Upgrading Extruder?

[dgirard]

Hey All:

I'm looking at replacing my hotend and coldend extruder to help ensure success as I revisit my Rostock Max that I stepped away from for a couple months after having too many challenges getting a workable print.

Ive ordered a e3d all-metal hotend kit (bowden version 3mm) and would like to upgrade my steves-extruder cold-end as well since I've had noise and slipping problems.

Any recommendations on a cold-end ?

I was thinking about the SEEME ezstruder but I'm confused about support for 3mm filament. Is anyone using it this way?

I'm hoping to find something that's a proven combination since I'd really like to get printing vs more trial-and-error tweaking just to get to a usable (even if low quality) print. I know there's been lots of experimentation by lots of smart people here (I've read about 1000 posts over the last couple days)...I've settled on the e3d..but I'd like a better way to drive it...

Any recommendations?

[foshon]

Honestly, (I hate "let me talk you out of it" replies) I would not recommend 3mm. I used 3mm exclusively for a long time. I now use 1.75mm and wonder why it took so long for me to try it. IMHO a spool of 1.75 goes farther, I don't know why but it does. It is also a heck of a lot easier to set up and keep running.

That being said, the ez-struder itself is set-up for either 1.75mm or 3mm, I believe.

[Broose]

I'd be concerned with an EZstruder having enough torque for 3mm without using a gearmotor to drive it. It seems sized right as a direct drive for 1.75mm filament, but I assume the extrusion forces are higher for 3mm. Also I wonder about the step resolution of the direct drive when it is running about 1/3rd as fast for the 3mm.

((1.75/2)^2*PI)/((3/2)^2*PI))=.34

[dgirard]

OK, fair enough...

re-reading the description of the ezstruder, it's more clear to me that it'll push 3mm filament to a directly mounted hot end, but only 1.7 via the bowden...

I'm changing my hot-end order to 1.75.

Seems like I might be best suited to picking up the ezstruder to go with this at least as a starting point--assuming I can get everything printing with that setup, I can then start experimenting with other types since I'll be able to print my own...

Thanks for the sanity check!

David

[daftscience]

I'm using the E3d hotend with the EzStruder and 1.75mm filament. I can't speak for 3mm filament. However, the only time I've jammed (abs) is on the first layer when my bed isn't level. Other than that I haven't had any issue with this setup.

I do have the J-head also and used that with the EzStruder, but I still had issues with it jamming, but that might have been my ptfe liner.

Honestly, I felt like I had a new printer after the E3d upgrade. It used to have a lot of downtime, and I had to print very very slowely. But now I'm printing faster, have less downtime, and the cool kids let me sit with them at lunch.

[dgirard]

I'm using the E3d hotend with the EzStruder and 1.75mm filament. I can't speak for 3mm filament. However, the only time I've jammed (abs) is on the first layer when my bed isn't level. Other than that I haven't had any issue with this setup.

I do have the J-head also and used that with the EzStruder, but I still had issues with it jamming, but that might have been my ptfe liner.

Honestly, I felt like I had a new printer after the E3d upgrade. It used to have a lot of downtime, and I had to print very very slowely. But now I'm printing faster, have less downtime, and the cool kids let me sit with them at lunch.

Thanks for the words of encouragement.

Just received notice that my ezstruder shipped today, and my e3d hotend will ship early next week (and it's been switched to the 1.75mm version). Now I'm debating about upgrading to carbon-fiber/balljoint control arms too...hmmmmmmm....

[daftscience]

I'm using the E3d hotend with the EzStruder and 1.75mm filament. I can't speak for 3mm filament. However, the only time I've jammed (abs) is on the first layer when my bed isn't level. Other than that I haven't had any issue with this setup.

I do have the J-head also and used that with the EzStruder, but I still had issues with it jamming, but that might have been my ptfe liner.

Honestly, I felt like I had a new printer after the E3d upgrade. It used to have a lot of downtime, and I had to print very very slowely. But now I'm printing faster, have less downtime, and the cool kids let me sit with them at lunch.

Thanks for the words of encouragement.

Just received notice that my ezstruder shipped today, and my e3d hotend will ship early next week (and it's been switched to the 1.75mm version). Now I'm debating about upgrading to carbon-fiber/balljoint control arms too...hmmmmmmm....

I have the tricklaser arms. Again, there is an improvement. However, I wish I had tried the magnetic joints first. People seem to be getting great results with them, the nozzle can be removed so quickly, and the upgrade is much cheaper than the ball joint arms. I have all the parts, but am waiting until I have some time off to convert to magnetic.

GL with your upgrades.

[foshon]

Ummm.... Daft, those aren't the cool kids, those are the "we think we're cool kids"... ask Bill Gates

[theverant]

I have the tricklaser arms. Again, there is an improvement. However, I wish I had tried the magnetic joints first. People seem to be getting great results with them, the nozzle can be removed so quickly, and the upgrade is much cheaper than the ball joint arms. I have all the parts, but am waiting until I have some time off to convert to magnetic.

GL with your upgrades.

Why not make a quick release for the nozzle itself? You don't really need the whole platform to come away, do you? (I'm looking at getting the tricklaser arms, and I want to convince myself I dont need to arse around with making super awesome magnetic arms)

[cope413]

I got the TL arms after having issues. It turns out that my issue was one of my motors needed more current, but the arms are awesome. Super easy and quick to install.

Magnets are cool, but I, too, was unsure about my commitment level to making them.

My laziness paid off - totally worth the $80

[626Pilot]

TL arms are the first upgrade you should get. The stock carriage/arm/effector system should just be scrapped and replaced with that in production, to be honest. That or the magnetic option, although I haven't tried that yet. It's an easy upgrade and it immediately improves print quality.