broken hotend makerbot 2x

[Bradley Thomas]

Well, the ceramic just broke on my right hot-end of my Makebot 2x. I was replacing the nozzle when it cracked. It was bound to happen eventually, I guess. Anyone know of any suggestions on an alternative hot-end? I don't want to pay the Makerbot price which is upwards of $500. I know you guys can suggest a good alternative. What'll be?

[Daniel Newman]

On 11/09/2016 3:59 PM, Bradley Thomas wrote:
> Well, the ceramic just broke on my right hot-end of my Makebot 2x.

Ceramic? What ceramic? There's no ceramics that I'm aware of on a MakerBot hot end.
There's some ceramic fiber insulating tape, but you don't even need that. It helps
when doing small fine detail on the tops of prints -- keeps too much heat from the
hot block from softening the detail.

Dan

[Ryan Carlyle]

The R2x uses a pre-molded "ceramic" boot (I vaguely suspect some kind of refractory plaster or something) for insulation.

Just replace it with the usual ceramic tape and kapton tape combo that people use on the Rep1 and Rep2. Fargo3D sells a pre-cut version that should work.

[Daniel Newman]

On 11/09/2016 5:23 PM, Ryan Carlyle wrote:
> The R2x uses a pre-molded "ceramic" boot (I vaguely suspect some kind of refractory plaster or something) for insulation.

Keep in mind that you don't need the insulation. Plenty of people run without it. It's just insulation to keep radiant
heat away from the print but isn't critical or even necessary. Pretty much every other hotend in the world doesn't bother with
insulation around the heater block. So, if you were to replace this extruder with someone elses as you mentioned doing, you'd
be back to where you are now: do I add insulation to the hot block or not.

Dan

[Jetguy]

I generally agree with Dan that most of the time, not required but at the same time, there are some other known issues on a 2 series.
One of the bigger ones was that the X carriage the belt clamp area that locks the X belt tight to move the carriage back and forth is right there just behind the heater block. There are plenty of reports of that clamp section (it's just a molded in toothed groove) opening up or warping causing backlash in X.

So for me, I would advice against running it without, out of abundance of caution and knowing the other faults that we heard dozens if not hundreds of complaints about.
It's there for a reason, and while some people "get away without it", I would not run the risk.

[Bradley Thomas]

Great, thanks for the advice. So do you thing the tape will suffice?

[Cagey Bear]

In case it may be of interest I came across these recently:

http://ooznest.co.uk/Extruders-Hotends/E3D-V6-Hotend/E3D-V6-Silicone-Sock

I have a couple but haven't fitted them yet. They are a silicon sock
which slips over the aluminium block. Assuming these fit then they will
be much easier to apply than kapton tape.

[Jetguy]

Ceramic insulating tape + Kapton is the go to standard.

MakerBot used ceramic for ease of factory assembly. It took too much time for each worker to install and then tape up neatly the Kapton tape method, where as the one piece ceramic was a drop in part.

The downside is, they are so worried about others copying, they make it harder for their own customers to buy the parts. Plus, they wanted to sell Maker Care.

I still have fairly good luck calling MakerBot, then finally getting to support without opening a maker care ticket and such and then charging me a fee.

The way I did it last time was I placed an order for some parts i needed listed in the store, then called them about that order. In this case, the example was I wanted the rubber buttons that are the same part for Replicator Dual, Replicator 2, and Replicator 2X. I wanted some spares since they are getting harder and harder to find (Makerbot is the only source). Literally, on the phone call, they tell me there is no more part number for that in the system. They have a bunch, they are 33 cents each. Only because I called, I knew exactly the part I wanted, I had an existing parts order was I able to request these additional buttons. Again, they had to get manager approval even though they new the part existed, it had been removed completely from the inventory part number system as a part they could sell.

It's not that MakerBot support isn't friendly or helpful, it's that the system is a pain for no good reason and it's hurting customer opinions. Yes, I got helped and I'm happy as can be. But if care about you fellow customers, i have serious doubt cold calling MakerBot support isn't going to result in a Maker Care charge, or, you get "that part is no longer available". I know the key words and parts, I know exactly what I'm looking for and in many cases, ordered that part before. Again, I was calling about an existing order that shipped but had no tracking number. I had a reason to call, and then asked for additional things.

[Jetguy]

You can try the silicone, I just don't know how "insulating" they are. I bought the genuine socks from E3D and no, they aren't going to fit your makerbot well.

I like that product and purposely bought the new matching E3D heater block and matching thermistor (which is a rod type for much better safety of attachment and wiring damage).

Again, the E3D product is great, a huge move for them. But it's really designed as a custom "system" of parts that work together to make a better and safer Reprap style hotend.

MakerBots use thermocouples, different mounting, different dimensions and shape for the hotted and make it mostly incompatible.

I'm not saying it cannot be done, but it's not plug and play.

[Jake Clark]

Hey Bradley,

Ryan Carlyle is right, we do sell a pre-cut version of the tape (thanks for the shout out Ryan!!). However, our silicone blocks are better for the Rep2x. They are out of stock right now, but we'll have more in stick by the end of the week so feel free to join the wait list :)

Install video can be found here as well.

Thanks,

-J