To sum up, key things to know about the E3D modification (Page 1 of 4)

In firmware, you will need to change the thermister from type 6 to type 1 (or the other way around, I forget).  You will also need to change the max temp (might as well change the default temp while you are at it).

I have found no other "real" issues using the E3D.  The major problem I have right now is that the Mk5/E3D combination has no useful dial gauge mount for leveling the bed.  I am still in search of a workable solution to that one.

And... remember I'm the lowest common denominator (a noob), where/how do I make firmware changes? I know I can set the default temp in Repetier Host but that ain't the same thing.

In my humble, and usually wrong, opinion, there should be a sticky for each of the major mods with a more or less complete blurb of the stuff you need to accomplish the mod.

Most of you guys are familiar with the landscape and it is a pain, I know, to have to repeat everything slooooowly for the noobs, but hey, we need noobs. They're so fun to watch. Like the guy that actually posted a pipe cleaner (!) as a mod. Can you believe that guy? And, he didn't even have the good taste to post a You Tube procedural video showing how to bend the pipe cleaner! What, does he just assume we all have that level of experience that we just KNOW how to bend a friggin pipe cleaner? It could have been better. That's all I'm sayin.

Write them up, moderators will sticky it.

I don't think anyone is f'ing with you.  I use White Rain hairspray but am going to try Aqua Net to see if it works better.  I asked my wife to get some Aqua Net when she went to the store last.  She said, "Just use what I have in the bathroom."  Women just don't understand.:(

Yeah, the hair spray thing was a joke (I use Suave Max Hold, which has similar ingredients plus Vitamin E, to prevent my printer from getting cancer from all the hair spray).

Anyway, I looked over flashing the firmware (sounds kinda perverted, actually!) and my first reaction is: Dang! Shame there isn't a zip file with the modified files all in it for lazy butts like me, or to reduce probabilities of induced fat finger errors.

But, I do appreciate you taking time to point me forward. I can work through it.

I use aquanet super hold. but I have not heard a particular brand matters.

Sanjay from E3D here. I don't have a solidoodle, so can't really help you on the retrofitting front, but if you have any questions you think I can answer, then fire away!

I search these forums for "E3D" here and there, and this thread made me laugh so hard, the hairspray commentary really resonates with me too!

In the UK I have found the best hairspray for printing to be the stuff from Boots in the greenish can. Many other generic sprays work well too, Wilkinsons cheapest stuff is good.

You are looking for "Acrylic Co-Polymer" in your hairspray, at least that's what is written on them in the UK. All sprays with that stuff in them and not much fragrance or other fancy features seem to work very well.

I am up to my neck in the firmware upgrades now. How/where do I find out which ATMega chip I have (SD3)?

I assume you figured out which chip you have, if not look on the chip itself or just try all of them until one works.

Yes, that is another thing I like about the E3D, it heats up really fast.  If only they made a heated bed like that, lol.

They do - its called a PCB MkIIa or a QU-BD Silicone bed - both of which are at temp in 5 minutes. Obviously it takes *slightly* longer than the nozzle, as there is about 100 times the surface area to heat.

And the reason E3D's heat faster is  because they use a heater cartridge thats 40W.. compared to the 5-6W of a 'resistor' heater... J-Heads with a cartridge heat just as fast as does the 'stock' nozzle if you replace the resistor with a cartridge..

The instructions that were here have been moved to the wiki here:

http://www.soliwiki.com/E3D_extruder