Tech Breakdown: The Bondtech QR Common Extruder

The reason for unhealthy 3D prints can typically be traced again to the printer’s extruder. Many points resembling beneath extrusion, filament slippage, deformation and equipment grinding are the direct results of poorly designed and constructed extruders. The Bondtech QR Common Extruder (1.75mm and 3.00mm) makes all of those points fade to a distant reminiscence.

Upon examination of the Bondtech QR extruder, one shortly acknowledges the top quality building. The gearbox and drive gears are fabricated with hardened, CNC machined elements coupled with a housing created from sintered 3D printed polyamide (nylon). The nylon housing supplies stiffness, warmth resistance and is tightly built-in with the primary gearbox meeting. The Bondtech QR extruder contains a DualDrive gear system (see Determine 1) that consists of two counter rotating drive gears built-in right into a planetary gearbox. The eye to element is quickly obvious within the precision of the ensuing 3D printed elements.

Determine 1: Twin Drive Gear System

The QR acronym of the Bondtech QR extruder refers back to the Fast Launch lever (see Determine 2) that enables for fast loading and unloading of filament. This function is a time saver when working with any kind of Bowden configuration. Talking of the Bowden configuration, the Bondtech QR extruder works with each Bowden and Direct extrusion set-ups (see Determine 3). The Bondtech QR extruder makes use of the Groove Mount normal (see Determine 4) which permits for direct placement of E3D scorching ends or Bowden adaptors. The QR lever can be the place the strain knob is positioned. This knob permits for simple and dynamic adjustment of filament pressure. Good filament pressure supplies extra stability to the complete extrusion ecosystem.

Determine 2: View of the Fast Launch Lever

Determine 3: Direct Drive and Bowden Configurations

Determine 4: View of the Groove Mount

Our take a look at outcomes will be summed up in two phrases – efficiency and reliability. Sturdy and ruggedly constructed, the Bondtech QR extruder reliably handles any filament in any configuration, even versatile filaments in a Bowden configuration. This produces constant ends in printed elements. The knock in opposition to 3D printers up to now was that the identical printer couldn’t produce the identical high quality element over a sequence of iterations. The Bondtech QR takes care of the uncertainty within the filament deposition aspect of the printing equation.

So how is the Bondtech QR extruder in a position to produce this consistency and reliability? The secret is within the DualDrive gear system (see Determine 1) that firmly grips the filament from either side. Typical extruders solely grip the filament from one aspect, and have a clean loafer on the opposite aspect to use stress in opposition to the drive gear. Through the use of two drive gears and gripping from either side of the filament, the extrusion power is actually doubled. Additionally, the complete filament path, from entrance to exit, is totally constrained (see Determine 5). Because of this there’s nearly no probability for filament shifting, slippage or deformation in the course of the extrusion course of. This constrained pathway and DualDrive gear system supplies excessive extrusion power and precision filament circulate. Consequently, any extruder “clicking” or grinding issues that will emerge are straight associated to a clogged nozzle.

Determine 5: View of Filament Pathway

Maybe most significantly, the Bondtech QR extruder is simple to make use of and preserve. Ought to one want entry to the gears, solely two bolts and the tensioner knob (see Determine 6) maintain the gear meeting collectively. This permits for removing of accrued filament particles because the filament strikes by the extruder meeting.

Determine 6: View of Finish Bolts and Tensioner Knob

So are there any negatives? There are none with the Bondtech QR extruder straight. The extruder carried out flawlessly in all of our use circumstances. One detractor is within the weight of the gearbox motor (see Determine 7). This may present some put on on a Cartesian Coordinate printer’s gantry in a direct drive configuration. Additionally, extruder mounts must be fabricated by the top person. Nonetheless, we at MatterHackers have free downloads of Bondtech QR extruder mounts for plenty of frequent printers. These mounts could also be discovered at Bondtech QR Extruder Mount for Ultimaker 2, Bondtech QR Extruder Mount for Customary Printer, Bondtech QR Extruder Mount for Rostock MAX and Bondtech QR Extruder Mount Twin Extruder for Lulzbot TAZ 5 and 6.

Determine 7: View of the Gearbox Motor

Simply keep in mind that poorly designed and fabricated extruders can play havoc within the 3D printing area. Unhealthy extruders waste print time, waste supplies, typically trigger mid-print failure and should even harm the printer. Take a lot of the concern out of 3D printing by changing your current extruder with the Bondtech QR Common Extruder (1.75mm and 3.00mm). Its precision and reliability will put an finish to your frustration and produce again the enjoyable in 3D printing.