All-Metal Hot-End
From re:3D
Contents
Adding an all-Metal hot-end to your Gigabot
re:3D has partnered with E3D to offer an all metal hot-end for your Gigabot. This new hot-end gives you new ability:
- Print high temperature materials (up to 300C with thermistor and 400+C with thermocouple).
- Interchange nozzles with different orifice sizes.
- Rugged, long lasting design with no PTFE liner.
Removing J-Head hot-end
- Remove filament from the hot-end.
- Turn off Gigabot and disconnect power.
- Remove head junction box cover and disconnect heater cartridge and thermistor connections.
- Remove hot-end from extruder.
Installing all-metal hot-end
- Assemble hot-end using the manufactures's instructions here: [[1]].
- Install hot-end into extruder.
- Attach heater cartridge and thermistor leads to screw terminals in head junction box.
- Replace cover on head junction box.
- Tidy wires from junction box to the hot-end.
Updating Gigabot firmware
New Firmware is required to properly run the E3D all metal hot-end. E3D hot-end firmware and instructions can be found here:[Firmware]
Two changes in the firmware:
- Thermistor setting for the temperature sensor (#5 in Marlin thermistor table)
- Temperature limit raised to 300C
Testing
- Plug in Gigabot.
- Turn on power.
- Check Viki display to ensure temperature sensor is reading correctly.
- Set hot-end to 100C and verify temp is reached after 30 seconds.
- Set temperature to 200C and check temp is reached after additional 30 seconds.
- Observe temperature for two minutes. Ensure temperature does not vary more than 1-2 deg C.
If Hot-End temperature is NOT stable
Perform PID tuning following these instructions:
- Connect Gigabot's power and USB cables.
- In Pronterface connect to Gigabot.
- Turn on the head fan by typing M106 S255 command in the lower right corner of Pronterface.
- If you have previously been printing wait for the hot-end to cool.
- In Pronterface type into the data entry box at the lower right corner “M303 S200”. This will start the PID auto-tune function in the Marlin Firmware. The hot-end will cycle the heat up and down for a couple minutes until displaying the message: "PID Autotune Complete".
- Write down the last set of output values given.
- Classic PID
- Kp: 50.03
- Ki: 1.98
- Kd: 150.98
Adjusting the firmware
- In Pronterface disconnect from Gigabot, Close Pronterface, Restart Pronterface.
- Connect to Gigabot.
- In Pronterface type into the data entry box at the lower right corner: "M301 P(your Kp value) I(your Ki value) D(your Kd value)".
- It should look like this using the example above: "M301 P50.03 I1.98 D150.98" This will temporarily change the current settings for the temperature controller.
- In Pronterface type into the data entry box at the lower right corner: "M500" This will store the changes.
- In Pronterface: Set hot-end temperature to 200C and watch that it comes up to temp, overshoot the target temp slightly, undershoot temp slightly and then settles onto the target temp within 1-2 deg.