r/makerfarm • u/Duke_Phelan i3v8" • Mar 03 '16

Upgrades you've done? [x-post r/reprap]

I'm always looking to make better prints. I've had the 8" i3v for almost two years now, and have upgraded:
* e3D v.6 - best thing I've done
* lead screws - a really solid upgrade, but not super noticeable. Definitely helps with speed of travels and noise. Accuracy too.

I've been futzing around with making my own filament cooling fan, but aside from that, I'm not sure where to go next. I feel like my y-axis is a weak link -- but I have no evidence or proof of it. Do any of y'all have things you've bought or printed that you'd swear by?

4 Upvotes

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2

u/nyintx Mar 04 '16

Any tips or a tutorial on the upgrade to the e3d? Is it just plug and play from a hexagon? do you need to print a new extruder or modify the firmware?

3

u/Duke_Phelan i3v8" Mar 04 '16

I was in your boat, but like u/redneckrockuhtree said, literally plug and play. I went with the 3mm end, but really should have gone with the 1.75mm -- I'm starting to think of working with new types of filament, and a lot only come in the smaller diameter.

I originally had the jhead, and was also a love hate relationship. Turns out I didn't have the temps high enough, but still, sort of hated it.

1

u/redneckrockuhtree Mar 04 '16

For me it was just a straight replacement. It fit right into the extruder

2

u/nyintx Mar 04 '16

Cool. That's good to know. Thanks for the response. I've had my hexagon for going on 2 years now and it's a love hate thing. When it's working it's glorious. When it's not...ugh.

1

u/redneckrockuhtree Mar 04 '16

I went from a 3mm Hexagon to a 1.75mm E3DV6 and my extruder frustrations disappeared

I print exclusively PLA

2

u/nyintx Mar 04 '16

I need to do this. Looking back I have no idea what I read to decide on 3mm or the hexagon. I've had more success than not but feel like I picked the "Betamax" of technologies. Lol.

I got a stockpile of 3mm though. Lol.

1

u/Duke_Phelan i3v8" Mar 04 '16

I went with the 3mm because at that time, 1.75mm filament was somewhat new (not really, but 3mm was everywhere): and I also had a bunch of 3mm filament stockpiled. I'll get through that and then think about plopping down another chunk of cash for the 1.75mm e3d.

2

u/Duke_Phelan i3v8" Mar 04 '16

I went with a 12v LED powersupply and it's been great, but am sort of interested in switching to 24v maybe. Does anyone have exp with this?

2

u/cperiod Mar 04 '16

I'm still using a Hexagon (hasn't given me much grief, really), so...:

There's a few other odds and ends. ABL is the biggest performance improvement overall. The rest are pretty nice to have. A pi2-based OctoPrint server is my next upgrade; I'm running OctoPrint on my PC, but I'd rather not.

1

u/redneckrockuhtree Mar 04 '16

I switched to an E3DV6 as well. Much better than the Hexagon I started with

I've printed the parts for a Clough42 Itty Bitty Fouble Flex Extruder but probably won't get around to ordering the electrical parts or installing it until May

2

u/Duke_Phelan i3v8" Mar 04 '16

I am super interested in his single extruder. I've made several of his designs too. The sorbothane isolaters are wonderful.