MakerBot Labs Experimental Extruder User manual

CONFIGURATION AND NOZZLE CHANGING GUIDE
NOTE: The Experimental Extruder is an experimental product and is not covered under warranty or MakerCare.

STEP ONE:
Choose your Experimental Extruder configuration:
Remove the
Active Cooling Duct
by pulling down.
Ensure the Replicator Z18
Swivel Clip is attached.
You may optionally remove
the Replicator Z18 Swivel
Clip and replace it with the
Extruder Top Cap
(may perform better with
certain materials).
Remove the Replicator
Z18 Swivel Clip and
replace it with the
Extruder Top Cap.
Make sure the Active Cooling
Duct is snapped into place —
opening toward the back.
›MakerBot®Labs™Experimental Extruder
›Active Cooling Duct (installed)
›MakerBot®Replicator®Z18 Swivel Clip
(installed)
›Extruder Top Cap
UPON UNBOXING YOUR EXPERIMENTAL EXTRUDER PACKAGE, YOU SHOULD
HAVE THE FOLLOWING COMPONENTS:
›Two Nozzle Wrenches
›0.4 mm Brass Nozzle (installed)
›0.6 mm Brass Nozzle
›0.8 mm Brass Nozzle
›0.6 mm Stainless Steel Nozzle
BEFORE YOU START:
Download and 3D print the Experimental Extruder Jig using your standard PLA configuration for a steady base
during Nozzle changing. (thingiverse.com/thing:2557034)
MAKERBOT REPLICATOR+, MINI+
REPLICATOR (5TH GEN), MINI 3D PRINTERS:
MAKERBOT REPLICATOR
Z18 3D PRINTER:
PAGE 2EXPERIMENTAL EXTRUDER CONFIGURATION AND NOZZLE CHANGING GUIDE

STEP THREE:
Wearing heat resistant gloves
remove the hot Experimental
Extruder from the 3D printer
carriage and place into the
Experimental Extruder Jig.
STEP FOUR:
Use the large side of one
Nozzle Wrench to grasp the
flats on the thermal core cone
(adjacent to the Nozzle).
STEP TWO:
Attach the Experimental Extruder
to the carriage of your MakerBot
3D printer and run the
Preheat function.
PRO TIPS:
Some materials may cling to the
Nozzle, to avoid this load and then
unload MakerBot PLA filament to
purge the Nozzle.
Once hot, you may want to scrape any
caked filament off of the Nozzle using
forceps or another tool.
CAU T IO N :
Always wear heat resistant gloves
and protective eyewear when
handling a hot Nozzle.
PAGE 3EXPERIMENTAL EXTRUDER CONFIGURATION AND NOZZLE CHANGING GUIDE

STEP SIX:
Loosen the Nozzle with the two
Nozzle Wrenches but do not
completely remove — allow the
Nozzle to cool.
STEP SEVEN:
Once the loosened Nozzle has
cooled, remove it completely,
then screw on the replacement
Nozzle of choice and
hand-tighten.
STEP FIVE:
Use the small side of the
second Nozzle Wrench to grasp
the Nozzle.
PAGE 4EXPERIMENTAL EXTRUDER CONFIGURATION AND NOZZLE CHANGING GUIDE

STEP NINE:
Reattach the Experimental
Extruder to the 3D printer’s
carriage and run the Z-Calibrate
function. You are now ready
to load you 1.75 mm diameter
filament of choice
and print.
STEP EIGHT:
Heat the Experimental Extruder
on your 3D printer using the
Preheat function, then place the
Experimental Extruder back into
the Experimental Extruder Jig and
wrench tighten the Nozzle one
additional 40° turn.
PAGE 5EXPERIMENTAL EXTRUDER CONFIGURATION AND NOZZLE CHANGING GUIDE
For additional resources and
up-to-date information, visit
MakerBot.com/Labs