Tools a mounted on the front impacting access  

RE: Tools a mounted on the front impacting access

Posted by: @mike-daneman

After watching tons of INDX preview videos, I just now realized that for the Core One the INDX tools will be mounted on the front (door-side) of the printer. For reason I was sure they mounted on the back. Yes, I'm a dummy for not seeing this earlier.  Is anyone concerned that it will make it a bit awkward to reach in to fiddle with the extruder,  especially as it will probably be a bit more work to open the top cover as well?  

The top cover will need to be removed anyway. It will be replaced by removable top the makes room for the PTFE tubes. 

RE: Tools a mounted on the front impacting access

I assume (and very much hope) that the new cover will consist of two parts: A back which typically remains on the printer, and through which all the PTFE tubes are routed -- and a front hood which can be easily removed for access. The backside-only configuration can be seen in various FormNext videos, although that might not be the final cover design.

Nevertheless, I am also somewhat concerned about visibility and access to the toolhead and the print from the front side. I will opt for the four-tool configuration for that reason, so only half of the front rail will be populated with tool parking bays. 

RE:

Is not a secret that tool changer printers that weren't originally designed this way are never going to be so convenient, ergonomic and reliable as machines that were born as tool changers ( Prusa XL or Snapmaker U1 ). The main difference is that these 2 printers have the tools mounted on the back extrusion, while implementations like the INDX and others need to relocate the tools at the front because the printheads are sitting in front of the X extrusion. There's no fix for that unless you redesign totally the printer and that's not practical, if only for the cost involved. Better to make a totally new printer or settle for a compromise between price, ergonomics and technical complexity. 

I bet that everybody here believes that in a couple of years we well see INDX based printers designed from scratch. Hopefully, IMHO, from brands less troublesome than Prusa, not only for firmware issues but also for quality control, price and technical expertise ( or lack of..).

RE: Tools a mounted on the front impacting access

Yes, in retrospect, considering the extruder is mounted facing toward the front on the CoreOne, it's obvious that the tools have to be on the front as well if we don't want to reverse the entire extruder rail.

RE: Tools a mounted on the front impacting access

Posted by: @artur5

I bet that everybody here believes that in a couple of years we well see INDX based printers designed from scratch. Hopefully, IMHO, from brands less troublesome than Prusa, not only for firmware issues but also for quality control, price and technical expertise ( or lack of..).

I expect by Formnext 2026 every major player (that hasn't already) will be introducing a tool changer. I'm sure Creality will figure out how to mash one onto an Ender 3 /s

RE: Tools a mounted on the front impacting access

Seems like the hood can be opened easily Screenshot

RE: Tools a mounted on the front impacting access

The hood and mounting as per the videos look almost identical to the setup I installed when I purchased the "Original Prusa MMU3 Enclosed Core One Conversion Kit". This has a fixed metal bracket at the rear on which the MMU3 is mounted. Looks like the INDX has a metal bracket on which the PTFE tubes are routed.

The hood is cutout at the back to allow fitting against the metal bracket. Again, the hood setup in the videos for INDX looks similar.

RE:

And you'd want to reverse the whole bed assembly too since all the extra room (especially in the core one/+) is at the front!

I'm planning to not use the side spool holders so i'll at least be able to watch from the sides.  Plus the cameras are finally becoming a lot more useful.

Posted by: @mike-daneman

Yes, in retrospect, considering the extruder is mounted facing toward the front on the CoreOne, it's obvious that the tools have to be on the front as well if we don't want to reverse the entire extruder rail.

RE: Tools a mounted on the front impacting access

The main thing I "fiddle" with on the extruders is the nozzles, both for changing and wiping extraneous filament off the tips.  It seems to me having the tools in the front would make this easier than if they were in the back.

It also seems that the side you would need to do anything to would more likely be the side where the tools connect, not the back where the belts and gantry connect.

RE: Tools a mounted on the front impacting access

But you will only see the back of the tool docks, with no access to the actual nozzles.

RE: Tools a mounted on the front impacting access

Photos from the  official Prusa discord server, they are probably not the final setup, though.