Heater Block Silicone Rubber Sock Mold

thingiverse

A mold to craft your own silicone rubber sock for the E3D V6/Lite6 heater block. By insulating the heater block, you can maintain a stable nozzle temperature that remains unaffected by external temperature changes caused by the part cooling fan. Print with 1 solid layer. Both left and right side versions of the mold include a cutout to allow the exit of thermistor / heater cartridge wiring. Before creating the mold, line its interior with scotch tape. Silicone rubber won't stick to scotch tape, making it easy to remove once your sock is dry. Prepare the E3D V6/Lite6 heater block for use in the mold. Wrap the heater block with teflon tape, which won't let silicone rubber stick to it. Make sure to cover the nozzle as well. To shape the teflon tape around the nozzle cone more precisely, press it firmly onto the area surrounding the nozzle. Next, fill the mold about 2/3 full of high-temperature RTV silicone rubber. Ensure that all corners are properly filled. High-temp RTV silicone rubber is widely available at auto-parts shops and comes in tubes. Buy the highest temperature rating possible to ensure your sock lasts a long time. Place the heater block into the mold, pushing it until the nozzle cone passes through the hole and the nozzle nut hits the bottom of the mold. Make sure the nozzle tip exits from the hole at the bottom of the mold. Excess silicone rubber will spread up the top side of the heater block. Use an oiled spatula to shape this excess silicone rubber on top of the block. Let your sock dry for at least 12 hours before removing it from the mold. If necessary, you may need to break open the mold as it can get stuck. Let the sock cure for 24 hours before using it in your printer. Remember to remove any teflon tape covering the nozzle tip before using your new silicone rubber sock. If needed, you can remove the cured silicone rubber sock from the heater block. Printer Settings: Printer: Kossel Mini Rafts: No Supports: No Resolution: 0.2 Notes: Print with one solid layer only