Hello everyone, I've been fixing things for a while now. I've just fixed this toy axolotl, which has some LED lights that glow when this thing is shorted because you submerge the axolotl. Well, it has these nice glowy LEDs.
Okay, so what is this? This is a 3D printing extruder module. It is not working because the hot ___________ (1) — well, it’s obstructed. So, we’re going to open it and replace it with one of these replacement kits.
So I have here my trusty Swiss knife and also my €10 screwdriver set. These screws are Torx T5 hexagonal screws. I’m going to quickly take them away, unscrewing… unscrewing. You have to be somewhat ___________ (2) with your screws. Keep them in order.
The cover is out. Okay, this is quite clean. This is a fan—it’s quite clean because I’ve already ___________ (3) the thing before. Oh, this is not a Torx; this is a hexagonal screw.
The first time I dismantled this, I unscrewed everything because I didn’t know better. But if I remember correctly, it is not necessary to take everything out. So, this is the fan. This plastic part fits the hot end. You adjust the fit with this screw, and then this part should come off.
Different lengths… okay, I didn’t remember this part. This part has a cable, which means it may have some kind of sensor. The PLA, this is the material. The filament goes through this part, inside this chamber, and onto the hot end. So, we’re going to unscrew these metal parts and let this loose. Out with them! Let’s see if this ________ ___ (4). Not yet—this thing will not move.
Okay, let’s go after the other part. Why do I do this at home, you say? Well, I don’t have time for these long repairs at work, so I decided to bring it home. Some of you may have seen another repair attempt at school, but it was a strike day, so we had time for this. On a normal school day, we don’t have time for such long repairs.
Another cover out. This is a ___________ (5). Yes, I have to take it out. This equipment combines two kinds of screws: the hexagonal ones and the hexagonal ones with pointy tips (known as Torx). They are both hexagonal, but one has pointy tips while the other is a perfect hexagon.
The only mechanical part here is the motor that moves the filament. All the rest, I believe, are just ___________ (6) circuits for the hot end. Oh wait, I believe the only thing retaining this are these two screws. So maybe I can take out this part without taking out the other part. Let’s see… okay, everything is moving now.
This ___________ (7) is connected to this part, so maybe I can take away everything and leave the gear behind. I don’t know. Out with everything! Reassembly will be difficult—I know because I did it last month, but I don’t remember much. We have here the connectors for the sensors and other electronic parts.
Okay I have to take out this, let’s open the back. No knife needed. Out with it. Nice! This connector carries the temperature sensor. I have to unscrew this with a wrench. I’ll be right back. Listen, I don’t like to do this—it shouldn’t be like this—but I don’t have any other tools at hand.
I’ll use this monkey ___________ (8) to loosen this part. Oh, no monkey wrench needed! I just had to pull it. This part has a notch to prevent the hot end from turning. I don’t know if they are actually compatible. It will work, but the fit won’t be so good , and it could turn accidentally. … So if I used… yes, I have to unscrew it. Be gone!
OK here is the problem: this is the part that caused all the problems. This is a transparent plastic sleeve that guides the PLA to the hot end. There’s no hole, so I couldn’t take this out. I need a pair of ___________ (9) to take this away. I did it off-camera, but I just pulled and this is the current state of this part and it’s not working.
Now, for the last part, I need to take away the old filament. Good. Oh no, it’s broken. There’s a tiny piece of filament inside. Come on! Get out! You know what? I’m just using the new one because if I kept this part, I’d have to take out the plastic sleeve (the transparent part) and put it inside here, and I don’t know if that’s possible.
So, I’m fitting the new guiding cable and putting all the parts back together. What should I do next? Oh, I remember. This screw, which is an adjustment screw, goes here. And if I fit it properly, this thing won’t turn. Like so… it is fit. Better now.
Now I can put the motherboard back inside. The connector has to face the ___________ (10). These two screws secure the hot end. Yes. OK Not very tight—I can adjust this at the end. Now for these three screws. The fan goes on this side, facing (…)
The whole point of this part is to guide the airflow for the hot end. I believe that cold air enters the fan, goes through this tube and cools the hot end. I do the fitting and I tighten the screw. Yes, this is the whole airflow. Oh, I think I forgot these two screws—that’s why this is a bit loose. Perfect now!
The motherboard... I do the diagonal first, then the other one. And then I tighten everything.
I’m not an expert in mechanical things, but people say Torx and hexagonal screws have better fit than Phillips screws. No I am not a mechanical expert by any means. Yeah battery low, I know.
Very well! That’s pretty much it. Tomorrow, when I arrive at school, I’ll be putting this back into the 3D printer and testing it with some real printing.
That’s it for today. Thank you very much, boys and girls!