Quote Originally Posted by DaveB View Post
Both are my own versions or modifications of things. The rear manifold started with the standard rear mounted filament centering thing from the QiDi collection on this BBs. I would not recommend my version at this time. When I am done I will post it.

The extruder top piece is also a remix. I apologize in advance, but this is a bit of a soap box issue for me. There are a ton of them out there but some are not dimensioned in the same manner as the stock QiDi part. I tried three or four and found a number of ways to create unnecessary issues, some caused by the part designer, some caused by QiDi, some by me. The big thing I wanted was the pneumatic quick connects. I found that I could get the 1/8"NPT 6mm versions of the parts on Amazon / eBay relatively cheaply and quickly. I actually ordered a set of taps that claimed to be for the 1/8"NPT thread, received them and the thread didn't mate. I do not know if the thread is really as claimed, but I have been able to reliably print a hole I can self thread it into w/ ABS, so I've stopped trying to fix it.

One of the major issues I found stems from the manner in which the extruder manifold is bolted down. It's not well constrained to say the least. The rear edge of the manifold is supported on the stepper motors. The front edge is a bit of a crap shoot. The nearest surface that you would expect to draw it down onto is the heat sinks. However, the top surface of the heat sink is too low to normally support the flat underside surface of the manifold. The tallest item in the manifold's path is the filament feeder top hinge piece lever. And when the forward bolt that holds the manifold down is tightened, it deforms that lever. Another thing that happens with this messed up stress is the filament thru holes in the manifold become misaligned with those in the feeder. As a test I have made a shim that raises the upper surface of the heat sinks to be above the plane of the filament feeder lever, and level with the stepper motor's top surface. I've had excellent results with that shim in place. It makes it easier to get the holes lined up, and doesn't deform and stress the the filament feeder. I've not done it yet, but I think modifying the underside of the manifold to eliminate the need for the shim will be my next modification.
Cool, just wondering because I like the idea. I will probably leave the extruder alone for now and probably just run long lines from the box to the extruder as I think about a manifold type contraption. I am guessing the tubing is no more than basic ice maker type water hose. For now I am building new spool rollers.