1 (edited by adrian 2013-06-24 13:17:37)

Topic: Solidoodle has stopped shipping replacements for blown resistor Hotend

Just an update to all - maybe I'm special.. who knows... I've sat on it a few weeks to see if their decision changed. It hasn't.

A couple of weeks ago my Solidoodle OEM hotend blew its resistor. I've probably registered about 200hours of prints on it. Its been considered a 'Consumable' by SD Support. Solidoodle have declined to replace it or the hot-end, instead directing me to purchase from their Online store a new hot-end with no offer of a Shipping Discount.

$59 for a new hot-end to replace their blown low-grade resistor.
PLUS $44 Shipping.
So $103 to replace a resistor that they will not sell me individually that failed at 200hours.

A formal 'why can't I just get the heater core'... was responded with a 'we do not recommend that'
And it still costs $39 Shipping... so $54 for just a heat-core when that will get me an entire J-Head - Delivered! LOL...

No dramas - a 6mm drill bit later I now have a 40W Heater Cartridge Solidoodle Hotend and a firm opinion about Solidoodle After-Sales Service.

As a result - I will also no longer be including a Solidoodle Hotend in my Hot-End Shoot-Out with Thermal Imaging I'll be doing this weekend as it is no longer OEM. It will instead feature 3 J-Head derivatives and an E3D All-Metal.

2

Re: Solidoodle has stopped shipping replacements for blown resistor Hotend

I now have a 40W Heater Cartridge Solidoodle Hotend and a firm opinion about Solidoodle After-Sales Service.

hey Adrian,

I've blown three of these resistors in as many weeks... i replaced it with a cartridge heater as you have done, and havent had a problem since...been 10 weeks or so with the printer running flat out and no problems...

SD suck massively with shipping...I live in scotland and ordered a hot end from qu-bd... delivered in 9 days delivery cost £10

wouldnt order anything from SD again... not even a printer... we can buy them here in the UK and get 48 hour delivery....

its not rocket science... SD could be cleaning up massively if they had decent shipping costs in place....

always wondered when they would catch on to this... but it seems not... they seem quite happy to deliver a zero warranty machine with ridiculous spare part costs and ridiciulous shipping charges...

but i know where I stand now, expect little, and you'll never be dissapointed

rant over smile

3

Re: Solidoodle has stopped shipping replacements for blown resistor Hotend

My original resistor just blew this weekend.  I just bought a 6.8 ohm replacement on eBay:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/3-6-8-Ohm-3-Wat … 1059052240

There seems to be a little variance in the resistance values I've seen posted.  I've seen 4.7ohm, 5.6ohm, and 6.8ohm.  Any reason I should prefer one over another?  I figure 6.8ohm would run at a higher duty cycle but would heat up a little more slowly (=more reliable?).

4

Re: Solidoodle has stopped shipping replacements for blown resistor Hotend

Either I'm lucky or the policy varies with which hot end fails. Mine had a cylindrical resistor, looked just like an ordinary electronic part. They replaced it without argument and even quite swiftly.

5

Re: Solidoodle has stopped shipping replacements for blown resistor Hotend

Henri wrote:

Either I'm lucky or the policy varies with which hot end fails. Mine had a cylindrical resistor, looked just like an ordinary electronic part. They replaced it without argument and even quite swiftly.

We only replace the hot-ends after a very short period of time after purchase. Remember, we don't have a warranty.

Former Solidoodle employee, no longer associated with the company.

6

Re: Solidoodle has stopped shipping replacements for blown resistor Hotend

I found this http://shop.seemecnc.com/Hotend-Parts_c37.htm , while dling new RH, might be helpful.

SD3, E3D hotend,linear bearing on x/y axis',pillow block bearing on y conneting rod, ball bearngs on front y axis, fan on y stepper motor.

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Re: Solidoodle has stopped shipping replacements for blown resistor Hotend

Solidoodle are finding there products are failing faster than they can make components i had similar issues from day one my SD2 worked ok for a week or 2 then the bed warped out, then nozzle heater and carriage list goes on and on, luckily from the use of these forums and some machine shop capabilities we have a working machine but i think solidoodle are a bunch of crooks to be totally honest.

So on that note i would like to thank every one on these forums cos without you we would be sitting with a scrapped 3D printer

:-)

adrian wrote:

Just an update to all - maybe I'm special.. who knows... I've sat on it a few weeks to see if their decision changed. It hasn't.

A couple of weeks ago my Solidoodle OEM hotend blew its resistor. I've probably registered about 200hours of prints on it. Its been considered a 'Consumable' by SD Support. Solidoodle have declined to replace it or the hot-end, instead directing me to purchase from their Online store a new hot-end with no offer of a Shipping Discount.

$59 for a new hot-end to replace their blown low-grade resistor.
PLUS $44 Shipping.
So $103 to replace a resistor that they will not sell me individually that failed at 200hours.

A formal 'why can't I just get the heater core'... was responded with a 'we do not recommend that'
And it still costs $39 Shipping... so $54 for just a heat-core when that will get me an entire J-Head - Delivered! LOL...

No dramas - a 6mm drill bit later I now have a 40W Heater Cartridge Solidoodle Hotend and a firm opinion about Solidoodle After-Sales Service.

As a result - I will also no longer be including a Solidoodle Hotend in my Hot-End Shoot-Out with Thermal Imaging I'll be doing this weekend as it is no longer OEM. It will instead feature 3 J-Head derivatives and an E3D All-Metal.

Russell Kjell Coffield EngTech CTech
www.interspec.org