MK8 Printhead horizontal Carriage and Ninja Flex / TPU Filament path Adapter

thingiverse

This is a new vertical carriage design for my RepRap Mendel to hold the new MK8 all-metal head, allowing printing with temperatures up to 280°C. A filament path adapter is included, designed specifically for a MK8 head using a grooved bearing and brass drive gear. This enables printing of NinjaFlex by preventing it from squeezing out after the pinch rollers. Another benefit is that you gain an additional inch in print height over traditional Wade extruders; be sure to update your firmware's Z limits. You will need longer M3 screws to make this work. Many parts were reused, and some were repurposed with creativity in mind; just make sure you have a plan before disassembling your only extruder. 9-13-2015 - A replacement design has been added to account for clearance between the printing part and the cooling housing due to its proximity to the bed. An updated design allows better support for the hotend using M4 screws which increases print quality at 240°C while running a #6 wire or micro Swiss hot end. 8-12-2017 - An upgraded MK10 All Metal Micro Swiss head is presented, requiring accurate new hole drilling with precise measurements from a drill index and calipers to achieve proper heat transfer. Also needed is a tap for creating tapped holes in the barrel receiver for securing the cold end of the MK10 head. The NinjaFlex path adapter also includes an SLA-printed adapter piece to set the height the cold end extends above the inside face of the extruder receiver. With proper preparation and patience, assembly is relatively simple, involving the application of high-quality thermal compound between the newly drilled and tapped barrel and the micro Swiss hotend, as well as securing the fan with some of the same compound.