1 Topic by ne14pez

  • ne14pez
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Topic: Source for Heat Block and Thermistor

Anyone know where I can get these two items that will interchange with the stock Solidoodle ones (uses same resistance, etc.)?  I want to be able to swap them out without having to do any major calibrations every time.

I have been experimenting with building my own hot end, which has been working really well.  My stock hot end with PEEK barrel clogged on day one and subsequently broke.  The new design made with cheap hardware store bolts and washers, and air cooled etc. has been running about 20 hours without any hiccups (and I've finally got my printer to work for the first time!).  But I re-used the aluminum heat block and thermistor from the stock hotend, so I need to buy more. 

I am not familiar with how to calibrate in EEPROM so I'd like to ideally get the exact same thermistor that Solidoodle uses so that the temp readings are accurate.  My goal is to have several hotends (of different nozzle sizes, and maybe for different materials like PLA, ABS, PC, Nylon) ready to go that can just be swapped out.

Thanks in advance!

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2 Reply by satman49

  • satman49
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  • From: virginia
  • Registered: 2012-12-28
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Re: Source for Heat Block and Thermistor

I don't see the thermistor in that pic. Did you tape it back on to the nozzle? .Just wondering if I could drill a small hole in he heater block( like E3d uses) and insert the thermistor.

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.

3 Reply by tealvince

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Re: Source for Heat Block and Thermistor

Cheap with free shipping from dealextreme, but you have to wait a month for it to get to you (literally on a slow boat from China):

Heating Block ($4.58)
http://dx.com/p/aluminum-heating-block- … ver-265445

Thermistor ($6.12)
http://dx.com/p/heacent-open-reprap-pru … ite-250382

I don't know if they're 100% the same, but they look the same to me and might be close enough.

If you mean the heating resistor instead of the thermistor, they're cheap enough that I'd just get two of them and replace the original too.  I think different SD versions used different resistors, but when mine blew out, I replaced it with a 3watt 6.8 ohm one like this:

Resistor ($1.50 CAD)
http://www.mixshop.com/index.php?main_p … ucts_id=88

4 Reply by ne14pez

  • ne14pez
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Re: Source for Heat Block and Thermistor

satman49 wrote:

I don't see the thermistor in that pic. Did you tape it back on to the nozzle? .Just wondering if I could drill a small hole in he heater block( like E3d uses) and insert the thermistor.

You are correct. In that picture I did not attach the thermistor yet.  I just taped it to the nozzle with kapton like SD does.

5 Reply by satman49

  • satman49
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Re: Source for Heat Block and Thermistor

ummm i wonder if it might work better if taped to the heat block. I might try that.

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.

6 Reply by ne14pez

  • ne14pez
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Re: Source for Heat Block and Thermistor

The most accurate measurement would be on the nozzle since it is closer to where the filament is extruded.  When the heat block resistor turns on/off, there is a delay in the change in temp of the nozzle (it takes time for the heat to travel there).  The software takes this into account using the PID settings that you enter after a PID tune.  For the most consistent results, it is best to have very stable temps without large temp fluctuations.  If the thermistor is attached to the heat block, it may be able to keep the block's temp stable, but the nozzle temp would have wider uncontrollable fluctuations.

7 Reply by RavensCrest

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Re: Source for Heat Block and Thermistor

Amazon has a whole section on these items... (they might not be the cheapest, I bought my last one from ebay)
http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss_ … Thermistor

Solidoodle2 with Ceramic tile heated bed http://www.soliforum.com/topic/2544/my- … eated-bed/
"1kg should last for an while" is a lie!