Got my 3D Chameleon today and have spent the last 2 hours getting familiar with it...
I have one of those systems with an "enclosed base", and my Y axis homing switch in the back, so I have to get creative and design a 3dC switch mount that goes in the front, and fits in the gap under the bed (which means it has to lay flat, and to the side). That's no problem.
I have a BMG Direct Drive IDEX printer and am connecting the 3dC to E2. I plan to mount a spool system above and behind the printer to feed the 4 colors into the 3dC - hence why I reversed the motor mount and have the PTFE tube facing forward and down.
Is there any reason I can't and/or shouldn't shorten the PTFE tubes coming out of the 3dC motor assembly? What about the tube from the 3dC Y-adapter to the BMG extruder? I can make that really short so it doesn't flop around as shown in the picture.
Finally - if I completely screw this up and need to replace the PTFE tube - what are the specs on the tube so I can order replacement? I saw mention of 4mm compression fittings for inside the 3dC filament selector - would it be possible to get a link to replacement for those as well?
Thanks!
So are the length of the ptfe tubes the unit is shipped with can be modified without issue. Meaning it could be shortened, it would just need to be be long enough to reach from the placement of the stock extruder to the chameleon with enough slack to reach all parts of the x and z movement? Similair to a bowden tube needing to be about 14 inches for good range and decent loop.
No... you won't need it then.
I see. I have all-metal MicroSwiss hotends, so I guess there is no where to install it... unless it is meant to go between the MicroSwiss and the BMG?
Thanks!
It's designed to be used inside the hot end to allow the tip shaping to ensure the diameter of the filament as it is pulled from the hot end to fit into the rest of the system.
Bill
Thank you Bill!
One last question (for now ;-) ) - there is a short piece of PTFE in the parts bag that seems to be a tighter tolerance than the rest. Does that go between the 3dC Y adapter and the BMG Extruder? or does it have some other purpose?
Oh yes, we highly recommend you cut them to a nice length so that you don't have that extra tube... but also, make sure you have enough length to allow the PTFE tubes to not bend to too tight of a radius.
As for the tubes themselves, they're just standard 2mm ID 4mm OD PTFE tubes... you're welcome to use anything you like for them, including tubes like Capricorn. To hold them inside the 3D Chameleon itself, we simply use 4mm Brass Compression Ferrules... you can get them here: https://www.amazon.com/outstanding-Compression-Ferrule-Sleeve-Fittings/dp/B08X6NMBN9
Bill