Silicone socks
I was going to amend my Mk4 kit order to include some of these, but it has just shipped so unable to do.
To purchase as a new order, shipping of US$30 will apply for a 3 pack of socks - ridiculously expensive.
Looking at alternative ones available from Levendigdsgn.
For those who have purchased these, how do you find them?
RE:
I haven't seen the Prusa socks so cannot compare -- but have been very happy with the Levendigdsgn socks I got in mid-June. They fit perfectly and show no signs of wear or degradation after ~1-1/2 months of printing. I would not hesitate to recommend them. As a bonus, they are available in multiple colors, lol!
I'm in the US, and I chose the "with tracking" option -- shipping was $9. Took just over a week to get here.
P.S. It actually wouldn't surprise me to find out that Prusa sources theirs from Levendigdsgn. They are a quality product at a reasonable price, so it would seem smarter than re-inventing them in-house. But I have no idea whether Prusa is buying or manufacturing the socks they sell.
RE: Silicone socks
https://www.partsbuilt.com/sock-x-silicone-sock-for-prusa-nextruder-orange/ has them. That is where I got some.
RE: Silicone socks
Update... I now have both the Levendigdsgn and Prusa socks to compare. There are a few differences!
1. The Levendigdsgn sock seems to be very slightly thicker material. Due to the shape and squish, it is tough to get a good measurement of either one, and it may just be the "lip" at the top which is thicker. But the difference is very minor, on the order of about 0.1mm.
2. The Levendigdsgn sock is slightly easier to install. This is because the "lip" that surrounds the top of the heat block has some relief at the rear -- whereas the Prusa sock has a continuous lip around the entire periphery. It is helpful to "roll back" the lip at the rear of the Prusa sock in order to slip it onto the block, otherwise it rolls inward and that interferes with pushing it upwards onto the block. The relief at the rear of the Levendigdsgn makes it slide onto the block a bit easier. Not a big deal, both are easy to install and both have a good hold on the block.
3. The Levendigdsgn sock has a small, tubular 1.8mm protrusion directly around the nozzle. This surrounds the "flats" on the nozzle, where you would use a wrench, keeping them clean.
Both fit perfectly and securely, and both will keep the block clean. Item #3 leads me to prefer the Levendigdsgn sock, as it looks like it will do a better job of keeping filament away from the "flats" on the nozzle, and away from the nozzle-to-block seam. That should reduce the need for manual cleaning when preparing for a nozzle change.
Photos attached (the Prusa sock is black, the Levendigdsgn sock is orange).
