Arctic Freeze water cooled hot end

Hi we have been working on a water cooled print head most of the year and it is finally done

It comes with files to,print a water pump, direct drive extruder, and radiator.

The extruder I have been using the design for months in both aluminum and printed plastic.

I regularly print polycarbonate with it. It is all metal, except for the pneumatic fittings. Tapped to take a m6 thread K type thermocouple.

When used with aquarium pump it is totally silent. I regularly do 60+ hour continuous prints with it.

It works with direct drive or Bowden.


Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 01/01/2015 10:59AM by metzindustries.

Looks good
What's it called?

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 02/04/2015 06:08PM by Tekwizard.

Questions:
What happens when it fails- pump fails or tubing gets pinched/clogged, pierced/cut, etc.?
Will the pump motor last longer than a typical cooling fan motor?

Aquarium pumps are super reliable and will work 24/7 for years.

---

[www.bonkers.de]
[merlin-hotend.de]
[www.hackerspace-ffm.de]

Adding pumps, hoses, reservoirs, heat exchangers, etc., adds a lot of cost/complication that would have to justify itself in terms of performance.
What advantage does water cooling offer over air cooling?

Justify???

If I have to start justifying all the 3d printer parts and pieces around my house, I'm going to have hell to pay with my wife...

I think this is most useful for a printer that is in a heated-enclosure where the ambient air is not all that cool to begin with. I am printing PC now and my chamber is at 60C and so I think water-cooling would be interesting.

---

[www.matter-replicator.com]

It is because the temp transition is much sharper than with air cooled. As far as complexity, it adds in 2 hoses, a tank and a aquarium pump. You can also use a laser water chiller. Some people have used CPU coolers although I have found the pumps are not very strong on those.

Regarding pump stoppage or operation without the pump running.

It will jam after awhile as heat builds up. Most often you get the polyethylene hose melted in the fittings.

One cool feature that it will do, is that you can leave the hot end hot for a extended period of time without a jam.

I have left it on 15+ hours and resumed printing without problems.

I would reccomend using automotive anti freeze instead of water to keep mnold from growing in the system.

Well, it would be nice to have one to test.

Still waiting mine after 3 monthes, paid in full and no answer to my last email.

My solution....2000 hours tested....

---

[www.facebook.com]

Power is nothing.....without control!