Service Life of Hot End Parts
I bought my Prusa i3 Mk2 to make production parts for the Harmonicaster electric harmonica that I invented and developed. I'm printing mostly with ABS+ and I try to keep the machine busy 24/7.
In the 7 months that I've had the printer, I've had to replace the hot end twice already because of clogging and jamming, usually on the first layer. Apparently, the heat break is wearing. That's the conclusion I've made after discussing this with MatterHackers, where I buy my hardened steel nozzles, as well as another U.S. based vendor of 3D printer parts.
MatterHackers says that their hardened nozzles should last 1,500 hours or so.
Since Prusa Research is running a print farm with about 200 printers running 24/7/365 you should have data on the service life of various parts that should be treated as consumables. That would be very useful to know so I can stock those parts that will need replacing and keep production going.
Printing with ABS and ABS+, what's the service life of the heat break in the E3D V6 hot end?
Re: Service Life of Hot End Parts
The PTFE Liner will wear out (even E3D "all metal" hotends arent all metal for the 1.75mm). But is trivial and virtually free to replace. The heatbreak itself, on my previous printer worked for 4 years without a problem (admittedly, mostly PLA). I have read they can crack, but its pretty rare. Still if you're concerned, I recently stumbled upon this:
https://store.micro-swiss.com/products/plated-wear-resistant-thermal-tube-for-e3d-v6-hotend-1-75mm
Cant vouch for it, but it could help.
Re: Service Life of Hot End Parts
A heat break will last the life of the printer as long as you don't abuse it by using a drill to clean it.
Having owned at least one PR printer since they started making them, I have never had to change a whole extruder due to damage or wear.
Only time I changed one was to upgrade from the Lite6 to the V6 on the Mk1.
If your experience is different, then I would suggest you are either very unlucky or are doing something that is not right.
Peter
Please note: I do not have any affiliation with Prusa Research. Any advices given are offered in good faith. It is your responsibility to ensure that by following my advice you do not suffer or cause injury, damage…
Re: Service Life of Hot End Parts
Changing the PTFE tubing didn't help. Replacing the hot end did, twice. Both MatterHackers, which is an E3D dealer, and Leap 3D, a U.S. based eBay vendor that carries both US and Asian made 3D printing components, tell me that it may very well be wear in the heat break. It's generally accepted that cheap Chinese heat breaks don't work as reliably as nice European or US ones that are polished. Prusa's support tells me that very few of their customers use their printers as continuously as I do. Maybe that's why Jo Prusa, in his interview with All3DP, said that Prusa Research is looking into making a machine more suitable for industrial use.
Re: Service Life of Hot End Parts
Prusa's support tells me that very few of their customers use their printers as continuously as I do.
2 printers working 24/7 is pretty heavy use...
Peter
Please note: I do not have any affiliation with Prusa Research. Any advices given are offered in good faith. It is your responsibility to ensure that by following my advice you do not suffer or cause injury, damage…
Re: Service Life of Hot End Parts
making a machine more suitable for industrial use.
Im pretty sure that has absolutely nothing to do with the heatbreak. For industrial use, you may need a continuous rolling heatbed or at least (automatic) heatbed swapping, large volume, an enclosure, print failure detection, (or avoidance with close loop system) , filament management, hotswap nozzles, you may need a whole lot of things the MK2 doesnt do. Heatbreaks that last > 4 years, probably not on the top of their agenda.