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MichaelW
(@michaelw)
New Member
Need a new hotend

I tore the thermistor wire while trying to change the nozzle. So got online to order parts and came across the Dragon (and other) hotends that allow single-handed nozzle changes due to their different design.  Some of the info seems old and many (many) links lead to dead pages, so I'm hoping you experts can assist, as Google keeps running me around in circles.

Is the Dragon even still available? I couldn't find it on Amazon - the Dragonfly comes up (which I know is different) and Red Lizard among others. Is Red Lizard a manufacturer name or a different hotend altogether? Every link I found to aliexpress for a Dragon hotend led to a dead page - even one from Triangle Labs store page there. I've never used aliexpress before, so not sure how to distinguish good stuff from knockoffs.

If the Dragon is not readily available, what's the next best thing? I'd like be able to print with different nozzles, and changing them on a V6 is fraught with peril, at least for my clumsy self. So what's a good V6 style hotend that 

1) allows easy (nearly idiot-proof) nozzle changes (using regular nozzles) 

2) is reasonably priced - roughly same as E3D V6. I'm not splurging on a Mosquito, and it would be overkill for my basic needs.

3) compatible with MK3S with minimum fuss or alterations. Don't mind later printing a part that might make it better, but it needs to be installable as-is, since my printer is currently out of commission

4) maybe lets me print a bit faster, especially using .6 or .8 nozzle. Up to this point I've only ever printed at whatever PrusaSlicer has for defaults. I would like to learn more about adjusting rates to try speeding up a bit.

5) preferably available in US without a month-long shipping wait from China

 

Thanks in advance for any advice and assistance!

Michael

Best Answer by fuchsr:

I have Dragon hotends on all my Mk3S and Mini printers and have nothing but good things to say about it. Pretty much a drop-in replacement. I used the following mounts:

Mk3S: https://www.printables.com/model/67418

Mini: https://www.printables.com/model/63259

No changes required to firmware, printer, or print profiles (I added one line to my Mini startup code to move the prime line a bit). Miraculously, the Dragons worked fine even with the new finicky thermal protection model in the latest Mk3S firmware.

And yes, the Dragon is still available but apparently, they only sell the parts now, not the assembled hotend. Probably due to the stupid patent dispute with Slice Engineering.

You need to order:

Heater Block: https://www.aliexpress.us/item/2255800552211977.html

Core Heat Break: https://www.aliexpress.us/item/2255800552301208.html

Heat Sink: https://www.aliexpress.us/item/2255800552670867.html

Screw Kit: https://www.aliexpress.us/item/2255801031545569.html (I think the screws are included with the heater block but I'm not sure, so for only $2.80, I'd order it just in case.)

Depending on how you intend to mount it, you may need the adapter https://www.aliexpress.us/item/3256801536951792.html

They also sell nozzles but any E3D v6 nozzle is fine.

Make sure you order v2.0 and the SF, not the High Flow version that is prone to heat creep.

I've ordered at least six from Aliexpress, and I never waited more than 2 weeks.

Posted : 04/03/2023 9:57 pm
fuchsr
(@fuchsr)
Famed Member
RE: Need a new hotend

I have Dragon hotends on all my Mk3S and Mini printers and have nothing but good things to say about it. Pretty much a drop-in replacement. I used the following mounts:

Mk3S: https://www.printables.com/model/67418

Mini: https://www.printables.com/model/63259

No changes required to firmware, printer, or print profiles (I added one line to my Mini startup code to move the prime line a bit). Miraculously, the Dragons worked fine even with the new finicky thermal protection model in the latest Mk3S firmware.

And yes, the Dragon is still available but apparently, they only sell the parts now, not the assembled hotend. Probably due to the stupid patent dispute with Slice Engineering.

You need to order:

Heater Block: https://www.aliexpress.us/item/2255800552211977.html

Core Heat Break: https://www.aliexpress.us/item/2255800552301208.html

Heat Sink: https://www.aliexpress.us/item/2255800552670867.html

Screw Kit: https://www.aliexpress.us/item/2255801031545569.html (I think the screws are included with the heater block but I'm not sure, so for only $2.80, I'd order it just in case.)

Depending on how you intend to mount it, you may need the adapter https://www.aliexpress.us/item/3256801536951792.html

They also sell nozzles but any E3D v6 nozzle is fine.

Make sure you order v2.0 and the SF, not the High Flow version that is prone to heat creep.

I've ordered at least six from Aliexpress, and I never waited more than 2 weeks.

Posted : 05/03/2023 12:38 am
MichaelW
(@michaelw)
New Member
Topic starter answered:
RE: Need a new hotend

Thank you, sir! It was your input in the very long Dragon review thread that convinced me Dragon was the way to go. Happy it is still available, even if assembly is required. Thank you so much for the links. You've made my yday!

Posted : 05/03/2023 2:33 pm
fuchsr liked
_rob_
(@_rob_)
Eminent Member
RE: Need a new hotend

Changing the nozzle on the e3d sucks. Fortunately you can get replacement heater cores, thermistors, and heater blocks on ebay dirt cheap but it's still a pain. I've been considering building a taz just for the ability to easily swap the print heads.

Posted : 09/03/2023 8:18 pm
SG Newb Rider
(@sg-newb-rider)
Trusted Member
RE: Need a new hotend

late but it's worth mentioning that Triangle Labs has a TD6 hotend that's pretty much a E3D Revo, without the hand changing nozzle feature. It's truly drop-in with no mods required, has an integrated nozzle/heatbreak that's cheap, and integrated ceramic heater/thermistor

Posted : 28/03/2023 1:57 pm
_rob_ liked
J Cee
(@j-cee)
Member
RE: Need a new hotend

I'm currently without a printer, and the best I can do once I've got the Dragon installed is print the mount in PETG and then take it apart again and install. Would that work (also with PETG, not PC)?

What is the last adapter needed for? 

Posted : 06/10/2023 6:27 am
rw3iss
(@rw3iss)
Active Member
RE: Need a new hotend

Hi there. Thanks for the detailed review of the Dragon hotend.

I'm considering it versus the Red Lizard, as the original poster was. 

Have you ever used the Red Lizard K1 (new version is V6)?

It seems a bit cheaper, similar, however I have not used either and am wondering if one would be preferable over the other.

 

Posted : 15/02/2024 6:53 pm
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