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Chimera+ Aqua Assembly

Written By: Daniel Halsall (and 2 other contributors)
  • Comments: 2
  • Favorites: 0
  • Completions: 1

Difficulty

Moderate

Steps

32

Time Required

Suggest a time??

Sections

2

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Introduction

The Chimera+ Aqua assembly is easy, and we provide most of the tools you'll need. Please note, though, that you should be very careful of the following safety cautions:

  • Be aware of your electronics. Don't work on your printer while it is plugged in or turned on.
  • Be aware when you heat up your new hotend not to burn yourself on the heater block nozzle or heater cartridge.
  • The standard Chimera+ Aqua is capable of printing up to 285°C, do not exceed these temperatures unless you have replaced the thermistor cartridge with a PT100, the aluminium heater block with a Plated copper heater block, and the Brass nozzle for a Plated copper, Hardened steel or Nozzle X.
  • The firmware modification is not optional it is a mandatory step,
  • Make sure you have ordered and received the correct voltage heater and fan to match the power supply of your printer. All of our current heater cartridges should have the voltage and wattage laser engraved on the cartridge.
  • Connecting 12v parts to a 24v power supply can result in overheating, component damage, or fire. If you are unsure double check the rating on your power supply.
  • Your HotEnd and your printer are your responsibility. We cannot be held responsible for damages caused by the use, misuse or abuse of our products.

    • Gather:

    • 2 x Collets

    • Cyclops heatsink - Water-cooled

    • Nylon Tubing

    • 2 x Collet clips

    Edit

  2. Press the two collets into the holes with the central two brass rings Insert the collet clips Insert the nylon tubing until the tube cannot go in anymore. You should feel resistance as it pushes through the o-ring and makes a watertight seal

    • Press the two collets into the holes with the central two brass rings

    • Insert the collet clips

    • Insert the nylon tubing until the tube cannot go in anymore. You should feel resistance as it pushes through the o-ring and makes a watertight seal

    • Make sure to push the tubing past the o-ring or you will experience leaking from the water-cooling system.

    Edit

    • Gather:

    • Cyclops Heatsink - Water-cooled

    • 2 x Collets

    • 2 x Collet clips

    • PTFE Tubing

    Edit

  4. Because the Cyclops/Chimera watercooled heatsink is so compact, it is best to set it with a bowden setup If you still want to use a direct setup, skip inserting the collet, but make sure you still insert PTFE tubing to guide filament through the heatsink Press in the two collets into the holes with the outer brass rings

    • Because the Cyclops/Chimera watercooled heatsink is so compact, it is best to set it with a bowden setup

    • If you still want to use a direct setup, skip inserting the collet, but make sure you still insert PTFE tubing to guide filament through the heatsink

    • Press in the two collets into the holes with the outer brass rings

    • Insert the two collet clips

    • Insert the PTFE tube until it doesn’t go in anymore

    Edit

    • Gather:

    • Cyclops Heatsink - Water-cooled

    • 4 x 3mm Grub screws

    • 1.5mm Hex Wrench

    Edit

    • Screw in the 4 grub screws into the sides of the heatsink

    • These screws will tighten the heat breaks to the heatsink later. For now, just screw them in so you don't lose them

    • Make sure you're using the smaller grub screws in the cold-side kit, rather than the larger screws in the Cyclops hot-side kit

    Edit

  7. Gather:

    • Gather:

    • 2 x Heater Blocks

    • 2 x Nozzles

    • 2 x Kraken Heat Breaks

    • Notice that the Kraken heat breaks are fully smooth, compared to the Cyclops heat breaks which have a little little flat bit.

    Edit

  8. Before starting work on your heater blocks, make sure that you're going to screw your nozzles into the correct side.

    • Before starting work on your heater blocks, make sure that you're going to screw your nozzles into the correct side.

    • You should be looking at the side of the heater blocks with three holes in it

    Edit

  9. Screw in the nozzle all the way into the heater block. Don't worry about tightness yet. Then, unscrew the nozzle by a 1/4 of a turn. This will leave a little space to tighten after screwing in the heat break. Then, unscrew the nozzle by a 1/4 of a turn. This will leave a little space to tighten after screwing in the heat break.

    • Screw in the nozzle all the way into the heater block. Don't worry about tightness yet.

    • Then, unscrew the nozzle by a 1/4 of a turn. This will leave a little space to tighten after screwing in the heat break.

    Edit

  10. Screw in the heat break until it touches the nozzle.

    • Screw in the heat break until it touches the nozzle.

    • Tighten the nozzle against the heat break. No need to over tighten, we'll be hot-tightening later.

    • These pictures show normal V6 heat breaks, instead of the Kraken ones you're using (which are smooth).

    Edit

  11. Double check that your nozzle is still almost flush with your heater block.

    • Double check that your nozzle is still almost flush with your heater block.

    • If there is significant space between the nozzle top and the heater block you should re-adjust your nozzle and heat break to eliminate that space.

    Edit

  13. Gather

    • Gather

    • 2x Thermistor Cartidges

    • The Smaller, 1.5mm Hex Wrench

    • 2x 3mm Grub Screws

    • 2x Heater Blocks

    Edit

  14. Slide in the thermistor cartridge.

    • Slide in the thermistor cartridge.

    • You can slide the cartridge in either direction so that the wires extend from one side or the other of your heater block. Think about how you'll be organising your wiring to decide which makes sense for your printer.

    Edit

  15. Screw in grub screw until it just touches the thermistor. Tighten M3 grub screw by an 1/8 of a turn.

    • Screw in grub screw until it just touches the thermistor.

    • Tighten M3 grub screw by an 1/8 of a turn.

    • Do not over tighten the screw. The thermistor cartridge is soft, and you might deform it if you over-tighten the screw.

    Edit

  16. Before you install your heater cartridge, you should double check that you both purchased and received the correct voltage cartridge. This process is less annoying than putting out a house fire.

    • Before you install your heater cartridge, you should double check that you both purchased and received the correct voltage cartridge. This process is less annoying than putting out a house fire.

    • If you have a 12v30w heater cartridge, your multimeter should read 4.8Ω

    • If you have a 24v30w heater cartridge, your multimeter should read 19.2Ω

    • Your cartridges resistance may deviate slightly from these numbers, which is fine. We're mostly interested in verifying which cartridge type you have.

    Edit

  17. Gather the parts you'll need to install your heater cartridge:

    • Gather the parts you'll need to install your heater cartridge:

    • Heater Blocks

    • 2x Heater Cartridges

    • The Larger, 2.5mm Hex Wrench

    • Two of the longer M3x15 Screws.

    Edit

  18. Slide in the heater cartridge. Typically you'd want the wires to come out the same side as your thermistor wires.

    • Slide in the heater cartridge. Typically you'd want the wires to come out the same side as your thermistor wires.

    Edit

  19. Tighten the M3 x 10 socket dome screw (with the M3 washer on it) with 2 mm hey key until the clamp deforms slightly (as shown in the second picture). Tighten the M3 x 10 socket dome screw (with the M3 washer on it) with 2 mm hey key until the clamp deforms slightly (as shown in the second picture).

    • Tighten the M3 x 10 socket dome screw (with the M3 washer on it) with 2 mm hey key until the clamp deforms slightly (as shown in the second picture).

    Edit

  20. Before moving on, gently tug on your thermistor and heater cartridge wires. We don't want them slipping out during a print!

    • Before moving on, gently tug on your thermistor and heater cartridge wires. We don't want them slipping out during a print!

    Edit

  21. Gather

    • Gather

    • Thermal Paste Sachet

    • 2x Assembled Heater Blocks

    Edit

  22. Apply the thermal paste to your Kraken heat breaks.

    • Apply the thermal paste to your Kraken heat breaks.

    • You don't have to use the whole sachet for both heat breaks.

    • Wash your hands after working with thermal paste.

    Edit

  23. Gather

    • Gather

    • Your assembled heater blocks

    • Your assembled heatsink

    Edit

  24. Slide the two heat breaks into your heatsink. Ensure the bottom of the breaks are flush with the bottom of the sink.

    • Slide the two heat breaks into your heatsink.

    • Ensure the bottom of the breaks are flush with the bottom of the sink.

    • Tighten the four grub screws to secure the heatsinks

    • Do not over-tighten the grub screws—you don' t want to damage the surface of the heat breaks. Only tighten them enough to hold the hot-sides in place.

    Edit

    • Plug in your heater cartridges, thermistors, and fan into your electronics board.

    • Make sure to cable manage as you go! You'll be happier later if everything is neat and tidy.

    Edit

  26. Edit

  27. Using your printer's control software (or LCD screen), set both hotend's temperature to 285°C.

    • Using your printer's control software (or LCD screen), set both hotend's temperature to 285°C.

    • Allow them to reach 285°C and wait one minute to allow all components to equalise in temperature.

    • Gently tighten both nozzles whilst holding their heater blocks in place with a spanner. Use a smaller 7mm spanner to tighten the nozzle.

    • You want to aim for 3Nm of torque on the hot nozzle—this is about as much pressure as you can apply with one finger on a small spanner.

    Edit

    • Gather

    • Your Hotend

    • Either:

    • 2x Pro Socks

    • Or 2x Normal Socks

    Edit

  29. First, let your hotends cool down

    • First, let your hotends cool down

    • Slip your silicone sock over the hotend. Try to get each of the little clips on the top of the heat block so the sock will stay on better.

    • It may look like your sock doesn't quite fit. Don't worry, when you heat up your HotEnd, the sock will expand, and the clips will fit just fine.

    Edit

  30. If you're using the pro sock make sure that the tip of the nozzle protrudes from the sock.

    • If you're using the pro sock make sure that the tip of the nozzle protrudes from the sock.

    • If you're using a normal sock, it should look like the second picture when you're finished.

    Edit

    • Make sure you have your HotEnd in a place where it can get hot without damaging anything or setting any fires! Mounted on your printer or held with a spanner will work fine. Take care not to touch your hotend when it heats up.

    • Send the command M303 to autotune your PID. Remember to do it for both HotEnds. For more detailed instructions, check out Thomas Sanladerer's video guide for more information.

    Edit

  32. In your slicer of preference find the retraction settings. In Slic3r this is in printer settings. Start with a retraction length of 1mm

    • In your slicer of preference find the retraction settings. In Slic3r this is in printer settings.

    • Start with a retraction length of 1mm

    • If you experience blobs or stringing on the surface of the print increase the retraction length to 2mm.

    • Do not increase the retraction length more than 2mm as this can lead to molten plastic being pulled into the heat break, increasing the likelihood of jams.

    Edit

    • You're ready to finish your calibration!

    • You'll have to make sure your nozzles are level to each other. You can adjust this by unscrewing the grub screws holding the heat breaks in place, and gently moving them to be better aligned.

    • You'll also have to calibrate the distance between your nozzles, so that they print on top of each other

    • Don't forget to update your slicer to tell it you have two nozzles!

    Edit
Finish Line

One other person completed this guide.

Author

with 2 other contributors

Daniel Halsall

Member since: 08/07/2017

1,105 Reputation

7 Guides authored

2 Comments

Add a comment

How do you keep the heater blocks from swiveling? I tightened the 2 (4) grub screws down as far as I dared but any movement causes the weight from the thermistor and heater element wires to rotate the heater blocks. Is this normal? Should the grub screws be tighter?

Matt - Reply

Great Guide. Well written and good step by step instructions. Any recommendation for a carriage for an Anet AM8?

Matthias Wurst - Reply

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