Welcome to the SeeMeCNC Community

I've been enjoying the new MAX METAL platform by trick laser. Just messing around with new ways to mount layer fans since there is ample room now with the open aluminum design.
Running tests with it now. I'll update as I make progress. So far it seems to be working pretty well.

Quick question, if anyone has done this. What would be the effect on PLA of over cooling?

I have not tried it... but I'd imagine poor layer adhesion, first off.

nice fans btw. There are so many things I want for my Romax... but the two things I require to upgrade are already used up eg, free time and free money.

maybe I can get my Romax to print money.

Yep, poor layer adhesion, that's happening. What's the point of epic cooling with multiple fans if it grants poor layer adhesion. I need to rethink this.

NIce design and I really like the compactness of how you mounted the fans.
But don't they block proper peek-air-flow? That could cause jamming issues in the hot end perhaps.

You raise a good point, but I think it is okay in this case because the 2 fans are angled perpendicular-ish to the peek fan, creating a corridor for the air to escape through the fins. It's more clear in this photo.
What I really have to figure out is how to to turn the air down. I've never had this much cooling before and its causing the layers to not adhere. Has anyone else had this problem?

Check!
If you connected the fans to the correct pins, you can change how hard they blow through gcode. Most slicers have support for that, and are able to blow less for eg the botton layers, or even blow harders during infills. You can easily check that by using the fan slider in repetier host.

For anyone following along still, the real issue here is that moving air blows up onto the heater block, causing a low temp extrusion. I found the perfect solution: Since I couldn't actually find any for sale, I was thinking it would be sufficient to dip my hot end in some automotive silicon gasket maker. Has anyone tried this? I'm hoping its something I can peel off if I decide I don't like it, but it would solve so many problems it seems.
This is the stuff I'm looking at:
https://amzn.com/B007X5K9Z6

This is what others are using,,, High temp mold making silicone.

https://www.smooth-on.com/product-line/mold-max/

Just found this the other day on thingiverse.

http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:1632001

barry99705 wrote:Just found this the other day on thingiverse.

http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:1632001

E3d has been talking about making silicone condoms for their heaters. Even covers the ends so you don't get any filament stick.

I wrap my heater blocks with self bonding silicone tape...
https://www.amazon.com/X-Treme-Tape-TPE ... icone+tape

Most auto parts stores, Menards, or Lowes have it also.

^me too

bvandiepenbos wrote:I wrap my heater blocks with self bonding silicone tape...

Hey Brian, will you pat a photo of your wrapped block so I can see how it goes on? Thanks!

I also use the self bonding silicone tape that I purchase from Amazon.
It comes in many colors and works well.

I picked up some self bonding silicone tape, but I'm having trouble figuring how to get it onto the hot end nicely. Do I just go right over the wires and everything? Anyone have a photo of their wrapped hot end? Google image search didn't turn up much.
What would you guys think if I just painted the heater block and nozzle with the Ultra Copper Gasket Maker stuff I have still?

I haven't tried it yet, but I was going to use the same red hi-temp silicone for a heater wrap that I used to assemble the first SeeMeCNC hotend. Draw some of it into a glue syringe, and I ought to be able to squirt it into a mold with a little bit of pressure.

There are a few designs for this kind of thing. I haven't decided which one to use yet, but I think I like this one the best. http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:1432346

Here are the other options that I'd found.
http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:1436767
http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:1170694
http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:1466642

Sweet! I love the idea of covering the heater block.
Thanks for those links Jim. I did search for silicone covers but missed the first one you post. It does look like the best option.

Me too, still have some Permatex Hight Temp RTV back from 2014, so if it's still usable I will give it a try.
Either way, the 2 component high temp silicone is an item that doesn't exist here =/

ramai wrote:

bvandiepenbos wrote:I wrap my heater blocks with self bonding silicone tape...

Hey Brian, will you pat a photo of your wrapped block so I can see how it goes on? Thanks!

Here is photo of heater block wrapped with silicone self-bonding tape...

Thanks Brian, that photo is most helpful.

Brian, Which fan duct and fan size are you using?

Test 1... EPIC FAIL

[img]https://c2.staticflickr.com/8/7471/2795 ... 2b91_z.jpg[/img]

After 24hs I attempted to remove the molded part but it stuck so damn well to the mold.
It really needs some sort of release agent that can work with the silicone I'm using (Permatex ultra copper rtv).

Any ideas of a home made or cheap solution? Maybe oil or vaseline?

I ended up painting the hot end directly, and it seems to have worked pretty well. I'll post a photo when I get home. I did notice some people were coating their molds with something before putting the silicone in.

ramai wrote:I ended up painting the hot end directly, and it seems to have worked pretty well. I'll post a photo when I get home. I did notice some people were coating their molds with something before putting the silicone in.

Painting? Nice. Yes please share.

Tomorrow I will buy a silicone spray mold release and give it another try.
Also, I think that doing an acetone bath to the mold will make it easier to release... and of course make the surface much smoother.