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Pros. Reliable extrusion: Since a direct drive extruder is mounted to the printhead, the motor can easily push filament through the nozzle, resulting in fewer extrusion-related issues. Better retraction: Because the extruder is close to the nozzle, it can more easily retract filament.
What is the advantage of a direct drive extruder?
One of the main benefits of a direct extruder is the very short distance between the drive mechanism (hobbed pulley or gear) and the hot end. A shorter distance gives better responsiveness to extrusion and retractions. It also requires less torque than a bowden extruder to extrude the filament through the hot end.
Which is better Bowden or direct drive?
Since the extruder is removed from the print head, there is less weight on the print carriage. Also, because the print head is lighter, a printer using a Bowden extruder can print faster, more accurately, and more precisely. Additionally, Bowden extruders are more compact and take up less space than Direct extruders.
Is Ender 3 direct drive worthwhile?
The advantage of having a direct drive for your Ender 3 or Ender 3 Pro is that not only can you minimize the problems mentioned above and print more accurately, but you can also print better with flexible filament.
Is coasting good 3D printing?
However, it requires a lot of calibration and can be tiresome to achieve the perfect settings; coasting is the easier way to go. Just remember that coasting and proper retraction settings go hand-in-hand to get string-free 3D prints. It’s a good idea to utilize test prints to perfect your retraction and other settings.
What is direct drive on a 3D printer?
Fused-deposition modeling (FDM) 3D printers use either direct drive or Bowden extruder setups. In a direct drive system, the extruder is mounted on the printhead and so pushes the filament directly into the hot end. Meanwhile, a Bowden system usually has the extruder mounted on the frame of the printer.
What is stringing in 3D printing?
Stringing happens when small strings of filament are left behind on a 3D printed object. This is typically due to filament dripping out of the nozzle while the extruder is moving to another location.
What is Teflon tube?
PTFE Teflon® Tubing (PolyTetraFluoroEthylene, often described as Teflon® tubing) is a transparent, chemically inert and non-toxic material that features unmatched chemical resistance and a surface that really facilitates the flow.
What 3D printer filament is flexible?
Flexible filaments, commonly referred to as TPE or TPU, are known for their elasticity allowing the material to easily stretch and bend.
What is Titan extruder?
The Titan Extruder is E3D’s latest addition to their modular ecosystem, which means it works perfectly with your installed E3D hotend, and will allow users to upgrade their 3D printer’s entire extrusion system! The E3D Titan is an amazing lightweight extruder made with injection molded parts for maximum performance.
Is Ender 3 V2 direct drive worth it?
The Direct Drive Upgrade Kit from Creality* is definitely worth it! The installation is easy and the results with flexible filaments are simply awesome. If you want to equip your Ender 3, Ender 3 Pro or Ender 3 V2 with a Direct Drive system, this kit is perfect!.
Does Direct Drive help with stringing?
Direct Drive mod – After modding the printer I did a few prints with PLA, and it works great with very little stringing.
What is wiping in Cura?
Wiping & Coasting This decreases the pressure buildup in the hot end and minimizes any blobbing or zits left by retractions. Work with the default values (0.4-mm wipe distance, 0.064-mm3 coasting volume) and adjust by 0.1 mm and 0.01 mm3, respectively.
Should I use combing with PETG?
I have found that because PETG is so runny, combing is not appropriate for a lot of models. If you do use combing with PETG, use a very small max comb distance with no retract. Certainly no more than 10.
What is Z hop?
Z-hop when retracted With this setting, the build plate will move down by the set value when a retraction is performed, allowing the print head to travel over the print without the nozzle touching it. This prevents the nozzle from hitting the object or leaving “blobs” or scratches on the print surface.
What is direct drive system?
A direct drive transmits motion to a system or object requiring actuation without the use of any further mechanical components. The rotational speeds of the drive motor and the driven machine are coordinated, with the drive motor forming an adaptive unit.
What does the Bowden tube do?
The motor feeds the filament through a Bowden tube (usually made of PTFE plastic) to the print head. The tube guides the filament from the fixed motor to the moving hot end, protecting the plastic from snapping or being stretched by constant movement.
What is a good retraction speed?
If you retract too quickly, the filament may separate from the hot plastic inside the nozzle, or the quick movement of the drive gear may even grind away pieces of your filament. There is usually a sweet spot somewhere between 1200-6000 mm/min (20-100 mm/s) where retraction performs best.
Why are my 3D prints weak?
The most common causes is simply printing too cold or too fast. Too fast might mean simply the layer height is too thick – when I talk about printing speed I multiple nozzle width X speed X layer height. The higher the temp, the less viscous the plastic is and so you can print faster (but quality goes down).
Why are my 3D prints brittle?
Why is your 3D Printer filament brittle? Filament can become brittle from absorbing excess moisture. It can also be more prone to breaking if it is in a cold room.
