Tear down of a dimension FDM print head

Some one over on the KISSlicer forums has been recording the tear down of a Dimension FDM print head
[kisslicer.com]
Very interesting, I like the way they implement 2 extruders on a seesaw with a single driving cold end, and no solenoid to do the switch.
The Z sensor works the same way, but having both engineered this way only woks on gantry style machines.
The hot end is also interesting, no thermal break, no PTFE liner, just active cooling on the incoming filament.

Just thought it was interesting.

Very cool. Thanks for sharing that.

Interesting! Good use of a single stepper motor to drive two different feeds. They move the idler and nozzle assembly of one away from the drive wheel while engaging the other idler and nozzle, with very little movement. It also reverses the rotational direction of the stepper. clever!

I've trawled through quite a few blogs and posts over time here but haven't seen this tried on a reprap. Anyone tried this approach to dual filament feeding on a reprap? (yet? )

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[numbersixreprap.blogspot.com]

When i first looked at he mk7 i thought that was the direction they were headed in, moving the drive side to side within the plastic drive block.
Thanks for posting that.

I have been following that thread and it makes me laugh. That machine is INCREDIBLY slow and does not print as well as a lot of RepRaps so why would anyone want to replicate it?

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I don't think the motor is a stepper. Maxon is known for their servo motors with integral planetary reducers, which is why it is so small. The push rod technique is often seen in dot matrix printers and also plotters. Nice looking extruder head though. I especially like the split heater block. Easy to be sure it isn't clogged. Does the split also provide the clamping of the nozzle? I think that is the case.

Gary H. Lucas

Sublime Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I have been following that thread and it makes me
> laugh. That machine is INCREDIBLY slow and does
> not print as well as a lot of RepRaps so why would
> anyone want to replicate it?


I wouldn't suggest replicating it, the fact it's slow doesn't preclude it having interesting design points, I think the moving depth sensor and dual printhead arrangements are actually pretty interesting.
The hotend design is also very different from repraps, not necessarily better, but worth examining.

Polygonhell Wrote:
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> Sublime Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > I have been following that thread and it makes
> me
> > laugh. That machine is INCREDIBLY slow and does
> > not print as well as a lot of RepRaps so why
> would
> > anyone want to replicate it?
>
>
> I wouldn't suggest replicating it, the fact it's
> slow doesn't preclude it having interesting design
> points, I think the moving depth sensor and dual
> printhead arrangements are actually pretty
> interesting.
> The hotend design is also very different from
> repraps, not necessarily better, but worth
> examining.

Yes we should now, and always, look at other designs for inspiration.

Take whatever we can get without getting into patent infringement.