Copperhead extruder  

RE: Copperhead extruder

I would have to echo the greatness of this design.  I am working a review.  

RE: Copperhead extruder

Recommended supplier for Copperhead please. Also any tips on installing setup. Thanks 

RE: Copperhead extruder

I used this mod to alleviate the heat creep with softer filaments during the summer months. It does what it is supposed to do and sometimes minor blockages that are fixed by manually pushing a small bit of filament manually. Being relatively new to Prusa and the Mk3/s I did have some difficulties.

I grabbed the first .stl files from Slice Engineering's site, they were inadequate, the new ones are much better.

Had to adjust the firmware to limit the z-axis to 205 mm as opposed to the 210. I've still not been able to find out where the 5mm discrepancy comes from. I should have adjusted this in the firmware prior to running the xyz calibration.

I am still looking to find useful information to adjust the printing speeds so that I can get the full advantage of the Copperhead. Right now, I simply adjust the print speed on the lcd to between 125 and 150 % speed with a little stringing, but otherwise, it appears that the printer can handle these speeds.

Phil

RE: Copperhead extruder

Posted by: @pcweber

[...] I am still looking to find useful information to adjust the printing speeds so that I can get the full advantage of the Copperhead. Right now, I simply adjust the print speed on the lcd to between 125 and 150 % speed with a little stringing, but otherwise, it appears that the printer can handle these speeds.

There are 2 sets of parameters to consider:

1. What is the maximum volumetric rate (Layer Height X Extrusion Width X Speed) your hotend can process? This is dependent on filament, hotend and nozzle characteristics, and possibly extruder limitations.
2. What are the maximum speeds that a given filament can be printed at and still yield acceptable finish?

The first is reflected in PrusaSlicer as Maximum Volumetric Speed (MVS) in both print and filament settings. Determining a maximum feed rate for reliable extrusion is straightforward. Basically, extrude as fast as you can until you encounter skips and jams. This is the maximum rate for setting MVS. Note that if your hotend has high enough capacity, it may exceed the rate at which your extruder can push filament into it. On the Mk3 with a V6 hotend, 0.6mm or larger 3D Solex Matchless nozzle and PETG, this seems to be around 70mm^3/s. 

As to maximum speeds for acceptable finish, I found that although the extruder and hotend might process filament at speed up to 200mm/s, finish gets very bad neat 100mm/s.

Unfortunately, you'll need to test with each nozzle and filament type pairing to get meaningful results. Once you do, you should see big gains in print speeds. I was able to get a ~3 hour PPE print in PETG down to 1 hour.

I've tested using the Mk3 with V6 hotend and a variety of nozzles, as well as on an Artillery Sidewinder X1 with Volcano hotend. This methodology has worked well.

RE: Copperhead extruder

Posted by: @pcweber

I used this mod to alleviate the heat creep with softer filaments during the summer months. It does what it is supposed to do and sometimes minor blockages that are fixed by manually pushing a small bit of filament manually. Being relatively new to Prusa and the Mk3/s I did have some difficulties.

I grabbed the first .stl files from Slice Engineering's site, they were inadequate, the new ones are much better.

Had to adjust the firmware to limit the z-axis to 205 mm as opposed to the 210. I've still not been able to find out where the 5mm discrepancy comes from. I should have adjusted this in the firmware prior to running the xyz calibration.

I am still looking to find useful information to adjust the printing speeds so that I can get the full advantage of the Copperhead. Right now, I simply adjust the print speed on the lcd to between 125 and 150 % speed with a little stringing, but otherwise, it appears that the printer can handle these speeds.

Phil

 

What symptoms led you to the 205 MM z-axis limit.  I have been running into issues when I try to manually run z-axis calibration.  XYZ Wizard runs fine but if I manually run a Z calibration after it will error 100% of the time and wonder if it could be the z axis limit.  Any tips on updating and compiling the firmware on Windows 10? 

Are these the STLs that you are using? https://www.prusaprinters.org/prints/32793-prusa-mk32s-copperhead-groovemount-hotend-adapter  

RE: Copperhead extruder

@nooneathome

I didnt change the heatsink, just the extruder block and the heartbreak. It was enough for me to solve the jamming problems during summer time

RE: Copperhead extruder

@nooneathome

In sorry for not getting back sooner, been offline. I don't use Windows, but the process is similar. Using the Arduino IDE the code will compile and then it will be uploadable to your printer, be careful to follow all of the instructions though. 

My problem was really that the PINDA probe was skewed causing the entire print to be skewed as well as effecting the height measurement. 

What keyed me was with a large print, the print was a couple of millimeters off on the right side border. With Prusaslicer I centered a box within the confines of a box in the middle of the smooth metal plate. When it printed off-center I took a look at the probe and there it was, a visually skewed probe. I must've heated it somehow twisting it ever so slightly, but enough to change the specs.

I still have not reflashed the board, just in case. However, once there's a new firmware update I'll use its parameters to verify objectively my installation. 

Good luck and keep safe 

Phil

RE: Copperhead extruder

Are the copperhead heatbreak + related hot end plug and play with Bondtech MK3S extruder upgrade?

thanks

RE: Copperhead extruder

Any more details on firmware updating? Was it necessary for your Copperhead mod? I’m successfully printing but any z-axis calibrations always fail. I believe I can get and compile the firmware but I’m not sure what file or what the final parameter might be to compensate.

RE: Copperhead extruder

I used the copperhead for awhile, had some troubles and decided to go with the Dragon hotend. You would have to change the variable Z_MAX_POS 210 to Z_MAX_POS  205. If you follow the instructions, on the git site, I sort of remember that I chose one of the variants that matched my system and renamed it for the copperhead. Then copied it to Configuration.h following that with a quick compile and then there were no more Z-Axis errors

RE: Copperhead extruder

Thanks. Wish me luck. Can you divulge what your problems were?

RE: Copperhead extruder

I had a lot of filament getting stuck on the way to the nozzle. Disassembly of the hot end and then pushing the filament through fixed it but there were too many times of disassembling, I even bent part of the Copperhead. Perhaps it was my setup, MMU2S or that I was using wood filled filament. Some would call it heat creep. Whatever, I simply got tired of maintenance thus limiting my designing. The Dragon is similar to the Mosquito and it is working better, I've dialed up all of my filaments and am happy with the Dragon so far.

RE: Copperhead extruder

Both the Dragon and Copperhead are great hotends.  Both work well, but they take some tinkering with your settings.  

RE: Copperhead extruder

I suppose that you're right, perhaps my troubles with the Copperhead come from having my printer in an enclosure. I've had better results from the Dragon with solex nozzles, than the Copperhead.