Hello, I have a Mini 1 that I need to replace a compete new hot end. I have searched but have not been able to find a suitable replacement. Can anyone please point me in the right direction?
Thank you!
To try and keep it an original Mini1 hot end, new Hexagon 2.85mm hot ends aren’t made anymore, so you’re going to have a very hard time finding one.
Options are:
Salvaging a used one from an Taz 6 Single Extruder, Dual Extruder v2, FlexyDually, or similar toolhead. These days, you’re probably looking at just buying a used printer, since separate toolheads don’t come up often. Begging on this board may get you somewhere.
Buy/make the mini adapter plate and buy a new toolhead: Tool Heads . Will cost you more than an entirely new, more capable (but less repairable) printer.
Modify the mini1 toolhead to use an e3d v6-style hotend. Can be done very cheap. 24v 2.85mm kits are almost non-existent anymore, so you may have to buy a 12v kit, and put a 24v heater and 5v heatbreak fan on it. You’ll need a little shim for the slightly longer throat of the v6, but otherwise it is a fairly easy.
Leave 2.85mm behind. Get the mini adapter plate and use one of the existing custom toolheads using something like a Biqu H2.
Or go full custom.
Hello.
The hot end is a RepRap Discount “Hexagon” hot end. Looks like it’s only available in 1.75mm in either 12V or 24V (as original).
These are available on Amazon marketplace (shipped from China) or on AliExpress or RobotDigg if you would like to order directly from China. Price on Amazon is $57 for the 1.75mm/24V version.
I have 2-each 2.85mm hot ends with no heaters or thermistors from a Taz6 Dual Print head V2 upgrade/rebuild/redesign from a few years ago. (I swapped out the original 2.85mm ones in favor of 1.75mm and improved the part and hot end cooling.) You are welcome to these for the price of shipping if they can be of help. The heaters and thermistors are pretty standard.
Let me know if you have any questions. I’m glad to help.
Thanks,
Todd.
(Currently running a Mini 1 with Titan Aero 1.75mm head, Taz6 with either a Titan Aero or Dual head V2, two Hatchbox Alphas and a RatRig VCore 3.0.)
Thank you very much. That is awesome. I would be willing to give that a shot! Can I Venmo, PayPal, or Zelle you?
Thank you,
Ed
Thanks so much for all the info you provided. Littlelocos just offered up one of his old units I will definitely give a shot. If this doesn’t work, I will take your previous advice and throw in the towel and go for a newer printer.
Again, I really appreciate you taking the time to explain all of this to me.
Ed
Hello Ed.
Just send you a DM.
Thanks,
Todd.
I’m in the same boat, my Taz 5 hex hotend took a dump. Looking at the cost I just decided to scrap it. My first 3D printer to die, the Ultimaker and SeeMe CNC are still chugging along.
What exactly died in it? Heater cartridges and thermistors are both cheap and easily replaced. Only thing I can really see going out is breaking threads on the heatbreak or stripping threads out with improper install.
I will not argue that even if replacements were free, the machines themselves are just outdated enough it may be worth the saved time/frustration just to get something new, but I’m still wondering what exactly is wearing out.
I know stepper drivers on the Rambo are a bit of a weak point, and the drylin bushings eventually wear down, but otherwise these can just keep going.
Now you have me wondering if I dug deep enough. Mine had a little translucent wire that just disappeared into the block through a tiny hole and the wire ripped leaving part of what I was assuming is the thermistor buried inside the block with no way to remove it. I didn’t notice any ingress point, what am I missing?
The access plate. Just reverse steps #15 and #14: OHAI: Open Hardware Assembly Instructions