I would really love to see an INDX (by Bondtech) for the Core One
Watching the Demo video of the INDX on a Voron 0 as a 4 tool-head changer.. really makes me wish for some support for the Core One. Most likely could fit a 7 or 8 head changer. I think I would even be willing to give up 3-5 cm depth on the print volume for that feature. (And no.. I don't have the space to fit an XL, else I would have gotten one)
Maybe Prusa could fit 3 of their own head changers in the back of the Core One as a smaller option.. but the INDX looks really cool. Still has to be seen how well it work when its released.
RE: I would really love to see an INDX (by Bondtech) for the Core One
That is a pretty good idea.
I am in the same boat, as I would love an XL but just don't have the room for it. I have had multiple Prusa printers w/MMUs and it is a far better solution for multi-material printing than nothing at all but multiple tool heads is the "ultimate" solution.
Based on the INDX videos that I have seen I can see the overall print time for a multi-material job falling between the MMU3 times and the XL multi-head times due to the INDX extruder needing additional time to cool down the "in use" head to be switched out and then heating up the incoming head BUT due to the size (and price?) reduction of the INDX over the XL heads, can see getting more than the 5 heads currently supported by the XL into the available space of the CORE One.
Prusa ALREADY has the cross-bar support along the front face of the CORE One printer. Using the INDX w/the heads mounted along the front would simplify an "above the printer/top-hat" type of filament storage/dry box. Could even stack two, giving 10 material choices (if the front space would accommodate that many INDX nozzle units).
As I said at the start, I want an XL but don't have the space so expect to get a CORE One shortly after the CORE One MMU integrated solution is made available (hoping before May). I could easily see "migrating" from that solution to an INDX based solution if that becomes available either from Prusa or a third-party.
RE: I would really love to see an INDX (by Bondtech) for the Core One
Already filled in the bondtech survey to ask for core one support. Snazzy idea.
RE: I would really love to see an INDX (by Bondtech) for the Core One
I don't think this will be feasible as a retrofit. If you want your spare hotends stored in the back, the print head will need to sit behind the X rail, not in front as currently designed. So you would need to flip the X rail around, and would loose significant addressable print space in the front.
Maybe if Prusa teamed up with Bondtech on a "Core Two" with a modified layout of the CoreXY section. But I don't see them outsourcing such a central part of 3D printing technology as the extruder.
RE: I would really love to see an INDX (by Bondtech) for the Core One
My "top of the head" thought was to have the hot-ends stored in the front of the CORE One BUT that would require a "Prusa version" of the INDX that loaded from the front.
What would be the problem with storing the hot-ends on the side? Rotating the entire x/y system by 90 degrees to the left or right. Should be a "snap" to update the firmware so that the printer still saw the x/y origin at the front, left. That way the heads could be stored above the side panel in the "dead space". Looks to be plenty of room there. Not sure if the existing movement frame supports the extruder going over far enough to do a hot-end swap but even if not now, it isn't rocket surgery to adjust that.
As to Prusa and the tech, with the Prusa numbers, they could work it out so everyone was happy [enough] and make it happen IF Prusa was unable to make something similar due to patents.
RE: I would really love to see an INDX (by Bondtech) for the Core One
What would be the problem with storing the hot-ends on the side?
Umm... wouldn't the stored hot-ends get in the way of the gantry moving along the Y axis?
RE: I would really love to see an INDX (by Bondtech) for the Core One
The INDX seems to be having the tools in the front (Based on this video: )
The question is if there is enough space for the print bed to clear the bed, if you mount the tools on the front bar. (I don't have my core One yet, so I don't know how much clearance there is).
Also, this would be in the way when viewing the print and taking it out. So, it might not be optimal. But you would not need to flip the xrail.
RE: I would really love to see an INDX (by Bondtech) for the Core One
I have a Voron 2.4 350 that is not used much anymore. It was built for some large ABS prints for a customer. I don't use it for much else since I have 4 other printers (MK4s's and 5 tool head XL. I am hoping the INDX by bondtech works well as I will upgrade my Voron in a heart beat. I have filled out their survey as well. Fingers crossed it is as good or better than we expect.