We continue to familiarize ourselves with our FFF 3D printer within our 3D design and printing section.
We have seen the operation of an FFF 3D printer, its kinematics, the parts and components that make it up, and in the previous post we saw the difference between a direct drive and Bowden printer.
We agreed to look at some of these elements in more detail. Today we start with one of the most important: the printhead.
The printhead is the element that heats and deposits the filament to form the part. Normally, depending on the printer’s kinematics, it has one or two degrees of movement.
The fundamental component of the printhead is the hotend, which is a metal element responsible for melting the filament by raising and controlling the printing temperature. We will look at this element and its operation in depth in the next post, but, basically, it consists of a heat sink, the extrusion nozzle, a thermal resistor, and a thermal sensor.
Other fundamental elements of the printhead are the fans. In general, we will have two fans, with two different functions (although some models mount more than one fan per function).
On one hand, we have the fan responsible for cooling the hotend. In the diagram, it’s the white fan (the one that looks like a Noctua). Typically, 30mm or 40mm axial fans are used.
On the other hand, we have the fan responsible for cooling the deposited filament, so it solidifies as quickly as possible. Axial fans or blower fans are frequently used.
The printhead also must allow air circulation and, where applicable, provide support for any existing air ducts to channel air to the hotend or the filament.
Furthermore, the printhead must transmit movement either by connecting to a carriage or acting as the carriage itself. The printhead must provide solidity and support to the assembly, minimizing vibrations.
Finally, in the case of direct drive printers (like the one in the image), the printhead must support the extruder and its components.
The printhead is one of the most important parts of the 3D printer, and largely responsible for the print quality and speed we will achieve.
Of course, for each printer there are a lot of modifications (mods) and improvements that can be made. Although, as a general rule, unless you are sure of what you are doing, the stock printhead usually provides adequate performance because it is designed for its own machine.
That’s all for this post where we have looked in detail at the printhead of an FFF 3D printer, its components and functions. In the next post, we will look at the hotend, another very important element within the printhead, which, as we mentioned, performs the material melting. See you soon!
