E3D's multi material tool changer E3D has posted a blog entry about their multi material tool changer at [e3d-online.com]. They are using a kinematic coupling and a servo to attach a tool to the printing head in a way that makes the position very repeatable. Tools are parked at the back of the machine while they are not in use. The prototype has 4 switchable tools. header-image.jpg mod_embed_images_loadimage('91321a71aecfed02cb4ec1af1c62b646', '/forum/thumbcache/573/f7c/ce9/ead/8e7/acd/e94/18e/aea/93f/c9_800x400.png', 'https://e3d-online.com/wp/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/header-image.jpg', 'https://reprap.org/forum/addon.php?1,module=embed_images,check_scaling=1,url=https%3A%2F%2Fe3d-online.com%2Fwp%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2018%2F03%2Fheader-image.jpg', '', 815496, 800, 400, 'Loading image ...', false); It seems to me that this offers the same benefits as IDEX (independent dual X carriages) but with a lighter Y axis, and it is much more easily extended to more than 2 tools. It also uses one less stepper motor and driver. https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,815496,815496#msg-815496 Sun, 15 Mar 2026 07:33:43 -0400 Phorum 5.2.23 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,815496,815635#msg-815635 Re: E3D's multi material tool changer https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,815496,815635#msg-815635 klcjr89 General Thu, 22 Mar 2018 20:16:37 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,815496,815519#msg-815519 Re: E3D's multi material tool changer https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,815496,815519#msg-815519 Personally I was thinking to use the same approach used in cast bullet molds like here: [leeprecision.com] as it could be good enough but far less costly.]]> MKSA General Thu, 22 Mar 2018 07:25:50 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,815496,815512#msg-815512 Re: E3D's multi material tool changer https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,815496,815512#msg-815512
ampapa,]]> ampapa General Thu, 22 Mar 2018 07:05:29 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,815496,815496#msg-815496 E3D's multi material tool changer https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,815496,815496#msg-815496 e3d-online.com]. They are using a kinematic coupling and a servo to attach a tool to the printing head in a way that makes the position very repeatable. Tools are parked at the back of the machine while they are not in use. The prototype has 4 switchable tools.



It seems to me that this offers the same benefits as IDEX (independent dual X carriages) but with a lighter Y axis, and it is much more easily extended to more than 2 tools. It also uses one less stepper motor and driver.
]]> dc42 General Thu, 22 Mar 2018 05:34:27 -0400