Dual Extruder Upgrade - Limited Availability

[Tim]

You should note that on the web page for the E3Dv6 instructions, it specifically says:

Set the HotEnd temperature to 285ºC. If you did not do a PID tune, then approach this temperature slowly, exceeding 295ºC will permanently damage the thermistor.

Different thermistors have different maximum tolerances, and I know that the one MakerGear uses is different from the one E3D uses, but the temperature issue may be about the temperature at which you damage the thermistor, not the temperature at which you damage various parts of the hot end.

On the other hand, that statement is at odds with the following comment I got from someone at E3D in an email:

Every one of these filaments in one form or another has been printed by us: http://e3d-online.com/Filament (And many others, up to 420C)

They must have swapped out their thermistor for another to get the temperature up to 420 (420?!). I will have to ask them what measures they took to get the temperature up that far without melting everything.

[Tim]

Jim,

yes right now an e3dv5. i really had no idea when rick was releasing his so i went and got an e3d. two days later e3d released the v6 and 3 days later rick made the announcement that the v4 was ready lol........typical luck i have.

I did the same thing. However, unless Rick denies it, it's possible that those of us showing a great deal of interest in the E3D product line forced him into pushing up the release date of the MakerGear v4 and the dual extruder. After all, it's not an official release; he's getting us to be beta testers. And, frankly, I think that's the best business strategy for this sort of thing. It benefits us, and it benefits them.

[rpollack]

Regarding the release date, we previously indicated the dual extruder would be released before summer. Have not quite met that but it is in process...

Here is the list of parts included in the upgrade:

v4 hot ends (one metal, one w/ptfe insert)
hot-end mount (machined)
motor bracket (machined)
filament drives (printed)
drive motor with pulley
cooling fan and duct (printed)
extruder harness, 2nd spool holder, 2nd filament guide/tube
replacement: z knob, z end-stop, x endstop trigger

you'll reuse certain existing components (extruder motor) and replace other components

The photo shows the dual v4 hot-ends in the mount (overall the nozzle is shorter but has the same diameter and cone shape as the existing nozzle - for scale)

Rick

[jimc]

wow that looks like a complete 180 from the previous pictures we have seen of the v4 a few months back

[markb]

Did you look at the old post?
viewtopic.php?f=2&t=2
It looks the same so far.

[jimc]

Huh must have missed those. The v4 i remember seeing pics if had cooling fins much like an e3d. I think that was back on the google group

[markb]

Huh must have missed those. The v4 i remember seeing pics if had cooling fins much like an e3d. I think that was back on the google group

That is before my time.

Rick what is the temperature range on the new hot ends?

[Tim]

This is the one Jim was referring to:

https://groups.google.com/forum/#!searc ... vnsGW5DQkJ

[brettb]

Huh must have missed those. The v4 i remember seeing pics if had cooling fins much like an e3d. I think that was back on the google group

Who knows what it look like under that insulating wrap, the hotend could look something like the sample that was previously shared on the Google group page. Here's a link to the thread: https://groups.google.com/forum/#!searc ... vnsGW5DQkJ

[markb]

I see that one has cooling fins. I wonder if that will limit the temp these can handle?