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Do I have MK2 or MK3

I ordered my kit Nov 4th 2021

"3DChameleon 4 Color MK2 Add-On Kit INTERNATIONAL SHIPPING"

I struggled to get it working, then got really busy and never got back to it until now. It sounds like there's an MK3 version now. It looks simplified compared to the MK2, so I'd like to upgrade. I see that there's an MK2-MK3 upgrade kit, but if I have the "MK2.5" then it's not necessary as the hardware is the same? What's the best way for me to tell which version I have? Perhaps just the date/order above is enough information? Hopefully I have the 2.5, and can simply flash the firmware following this post: https://www.3dchameleon.com/forum/getting-started/mk3-firmware-upgrade-instructions

6 comments

6 Comments

Michael Despault

Nov 13, 2022

@Bill perhaps a silly question, but how does one use the 3DClippy filament cutter? I've got my 3D Chameleon MK2, which I've now successfully flashed to the MK3 firmware. I ran some quick tests and the loading/unloading seems to work great. I think the next step will be for me to print this filament cutter but I haven't been able to find any guides on how to attach it or what it actually does (besides the obvious cutting filament.. is it automated somehow?).

pete.lammers

Nov 14, 2022

Replying to

Michael, after staring at it for a while, I think I understand how it works. When the printer homes on the X axis, the lever arm will bring the guillotine around and cut the filament. The remaining filament is then printed onto the waste block while the filament is left with a clean cut.

Bill

Nov 17, 2022

Replying to

I'm working on a video for it... it's just that work is sort of getting in the way of my... um... work. ;-) I promise, I'll work on it this weekend! I have all next week off to show how it works. Bill

mindseye3

Jan 14, 2023

Replying to

Hello Bill, Did you ever post a video of the cutter set up and function?

Bill

Nov 09, 2022

The easiest way to spot the difference is to look at the extruder end of the 3D Chameleon... if you can see the two bearings sticking out the end of the unit, then you have the older Mk2... the Mk3 fully encloses those bearings. But, I can tell that from the date, November 4th, 2021, it was several months before we introduced the Mk2.5 kits... which we first introduced in June of 2022 at the Midwest RepRap Fest. We then upgraded to the full Mk3 at the East Coast Reprap Fest last month. With that said, you can actually run the Mk3 firmware on the Mk2 hardware without issue. The Mk3 hardware improves the adjustability of the unit, allowing each of the extruders to be tuned (for example, you can increase or decrease the pressure that gets applied to each filament.) We also now have the 3DClippy filament cutter (open source) design available for the Mk2 or the Mk3. This allows the elimination of any tip shaping requirements, which significantly eases the usage. You can see the designs here: https://www.tinkercad.com/things/0z661JBy7A8-3dclippyender3

Bill

Michael Despault

Nov 09, 2022

Replying to

Thanks Bill! That filament cutter sounds very helpful as I was definitely struggling a bit with the shaping part of my gcode. Also great news that I can run the new firmware on my MK2, I'm going to give that a try as just flashing the firmware should be a fun little project.