How to replace hot end heater cartridge?  

Re: How to replace hot end heater cartridge?

that is pretty much the process,

there is a raised head screw clamping the heater capsule into the heatblock, it needs an Allen key (Hex wrench) to loosen it,(might need to heat the screw up, to get the Allen key into the hex socket)

you probably also need to gently pry the gap of the slot, open larger to release the heater capsule before sliding it out...

chances are that there is old charred and molten filament crusting this area up, so you may also need to heat the heat block up as well, to release the old heater capsule

Be careful not to burn yourself, and treat the thermistor wires with great respect, they are very fragile

when reassembling, pay particular attention to the alignment of the cables and cable ties, as the heads of the cable ties may prevent full movement of the X axis, if incorrectly aligned

regards Joan

Re: How to replace hot end heater cartridge?

Thanks Joan,

Just fixed it. The heater cartridge wire had broken off right at the cartridge.

I think the failure itself was caused by repeated stress... the design isn't that great from a wire routing perspective. The wires come out at a sharp 90 degree angle, and the stiff shrink tubing is behind that. It seems that even with routing directly in the middle of the extruder wiring bundle, every time the print head moves to the extreme left side of the bed it will gently press up against the shrink tube (adding a little extra stress on the wires right at the cartridge). I have hundreds (maybe into the thousands?) of hours on the printer, so it gradually must have worn away.

Would like to see that design improved a bit... something to give a more gradual bend to the wires coming out of the heater cartridge (and the thermistor, too, for that matter).

For now, I'll make a mental note to avoid the far left side of the bed when slicing.

Re: How to replace hot end heater cartridge?

Right angle wires at the cartridge are sold as special high heat items such as this one that costs $68 in either 12 or 24 volt form... I have no idea why someone is not selling a similar form factor in 24 volt 40 watt for the V6 hot end lines. perhaps someone is and I have just not seen it yet.
https://www.printedsolid.com/products/e3d-high-temperature-65w-heater-cartridge

Heaters capable of operating up to 550°C for extended periods of time. For printing high temperature thermoplastics. Come with high ampage connectors and extension leads, the cartridge has the wires exiting at a 90° angle from the casing with a strain relief.

Voltage: 12V/24V

Power: Up to 65W

Max operating temp: 550°C.

Lead length: 2m

⚠️WARNINGS⚠️

- These heaters are more than capable of reaching temperatures that will soften the aluminium block shipped as standard with our heaters. These must only be used with a copper block. We also recommend coupling this with a copper nozzle, as the hardened nozzles will lose some hardness at these temperatures, and the copper will offer better thermal conductivity.

- For the 12V version, some printers' electronics are not able to withstand the current required by the heaters. If this is your case, or you don't want to risk blowing your board up, please purchase the MOSFET switch daughter board sold with the SuperVolcano

Read all about the cartridges in E3D's latest High Temperature blog post
https://e3d-online.com/blog/2018/10/22/⚠%EF%B8%8F-e3ds-high-temperature-products-have-launched-⚠%EF%B8%8F/

RE: How to replace hot end heater cartridge?

@joantabb

What is the best way to heat the block up in order to remove the burnt filament? I tried with a hot air gun but it did not work

Lighter after removing the thermostat? 

RE: How to replace hot end heater cartridge?

@joantabb

are the heaters for the MK3 and MK2 the same? I know the voltages are different but are the heaters the same.

RE: How to replace hot end heater cartridge?

No they wont be as the voltages are different.  The heater cartridges are supplied based on the printers voltage.

RE: How to replace hot end heater cartridge?

@nolan-b

I would not use the hot air gun when the hotend is installed. You could damage the attached plastic parts. Remove the hotend from the extruder and then work with the hot air gun.

RE: How to replace hot end heater cartridge?

Sorry for the late reply, 
I have literally only just seen the messages. 

If My hot end gets messed up, and I can't use the heater to heat it up. I typically strip the heat block, nozzle and heatbreak out of the extruder heatsink, then heat it up with either a blow lamp or oven, and brush the grot off with a wire brush... 

BE CAREFUL with wire brushes, they can cause controller damage if the bristles short the 24 volt heater power to the logic voltage thermistor port wiring. 

if \i use a wire brush on the hot end in the printer, I heat the hot end, turn the power off, use the brush, then recycle, heat, power off brush, until the mess has been removed

If I get a leak between the heatbreak and the heatblock, I use heat to disassemble the parts, then clean the internal threads on the heat block, with an M6 tap. and the external threads with a wire brush!

regards Joan