E3D silicone sock  

Re: E3D silicone sock

Hi,

can you post a foto of the sock and the cork? Prusa had problems falling them off and that's why they do not add them by default with your printer. But you can ask for these and get one.

Waldemar

Re: E3D silicone sock

Sock and cork

More details in this post: http://shop.prusa3d.com/forum/print-tips-slic3r-settings-kisslicer-model-repair--f12/printing-a-large-surfboard-fin-t2675-s20.html#p21210

Re: E3D silicone sock

Yeah, I find it interesting that Prusa says that the sock doesn't help either. I can run the fan at 100% with PETG with the sock on, so it makes a huge difference here.

Re: E3D silicone sock

Nice setup.

I noticed that you reprinted the extruder body and cover, did you use ABS?

Regarding the sock, I'm wondering if it may increase the probability of a layer shift especially if running the MK2 in low power mode.

I know the cork lets the bed hit higher temps faster, but do you notice if it cuts down on the sound? I notice that the MK2 heat bed resonates sound because it is very stiff.

If the sock could fall off, it seems that kapton tape could prevent this.

Did you find a need to redo your PID settings with the sock?

Re: E3D silicone sock

Nice setup.

I noticed that you reprinted the extruder body and cover, did you use ABS?

Regarding the sock, I'm wondering if it may increase the probability of a layer shift especially if running the MK2 in low power mode.

I know the cork lets the bed hit higher temps faster, but do you notice if it cuts down on the sound? I notice that the MK2 heat bed resonates sound because it is very stiff.

If the sock could fall off, it seems that kapton tape could prevent this.

Did you find a need to redo your PID settings with the sock?

Cover is polycarbonate, body Polymaker PC-Max. I have since reprinted all the extruder plastic parts from PC and will install them when I have a reason to take it apart again.

I don't think the sock can fall off with PC parts holding it all together. Maybe with ABS, definitely with PLA, because even the Polymaker PC-Max extruder cover (since then replaced with the greenish PC cover) did bend a bit when printing with very high bed and nozzle temps and no fan. If nothing bends, then the sock is stuck between hotend and extruder cover.

I don't see how the sock could cause a layer shift, unless it falls off and gets in the way. It will prevent many layer shifts that are caused by build-up of roasting plastic on the hotend, until it drips on the print object and stops the nozzle on the next round.

What are PID settings?

Re: E3D silicone sock

PID settings optimize how the MK2 heats and cools the hotend ( ref: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PID_controller ).

Using the sock, the MK2 will need to cool faster but heat slower. This is an optimization that may not be needed for your prints, it something I see others playing around with on other 3D printing forums.

I was thinking that the layer shift could happen if the whole sock hits the 3D print instead of just the nozzle.

Many times if the nozzle hits a part of the 3D print it will remelt and then push blobs off the model ( I see this when printing with wood. But if the sock hits the blob it may get stuck because it is not remelting the blob).

I am leaning towards also getting a sock because it seems to offer more advantages than disadvantages.

Re: E3D silicone sock

PID settings optimize how the MK2 heats and cools the hotend ( ref: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PID_controller ).

Using the sock, the MK2 will need to cool faster but heat slower. This is an optimization that may not be needed for your prints, it something I see others playing around with on other 3D printing forums.

Ah, I remember reading about that.

I thought it means that the electronics analyse how fast or slow the nozzle heats up, and adjust power setting dynamically, or at least once per print, but in any case automatically.

And 'no', no adjustment was needed, the temperature remained very nicely within 1-2C of desired temperature, just gets theremuch faster and does not drop drastically when the front fan comes on.

Re: E3D silicone sock

Just got my socks yesterday - can't wait to play around with them and my PETG 🙂

Re: E3D silicone sock

Very interesting, I have yet to buy socks for my genuine Prusa I3 MK2. I think I will.

Re: E3D silicone sock

Sock and cork

More details in this post: http://shop.prusa3d.com/forum/print-tips-slic3r-settings-kisslicer-model-repair--f12/printing-a-large-surfboard-fin-t2675-s20.html#p21210

Thanks for sharing.

Re: E3D silicone sock

You know I got my socks, but I ended up pulling it off. Looks to me like the sock blocks part of the fan slot which seemed to be causing me some grief with a couple of prints. Anyone else see this?

Re: E3D silicone sock

How long are you guys getting before the sock starts to fall apart. I have them on 2 of my Mk2's and both are showing wear after <50 hours. One has printed PLA exclusively, while the other has been mostly PET-G. PET-G shows more wear with similar level of use.

Re: E3D silicone sock

I will post up some tests, but I can confirm a few things about the stock. With the stock nozzle you will lose a bit of fine details, but you also don't get all the blobbing and other goop pick up from stuff like petg.

I am currently testing a few other nozzle designs and fan speed increases to compensate. I will post up tomorrow the results.

Re: E3D silicone sock

I will post up some tests, but I can confirm a few things about the stock. With the stock nozzle you will lose a bit of fine details, but you also don't get all the blobbing and other goop pick up from stuff like petg.

I am currently testing a few other nozzle designs and fan speed increases to compensate. I will post up tomorrow the results.

How do you think the silicone sock causes loss of fine detail?

Re: E3D silicone sock

It blocks airflow from hitting the filament sooner.

Re: E3D silicone sock

It blocks airflow from hitting the filament sooner.

sorry, but I can't confirm this assumption.
there's only one spot where the airflow from the print fan should hit the filament and that's right underneath the nozzle... and there the blue sock simply doesn't block anything.

and I can't confirm that the sock reduces detail, quite the contrary. because you can hold the temperature much more steady and don't cool the heater block accidentially down with the air flow from the print fan, you are much more precise in controling the temperature and what the nozzle does with the filament.

Re: E3D silicone sock

sorry, but I can't confirm this assumption.
there's only one spot where the airflow from the print fan should hit the filament and that's right underneath the nozzle... and there the blue sock simply doesn't block anything.

and I can't confirm that the sock reduces detail, quite the contrary. because you can hold the temperature much more steady and don't cool the heater block accidentially down with the air flow from the print fan, you are much more precise in controling the temperature and what the nozzle does with the filament.

+1.

Peter

Re: E3D silicone sock

I can also confirm that there is no loss of detail with the sock, and I see no plausible explanation how it could cause this.

My experience with the socks has been entirely positive, except for the fact that they do not last very long.

I cannot see me ever going back to printing without the socks, and I make the bold prediction that PRUSA will sooner or later recommend their use again.

Re: E3D silicone sock

I can also confirm that there is no loss of detail with the sock, and I see no plausible explanation how it could cause this.

My experience with the socks has been entirely positive, except for the fact that they do not last very long.

I cannot see me ever going back to printing without the socks, and I make the bold prediction that PRUSA will sooner or later recommend their use again.

I think for most users they will last quite a long time. You are a special case in that you print with extremely high temp stuff and it will degrade the silicon faster.