Introduction
At MatterHackers we are constantly tinkering with our machines. In the back of the office we discovered a discarded Makerbot Replicator 2 just itching for a face lift. Since we have gotten quite a few requests to make this upgrade available for you makers, we thought we'd give it a shot. As it turns out, with just a few tools it is an easy modification, and (more importantly) the results are fantastic.
This guide was written for the single extruder Makerbot Replicator, however it should be applicable to the dual extruder model as well. The kit now includes a design for a dual extruder mount.
Note: This guide will work for any machine with a Mark8 (MK8) Extruder. For example: MakerBot Replicator 2, Makerbot Replicator 2X, Flashforge Creator X, Flashforge Creator Pro, Powerspec PRO, Monoprice Maker Architect, CTC Bizer, Wanhao Duplicator 4 and a few other equivalent machines.
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Print out required parts:
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E3D Mount
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E3D Lock
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EZStruder Mount
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Remove and disassemble the Makerbot hotend.
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Screw nozzle and heat break into heating block. When properly assembled there will be a slight gap between the head of the nozzle and the block.
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Apply thermal compound to heat break threads.
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Screw the heat break into the heat sink.
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Attach the cooling fan.
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Attach the E3D Mount Lock to the top of the heat sink.
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Remove the covering from the bottom of the Makerbot.
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Find and unplug Extruder A and the original thermocouple.
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Also unplug Extruder B if you are working on a dual and want to replace both.
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Remove the hobbed gear from the old extruder motor using the 1.5mm Allen wrench.
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Screw the EZR Struder to the stepper motor using 4 screws.
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Do not remove the zip tie on the EZR Struder until you have some screws in place. The two halves of the extruder are under tension and the zip tie is holding them together.
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Make sure the red lever is oriented opposite the wire connector.
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Attach the EzStruder Mount Template to the back of the machine making sure that it lines up above where the filament will be located and is clear of the motors on the inside.
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There you have it! You just upgraded your printer.
You will next want to calibrate your extruder. Here is a guide to do so.
There you have it! You just upgraded your printer.
You will next want to calibrate your extruder. Here is a guide to do so.
10 Comments
Don’t you need a cooling fan still for the printed layers?
The fan on the Makerbot is pretty weak to begin with, so removing it is not a huge loss. If you find you still need additional layer cooling, you can get a small desk fan and point it at the printer.
Is the EZ Struder aspect mandatory for this upgrade on the Replicator 2/2x?
Some kind of feeder is needed. We chose the EZStruder for this guide because it is inexpensive. Other options would be the E3D Titan or the Bondtech BMG. If you use something besides the EZStruder, though, then the mount design we provided will not work.
If I am going to be upgrading my dual extruder replicator 2x, but I will be ‘retiring’ the second extruder anyway, do I need to use the dual extruder stl file for the mount? or can I perform this upgrade with the standard Mount B with the intention of ending with a single extruder setup? don’t want to waste a print.