3D  LabteK
follow us on twitter
  • Home
  • Our Improvement
    • Alu X-Carriiage Rev 02
    • 3D Models
  • Shop
  • 3D Printers
    • DIY Printer
    • Prusa i3 Full Mchanical Set
    • 3D Printer Parts >
      • Prusa i3
      • Prusa MENDEL V2
      • MENDEL 90
      • 3D Labtek Z axis Coupler
      • GREG's Geared Estruder
      • WADE Geared Estruder
    • 3D Labtek Hot End >
      • Hotend Spares
    • Accessories >
      • Motion
  • Filament
  • Service
    • UsefulLink
    • Manuals >
      • Pi3-2014 >
        • VI-FRAME
        • VI-Y-Carriage
        • VI-X-Axis
        • VI-Z-Axis
        • VI-GREG
    • Download
    • Video
  • Contact us
  • Blog

Testing the new full metal hot end

6/20/2013

1 Comment

 

Surface quality test

To perform this test we choose this beautiful vase posted by Virtox on thingiverse.
here is the link http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:26251
Although this vase is not a very complex geometry it has a clean line and smooth surface, ideal for our tests and calibration. 
Picture
As a starting parameter we settled 0,3 mm layer thickness with a 0,5 mm tip.
Printing speed was 50 mm sec for the perimeters and 60 mm for the 0,1 infill,
No supports no rafts.
During the print we tested different temperature, speed and flow rate, just to verify the effect on the surface.
First 100 Layers were printed with a flow rate of 125% and a temperature of 240 degrees, some bubble, especially where the tip finish the external perimeter has came out but very delicate. 
We reduced the flow rate to 100 % and we increased the seed up to 110%, maintaining the same temperature.
There was an improvement- the little bubbles were still present but now almost invisible and the surface get smoother than before.
We changed the temperature to 245 degrees and to 250 degrees but without improvement in quality, at 250 degrees we get the same roughness we get with high flow rate. So we get back to 240 degrees.
From now on we changed only the the speed increasing up to 140% and decreasing up to 80 % 
Picture
click to enlarge
Picture
As soon as the other parameters were properly settled the speed change did not affect the surface quality. 

The hot end we used for this test was equipped with a steel barrel instead of brass and we replaced the two resistors with a very powerful 12 Volts 40 Watt heater, 240 degrees in 2 min 31 second. 

Judge by yourself.

1 Comment
Johann
8/9/2013 06:42:08 am

Awesome hotend !
I have a Prusa i3 at home, and tested 2 hotends, a G3D Buda and the well know J-head MKV. The prints came good with these hotends, but that's all, you know, just average stuff. I had also to deal with the common problems, hotend jamming, clogged hobbed bolt, uneven extrusion... all you can have when you begin your journey in the reprap world.
And then, one day, I decided to switch to the next level. I wanted my prints to be more than that; I was amazed by the pictures you can see on the net with perfect prints. So I ordered this aluminium hotend.
And, you think, by magic, everything came perfect ; no, that would have been so simple.
But with the help of Fabrizio, the maker of this site and his hotend, I tweaked my settings, switched from PLA to ABS, and after maybe a month of trials,and maybe a dozen of mails from him giving me some tips, all the main issues were gone.
Today, my prints are not perfect, but they are close. There is always some room for improvement.
If you buy this hotend, not only you will receive a great part for your printer, but you will also have all the support you need to fight your way through the battle of the mighty perfect print. Thank you Fabrizio !

Reply



Leave a Reply.

    Archives

    May 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    April 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    November 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013

    Categories

    All
    Full Metal Hot End
    News
    Printed Parts
    Protptype

    RSS Feed

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.