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May 28, 2015 | By Simon

Of all of the existing pieces of hardware on Earth, very few are capable of replicating themselves with near-100% accuracy - however this single trait has been one of the most enjoyable features of owning a 3D printer.  For some manufacturers, this is even a way of ‘upgrading’ a machine once a new feature has been announced or a design flaw has been fixed.

With this in mind - combined with the open source nature of 3D printing - it’s also been very easy for people to customize the functions of their 3D printers using parts of their own design or those picked up from others via file sharing sites including MakerBot’s Thingiverse.  For those who have always wanted multi-material extrusion capabilities from a single MakerBot, the new MM2X (Multi-Material Dual Extruder) just might be one of the better 3D printer custom parts we’ve seen in awhile.  

The MM2X (Multi-Material Dual Extruder) from the UK’s Robosavvy is a replacement dual extruder system for the Makerbot Replicator 2X that guarantees reliable printing with PLA, ABS and other materials.

Leveraging their experience and expertise of printing with MakerBot 3D printers, the design engineers at Robosavvy took everything they learned while using the Brooklyn company’s hardware and improved upon it in an effort to make multi-material, high-quality printing with the Replicator 2X a reality.

The design of the MM2X uses a polyether ether ketone (PEEK) insulator rather than traditional metal parts to help prevent heat transfer that can affect the quality of PLA-based printing.  Additionally, an internal teflon guide helps ensure smooth movement of the filament during the printing process. The design also includes a radial fan and duct to cool the filament immediately after extrusion. Ultimately, this helps to greatly improve the surface quality of PLA prints.  

Additionally, the design engineers wanted to ensure that the user experience was as simple and as easy to install as possible.  This was solved by creating an easy-install solution that takes less than 30 minutes to install and is easily compatible with existing MakerBot MakerWare default profiles.  The company even uploaded picture-based installation instructions to Instructables for easy access.    

MM2X Features:

• Multi-material extrusion (PLA, ABS and other materials2)
• Simple installation - can be assembled by anyone in under 30 minutes
• No software settings modifications - Compatible with MakerBot MakerWare default profiles
• MM2X nozzles can be easily swapped within a few minutes
• No definitive changes to the printer - Can be easily restored back to the original extruder
• An internal teflon guide tube allows smooth (non-stick) movement of the filament
• Active cooling - A radial fan and air duct cool the filament to guarantee high quality PLA prints

MM2X Kit Includes:

• 1 x Aluminum Bar Mount with 2 Nozzles (including cartridge heaters and thermocouples)
• 1 x Radial Cooling Fan
• 1 x Cooling Duct - STL File (part to be printed by consumer)
• 1 x Z Spacer - STL File (part to be printed by consumer)
• 4 x Extension Cables

“Robosavvy Team, you did a great job!” said company fan Juan Francisco Pedraza.  

“The assembly went perfectly, the instructions were accurate and well documented. We have been printing many pieces with great results. Among them dual PLA prints … we must still do some long prints to test the limits of the build but we are confident that it is going to master it without a hitch. All in all we are very pleased with the results.”

For those who own a MakerBot Replicator 2X and are looking to increase the functionality of their 3D printer, the MM2X kits can be purchased directly from the Robotsavvy online store for £180.00.  

 

Posted in 3D Printer Accessories

 

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