Duplicator 9 Larger Extruder Cover for TL-Smoother

thingiverse

This is to replace the original cover that goes on top of the Wanhao D9 MK10 extruder assembly, with modifications made to fit a TL-Smoother inside. The TL-Smoother used must have the connector going up from the circuit board instead of out to the side. 2018-12-28: Further testing has shown that regular PLA is not heat-resistant enough to prevent warping. To overcome this issue, Sunlu PLA+ was used and subjected to an (almost boiling) hot water treatment to anneal it, allowing it to withstand higher temperatures. This process changes the part's properties, enabling it to handle higher temps. The PLA+ part only shrunk by less than 1% during the process, with no noticeable effect on its fit on the extruder. Regular PLA can be annealed but it shrinks significantly more and may not fit without printing a larger part first. The PLA+ part is now holding up to heat exposure. To anneal the part, a large pot was heated on the stove, and aluminum foil was stretched across it, with the part resting on it under the water. This ensured that the part didn't come into contact with hotter areas at the bottom or edges of the pot. A strip of aluminum foil slightly wider than the part was used to allow for hot water movement onto the part. The water was heated until small bubbles started to form, but not enough to boil. This temperature range is ideal for annealing PLA+. The part was left at this temperature (adjusted by the stove's heat knob) for 10 minutes. Careful removal of tiny bubbles accumulating on the part was necessary to prevent it from becoming buoyant and floating. After 10 minutes, the heat was turned off and the water allowed to cool. 2018-12-16: Version 6 features added vents on top and sides to reduce heat buildup. The bottom was extended by 2mm downward to rest on the motor in back, providing additional feedback when the cover is fully down. Hole size was increased so that dimples on the extruder's side fit better inside holes on the cover, securing it in place. This modification significantly improved fitment.