chrono144
I've done a few upgrades that made a huge difference in printing ABS, like the thingiverse drive block upgrade thing:222667, Cooling part blower, and P3-d's aluminum arm stiffeners, but I'm aware that I'll need to do something more for different filaments.
I've got a list of upgrades on the schedule like an AluCarriage for nylon/polycarbonate,
BUT I'm in a conundrum, which works for a larger variety of filaments and is more reliable with the 2X? (yeah I know the 2 is more reliable but I was given a 2x...)
Should I get the Carl Alu-Dual Cooling block? Or the Bondtech Dual Extruder with their cooling block?
https://thor3d.ca/store/index.php/parts/replicator-2x-parts/raffle-alu-dual-cooling-block.html
http://shop.bondtech.se/en/upgrade-kits/makerbot-clones/extruder-upgrade-makerbot-rep2x.html
What I can tell is that the benefit of the Carl version is better heat sinking, and then you can print PLA reliably.
And I'm aware that the bondtech Extruder drive is superior, but does anyone have experience with the Bondtech 2x setup with their cooling block?
I mean, the on the fly ablility to level the extruders on the gantry seems like a pretty big benefit, BUT is the cooling enough that it works with PLA?
Like, it seems that the amount of available aluminum for cooling is better than the OE makerbot cooling block, given you're only running one extruder on a print, because the heated area would overlap.
Vs the makerbot cooling block which to to be honest seems a little dumb. Loosing so much surface area of the thermal barrier tubes to the gaps for the cabling, then the aluminum that does make contact, there's a hard time getting the heat out onto the block.
So clearly the Bondtech ColdBlock is an upgrade here.
But the Carl ColdBlock has the clear edge in surface area for contact between the thermal barrier tube and the cold block, as well as the actual mass of aluminum with which to work, no holes!
So,
Is the 50% more surface area of the threaded thermal barrier tube that significant of an upgrade over the bondtech coldblock that it is should be considered over the bondtech?
Can you run Fargo's Silicone Heat Blocks on a Carl Coldblock, is there enough space for the thermocouple, or do I have to drill?
Does anyone here have experience printing PLA on the bondtech rep 2x setup?