Taz 5 Multi Filament Hot End Assembly Remix by weekend_warrior1999

Last crawled date: 3 years ago

This is an ongoing project and some parts may not be available just yet.
This is a remix of two hot end assemblies. One being the original Taz 5 Assembly, the second being the new Prusa MK2 MMU multi-filament hotend that isn't shipping from Prusa till November. This essentially is a quad bowden that feeds into one hotend. using Prusa's Stepper motor multiplexer you can turn the E0 stepper signals into E0-E3 and print multicolor (4 Color) parts rather than utilizing (Pause, unload, reload, resume) techniques.
As referenced here: http://shop.prusa3d.com/en/printer-upgrades/118-original-prusa-i3-mk2-multi-material-upgrade.html
This hotend assembly takes:
1.75mm E3D V6 bowden style all metal hotend
3 X M3 (5mm x 5mm OD) Brass threaded inserts
5 X M3 x 15mm Hex Head Screws
1 X M3 x 30mm Hex Head Screws
3 X M3 Square Nuts
Small legnth of PTFE tubing to mate Y-Splitter to E3D V6 hotend
Additional hardware is needed for the assembly, metal insert tubes and brass threaded inserts for the y-splitter assembly, and hardware associated with the hot end cooling fan and the fan used in active cooling, but I haven't been able to source these yet.
EDIT: After some reading I found an article (not by Prusa) stating that the hotend is not a regualr E3D V6 hot end, but rather a specially modified version that has a special heatbreak tubing that goes between the y-splitter and hotend that is bored to 1.9mm ID and flared out on the ends to reshape the retracted filament, and the steel tubes are 1.85mm ID to aid in cooling the filament after retraction and prevent sticking. If nothing else eventually we should be able to buy replacement parts for the MK2-MMU such as any special hotend, tubing, y-splitter.
I am currently working on modified mounts for the extruder motors, once I have them completed, I'll add all printable parts for the conversion.
Likely Additional Requirements:
Prusa's Super Switch board that turns the RAMBo's E0's stepper signals into a signal that drives steppers 1-4, currently this is not for sale, probably will not be till launch anyways.
Use a modified version of Prusa's Firmware (modified for Taz's bed size, thermistors, etc.)
Use the P.I.N.D.A sensor that Prusa uses (Proximity Sensor) for bed leveling/correction of "(ALL THREE AXIS)" not just Z. Corrects out of square Y/X axis also.
Between the bed heater and the borosilicate glass there are (9) 8mm round copper Sensor points distributed on the bed for axis correction (XYZ). Probe coordinates will need to be edited in firmware to accommodate larger bed.