Orbiter Extruder Mount for E3D Toolchanger

thingiverse

This is my version of a mount for Joe Pomo's excellent Orbiter Extruder. https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:4223085 It is an ADD (Almost Direct Drive) block for mounting the orbiter above the E3D Toolchanger alignment block. It uses the standard E3D aluminum MK6 heater extruder section. This mount differs in that it rotates the Orbiter to have the long axis across the tool, instead of with the motor hanging over the alignment area of the printer. It makes it more compact, and the tension thumbscrew is oriented outward toward the build volume, making access easier. Included is the mount block STL file, along with a 7mm nut for the filament feed. I just used a spare E3D MK6 heat break which I had kicking around as a filament guide, flipped it over, and have the narrow end positioned right below the drive gears. This leaves the 7mm X 1.0 threaded end of the heat break pointing down, with a nice socket for the ADD teflon tube section between the MK6 and the Orbiter. You position the heat break guide so that it doesn't rub against the gears, and lock it into place with the 7mm nut below the Orbiter base. I know this isn't optimal, as there is a slight gap between the gears and the top of the heat break filament guide, but it makes installation very easy, as the socket aligns the teflon tube, and just slips on when you mount the extruder drive. I used a Teflon tube length of 54.6mm to give a snug fit. So the 54.6mm is the ADD part of the system. That's a pretty short Bowden, on par with the ADD Titan setup. Total weight for the tool is 303g, which is much better than the ADD Titan, which I measure at 415g. Best printed with the tool overhang upwards, and support on the build plate. The small holes are for mounting the Orbiter body, and are sized for 3mm inner diameter, and must be tapped for the 3mm mounting bolts in the kit.