A direct-drive E3D V6 Extruder for the Thing-O-Matic - The MK5 Evolution

thingiverse

This is an extruder I designed for my MakerBot Thing-O-Matic. The extruder uses an E3D v6 hotend, a generic pinch wheel cold end, and the original high torque Moons stepper motor as specified for the ToM. The E3D all-metal hot end and long heat break make this configuration optimal for printing in ABS, and the Thing-O-Matic is excellent for printing in ABS given the small build platform and easily enclosed frame. I've owned my MakerBot Thing-O-Matic for nearly a decade, going through the original MK5 extruder, then MK5+, MK6, and finally MK6+ with the spring-loaded idler bearing. None of these extruders worked reliably, all failing within weeks or months leaving me with constant filament jams. However, combined with the optimum environment for ABS printing, high quality axes give the ToM outstanding print resolution and the fully enclosed highly portable printer offers unmatched versatility. These factors motivated the design of a functional extruder to revive the printer. The MK5 was by far the most reliable, apart from requiring the occasional rebuild. After the introduction of MakerBot's MK6 extruder, parts were no longer available, and this was in a time long before market saturation with generic replacement parts. Long story short, though I have moved on to my own printers, my Thing-O-Matic has sat idle next to my desk for many years as a reminder of fond memories. I couldn't help but want ABS in my other printers and the desire to use this material prompted a new extruder for the ToM. Between this factor and the need to elevate the extruder given the length of the E3D V6 hotend, I call this extruder the MK5 Evolution.