Chimera with direct drive?

Discussion in 'Multi-Extrusion' started by thingster, Sep 4, 2015.

  1. thingster

    thingster Active Member

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    Hi there,
    Is it possible to use the Chimera also with some kind of direct-drive setup? If not, how long may the bowden tubes be?
     
  2. Mike Kelly

    Mike Kelly Volunteer

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    Sure it's possible. I've only seen one other example: http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:852748

    I made mine a hybrid bowden/direct arrangement.

    On an aside, Direct Drive usually has to do with whether or not the hobbed gear is directly coupled to a nema 17. Othewise it would be a geared drive. For feeding there's either bowden fed or direct feed. Granted 3D printing nomenclature is fuzzy at best so the terms are often used interchangably.

    [​IMG]
     
  3. thingster

    thingster Active Member

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    That looks very nice! Do you think there is enough space to make the Chimera work only with direct-drive?
     
  4. Mike Kelly

    Mike Kelly Volunteer

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    Sure is according to the thingiverse link.
     
  5. RolandoK

    RolandoK Member

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    [​IMG] Here's my direct drive chimera, which works a treat.
     

    Attached Files:

    #5 RolandoK, Feb 17, 2016
    Last edited: Feb 17, 2016
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  6. UlrichKliegis

    UlrichKliegis Well-Known Member

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    Mind to tell us a bit about the selection of the drives - your own design or?
    And how do you control it?
    What about oozing? The right nozzle seems to can't hold it quite.

    What about leveling the two nozzles versus the build plate?

    Some results would also be nice to view.

    Thanks, cheers,

    U.
     
  7. Mike Kelly

    Mike Kelly Volunteer

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    This is awesome! great work.

    What motors are those?
     
    #7 Mike Kelly, Feb 18, 2016
    Last edited: Feb 18, 2016
  8. RolandoK

    RolandoK Member

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  9. RolandoK

    RolandoK Member

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    I adapted a design from thingiverse to improve the filament guidance using a standard E3D V6, and then put two of them back to back with the chimera.
    The original design I used is here:
    http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:218828

    It's a custom desinged and built printer based on V-Slot extrusions. I use a smoothieboard 5x to control it.

    The right nozzle is oozing in the photo - cheap red filament with a low melt point was the problem.

    Levelling is pretty easy as the Chimera has set screws to adjust the heads. I use the paper drag technique to level the bed vs head 1, then adjust head 2 so it drags the same. It takes a little longer than a single head, but it's not difficult.

    Will get some photos of test pieces up later (When I'm not at work :) )
     
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  10. UlrichKliegis

    UlrichKliegis Well-Known Member

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    Thanks!
     
  11. Lykle

    Lykle Member

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    An alternative would be to use a Remote Direct Drive like the Nimble, in this case the Dual Nimble.
    (full disclosure, I am the co-creator of these products)
    The result is a very light print head, direct drive and the ability to print flexibles.
    The advantages of a RDD are that you get all the benefits of the direct drive and the bowden setup, with none of the drawbacks.
     

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