddler,
I think I was printing at 60mm/s in that video, that's normally what I print at.

I attached the files for the pink platform in my video. Except the hotend sticks 3mm further out the bottom, which should clear the binder clips. The rod holes are at 2.80mm and I drill and ream them out to a press fit for the rods. The pin holes for the plug are 3mm and I use dowel pins to hold it in. Take your time fitting everything. I also like making dimensions tighter then needed and filing/drilling to fit. Also don't put support material in the rod holes, not fun to get out. Let me know if you have questions.

I waiting to upload the current design I am working. I'm designing the next one to fit Trick Laser arms & LED ring, Yellow Jacket Connector, and adding a layer fan. I printed a test print and there are some things that I need change before it's final.

[Fiddler2070]

Thank you for posting the file.

What size nozzle is that? I should have asked that also since speed without nozzle size is only 1/2 of the equation.

I run mine pretty vanilla. I just use it for prototyping and I am only using ABS so the other features don't make any difference to me. This is more of a tool than anything else so no led or addons. Just trying to make it work as best as I can with small feature size prints. Some stuff I am trying to print requires at least 0.1mm precision if possible.

I am going to move to the 0.25mm nozzle and probably stay there. I like how fast the .5 prints but it is too rough.

Thanks again.

[BONE]

I'm currently printing with .4mm nozzle. But I want to try and prints with the entire range from .25-1mm. I have plans for some big prints where the 1mm nozzle will come in handy.

I printed my last at 40mm/s and it took 5 hours. I had to go work in the yard, so that was ok with me.

All the stuff Im adding on should be helpful. The arms are stiffer and lighter, and will be add to move faster. The LEDs will help light the piece wince I dont have great light in that corner of the office. The Yellow Jacket Connector helps tidy up the wiring and gives the harness one plug on top. The will help with changing platforms when I go between nozzle sizes.

Let me know how my file prints. I'll try to work changes into the design if you got any ideas. I might start a github profile so I can update the files there. Mike has been coming up with some good ideas also for the layer fan also.

[eatoutmikey]

[img]http://s25.postimg.org/9n99hyp4b/20141117_135842.jpg[/img]

[img]http://s25.postimg.org/e6li3h6zv/20141117_135932.jpg[/img]

[img]http://s25.postimg.org/xcyp6nnhn/20141117_140011.jpg[/img]

This is my result, 1:42 print time. Overall happy with fit and finish, messed around with duct for layer fan so as not to be close/blow on heater block. Using 1/8 inch dowel to hold things in place. O.A.L. ended up at close to original due to the fact I wanted to print this as one piece using the original layer fan that came with the kit, and keep as much airflow off of the heater block as possible. With everything assembled and wired, if i keep a fingertip right at the nozzle i can feel what i would call a moderate amount of air. So, all in all I would call it a success. Now to test the benefits(or lack thereof) of a layer fan with ABS and soon to come..... Nylon. Any tips highly welcomed.

[Fiddler2070]

I'm currently printing with .4mm nozzle. But I want to try and prints with the entire range from .25-1mm. I have plans for some big prints where the 1mm nozzle will come in handy.

Let me know how my file prints. I'll try to work changes into the design if you got any ideas. I might start a github profile so I can update the files there. Mike has been coming up with some good ideas also for the layer fan also.

I am currently using the 0.5mm nozzle. I am going to switch to the 0.35 now that I feel I have a good idea how FDM works and specifically this machine. After I calibrate that I will print your design and see how that works. I think I will buy the accessories so that I can just swap out the platform with the printhead with minimal fuss.

Thanks for sharing.

[BONE]

Looking good. I don't think you need a layer fan with ABS. But more with PLA. I really want to switch to Nylon soon also.

Are you not having problems with the joints and arms hitting binder clips or the print itself? Might want to test printing at the extremes of the bed to how it prints. I was seeing that problem. I think you're going to have lower the nozzle some more, it still looks to far up the platform.

I'm getting an extra hotend from a friend to test everything soon. That way I keep printing stuff and developing the new platform.

[Fiddler2070]

[img]http://s25.postimg.org/9n99hyp4b/20141117_135842.jpg[/img]

[img]http://s25.postimg.org/e6li3h6zv/20141117_135932.jpg[/img]

[img]http://s25.postimg.org/xcyp6nnhn/20141117_140011.jpg[/img]

This is my result, 1:42 print time. Overall happy with fit and finish, messed around with duct for layer fan so as not to be close/blow on heater block. Using 1/8 inch dowel to hold things in place. O.A.L. ended up at close to original due to the fact I wanted to print this as one piece using the original layer fan that came with the kit, and keep as much airflow off of the heater block as possible. With everything assembled and wired, if i keep a fingertip right at the nozzle i can feel what i would call a moderate amount of air. So, all in all I would call it a success. Now to test the benefits(or lack thereof) of a layer fan with ABS and soon to come..... Nylon. Any tips highly welcomed.

Wow so many different prints to try. Eatout, what is that black stuff on the bottom of your printhead?

Thanks for sharing. Now I have too many designs. I still have to print another fan shroud for the stock head. It sounds like I am going to have to replace the peek fan soon. It is screaming like a jet engine. With the dampers on, that fan is louder than anything else and driving me crazy.

Keep up the good work.

[Fiddler2070]

Looking good. I don't think you need a layer fan with ABS. But more with PLA. I really want to switch to Nylon soon also.

Are you not having problems with the joints and arms hitting binder clips or the print itself? Might want to test printing at the extremes of the bed to how it prints. I was seeing that problem. I think you're going to have lower the nozzle some more, it still looks to far up the platform.

I'm getting an extra hotend from a friend to test everything soon. That way I keep printing stuff and developing the new platform.

I haven't printed anything that big so I haven't hit the binders yet. I don't foresee printing anything that big, until then then I will figure out how to deal with it. I am using the printer to help prototype inventions and so far I haven't needed to print that big.

what are you printing that is whacking into the binders? Curious.

[BONE]

I think I will buy the accessories so that I can just swap out the platform with the printhead with minimal fuss.
Thanks for sharing.

I think the TL arms are a must, or get some magnetic arm design installed. The other stuff is a nice to have I think. Up to you.

Keep us updated.

[BONE]

what are you printing that is whacking into the binders? Curious.

I had a customer job that did happened one and they some other things that I'm playing around with. I like using as much of the space as possible, that's one reason I got. The design I up load should hit the clips. Give some feed back you got some.

[eatoutmikey]

I think I will buy the accessories so that I can just swap out the platform with the printhead with minimal fuss.
Thanks for sharing.

I think the TL arms are a must, or get some magnetic arm design installed. The other stuff is a nice to have I think. Up to you.

Keep us updated.

I agree, if you want simple swaps look into magnetic ball ends, there are a couple of excellent threads on here about them. I plan on just switching the nozzles as keeping complete sets of complete hot-ends is a bit pricey. I do in the near future want to make a nozzle removal/installation tool that will hold the bottom of the heater block as you apply torque to the nozzle, and in theory allowing you to switch nozzles without removing the hot end from the machine.

[eatoutmikey]

Looking good. I don't think you need a layer fan with ABS. But more with PLA. I really want to switch to Nylon soon also.

Are you not having problems with the joints and arms hitting binder clips or the print itself? Might want to test printing at the extremes of the bed to how it prints. I was seeing that problem. I think you're going to have lower the nozzle some more, it still looks to far up the platform.

I'm getting an extra hotend from a friend to test everything soon. That way I keep printing stuff and developing the new platform.

I'm gonna write some simple g code now and test at extremes, but at center of platform I have just over 3mm between glass and clips..... so i think I'm ok.

*Update* So after running a bed level script..... It does not rub.... I wanna say the closest it got was about 1.5mm from the glass, which I am extremely happy with.

[eatoutmikey]

Wow so many different prints to try. Eatout, what is that black stuff on the bottom of your printhead?

Thanks for sharing. Now I have too many designs. I still have to print another fan shroud for the stock head. It sounds like I am going to have to replace the peek fan soon. It is screaming like a jet engine. With the dampers on, that fan is louder than anything else and driving me crazy.

Keep up the good work.

It's abs from a failed print. Had a part come off the plate and wasn't there to notice. Made quite a mess, but easy to clean up....just get the thing up to temp and wipe with the rough side of a sponge.

[crocky]

This is my result, 1:42 print time. Overall happy with fit and finish, messed around with duct for layer fan so as not to be close/blow on heater block. Using 1/8 inch dowel to hold things in place. O.A.L. ended up at close to original due to the fact I wanted to print this as one piece using the original layer fan that came with the kit, and keep as much airflow off of the heater block as possible. With everything assembled and wired, if i keep a fingertip right at the nozzle i can feel what i would call a moderate amount of air. So, all in all I would call it a success. Now to test the benefits(or lack thereof) of a layer fan with ABS and soon to come..... Nylon. Any tips highly welcomed.

How did it go, I'm about to get an E3D hot end and so far the latest version is looking like the best candidate for me to try.

Just interested if the layer cooler fan is doing enough and putting enough air in right place?

I really do like your design

[BONE]

Here's my latest one. Going to print tomorrow or this weekend and try it out. The model is rough and I just hacked it together to get a prototype made and fit up all the parts. I plan on cleaning up the fillets on top of fillets and making the styling smoother at a later date. Dimensions are on the tight side, so some filing and fitting up of components may be needed.

On the outside.
- Rod holes are 2.80mm, so drilling and reaming needs to be done ensure a proper fit and clean out rough edges. Suggested not to print support inside those holes.
- 37mm dimension between flat to maintain the distance needed for stock joints or Trick Lasers.
- 30mm layer fan mounts to the outside.
- Use the Yellow Jacket E3D v6 mount for holding the hotend in place. Yellow Jacket Board can sit on top of the mount.

On the inside:
- Mount the layer fan duct to the inside using the screws that mount the fan. (Duct yet to be designed or design your own)
- Use the 3 holes on the bottom inside to mount the Trick Laser LED ring. Un-solder the wires and flip them to the inside for a cleaner look.

[Eaglezsoar]

Thank you for sharing these with us.
Each iteration is better than the one before.

[BONE]

Thank you for sharing these with us.
Each iteration is better than the one before.

Mike is coming up with some good stuff also. It's nice bouncing ideas off one another and coming with new ones. If anyone prints any of these, I love to see pics and some feedback.

[eatoutmikey]

This is my result, 1:42 print time. Overall happy with fit and finish, messed around with duct for layer fan so as not to be close/blow on heater block. Using 1/8 inch dowel to hold things in place. O.A.L. ended up at close to original due to the fact I wanted to print this as one piece using the original layer fan that came with the kit, and keep as much airflow off of the heater block as possible. With everything assembled and wired, if i keep a fingertip right at the nozzle i can feel what i would call a moderate amount of air. So, all in all I would call it a success. Now to test the benefits(or lack thereof) of a layer fan with ABS and soon to come..... Nylon. Any tips highly welcomed.

How did it go, I'm about to get an E3D hot end and so far the latest version is looking like the best candidate for me to try.

Just interested if the layer cooler fan is doing enough and putting enough air in right place?

I really do like your design

I am very happy with how it turned out. I do not like printing with pla so can't comment on that aspect, but I am having some success with running the layer fan with abs to try and increase print speed on small details that tend to melt. The advice most people give is to print 2 side by side or keep a high min layer time, I don't like to do either, like anything else though there is a definite learning curve and you have to get the fan settings just right to avoid delamination.

One note of caution... If you plan to run the layer fan you probably should run PID to make sure you can get stable temperatures.
Also, I wrote my old settings down on paper and plan on switching back to them when not running the fan. I'm not sure if this is really worth it, but its one of those things I'm willing to be a little anal about in order to get better results.

[eatoutmikey]

Thank you for sharing these with us.
Each iteration is better than the one before.

Mike is coming up with some good stuff also. It's nice bouncing ideas off one another and coming with new ones. If anyone prints any of these, I love to see pics and some feedback.

Thanks for all the kind words Bone. Yea, I really would like to hear if someone prints one, and what they thought.

[BONE]

Printed the latest version. Looks like everything came out alright and the support material all broke out nice and neat. Just got to take the time to test fit everything. Still need to design the layer fan duct. If anyone has a good design for the duct that goes around and E3D v6, let me know.

[Eaglezsoar]

Great looking print! The fact that this works with the YellowJacket mount will make this very popular.

[BONE]

Great looking print! The fact that this works with the YellowJacket mount will make this very popular.

After mounting the Yellow Jacket board, it looks like I need to rotate the mounting holes 60 degrees so the arms don't hit the board.

Using some M3 locking nuts inserted in the platform.