For those getting the INDX are you getting the 4 head or 8 head?
I don't see myself doing prints with lots of colors (maybe occasionally 2 or 3 colors) I would mostly be doing multi-material prints. So I'm thinking "4 is good enough" but then I'm in some sort of FOMO situation if I don't get the 8... I don't have any experience working with a multi-toolhead setup so I'm trying to think of a use-case to justify getting 8 heads. I suppose I could keep my top-8 filaments always loaded and assigned to a nozzle. But then the nylons can't stay in a dry box for too long anyway.
I guess I'll start with 4 heads and add more if needed later.
Fwiw I have never needed more than 4 heads on my XL ... OK it *might* be useful to have more for big prints if spool-join was likely to be needed but that's a fairly extreme use-case.
Cheerio,
RE: For those getting the INDX are you getting the 4 head or 8 head?
8 for sure! I print magnets. Most were 3-4 colors. Only for a family business. Now that I am moving onto making my own designs to print and sell. I maxed my 5 colors. And had to make some changes to bring it down to 5. I look forward to more colors. I also look forward to multiple nozzle sizes. A larger one for infill, 0.4 for general details, 0.2 for clear small text. And as I branch out, I am looking to do something that includes a flexible filament. Even if I stick to lower color amounts, keeping 8 loaded could allow for a single machine to cover more of my designs without changing filaments out too often. Already looking to max out my Core One L once they release that beast of an INDX setup.
I already use multiple sizes - my setup is usually 3x0.6 (one hardened) and 2x0.4 The larger nozzles are for larger, strong sections and the smaller for functional details like involutes, threads and print-in-place bearings; I have tried smaller nozzles but for me the strength trade-off is unacceptable. It's rare to need more than two colours for labels and graticules, very occasionally three when one 'colour' is transparent to allow LED lights to shine through panel indicators.
I generally bypass the ptfe tubes when printing flexibles, rather than using Prusa's interleaved anchors I intersect closed loops to get really strong connections.
Cheerio,
RE: For those getting the INDX are you getting the 4 head or 8 head?
Four for now. I have an XL-5T and an MMU attached to one of my Core Ones and hardly ever use all extruders. For a while I dabbled with having a 0.6 mm nozzle on the XL but didn't find much use for it.
My personal preference aside, the fact that you're even asking the question tells me you don't have an urgent and obvious need for 8 extruders. So why spend the money. Instead go with 4 and if you find yourself longing for more after a while, one advantage of the INDX system is they're cheap.
Formerly known on this forum as @fuchsr -- https://foxrun3d.com/
RE: For those getting the INDX are you getting the 4 head or 8 head?
My personal preference aside, the fact that you're even asking the question tells me you don't have an urgent and obvious need for 8 extruders. So why spend the money. Instead go with 4 and if you find yourself longing for more after a while, one advantage of the INDX system is they're cheap.
Well I don't need 8 for sure and given my current workflow and design ideas even 2 would probably be enough... Just trying to see if there is an use case I overlooked. Cost is not something I'm factoring into this. Indeed I will start with 4.
And I was certain that 5 head XL owners would chime in as to how their tool heads were being utilized. So at minimum it makes for an interesting conversation.
RE: For those getting the INDX are you getting the 4 head or 8 head?
I have no need for 8. But if I am to get the INDX system I would just go all in or nothing at all. I don't want that FOMO feeling later! lol
TBH I have 13 colours feeding my H2D at the moment - I use it more for having the colours loaded and ready without having to manually load/unload all the time. I dont think I have every gone over 4 colours for any multicolour print - but that could change if I see there's very little wastage now! I'm planning to get the Vortek system for the H2D to reduce wastage but I do still think the INDX system is better overall - and much faster too.......