Question: Does anyone have any experience printing with small nozzle sizes (<0.25mm) while using a bowden set-up? Also, any tips for a good bowden motor/drive configuration. I’ve been put off bowdens in the past as I’d heard they were harder to tune for retraction and genrally a bit less reliable than direct drive.
Most bowden comments are usually from people that do not have experience with them.
Yes, bowden setups string a tiny bit more. You’ll have to retract a bit more. But nothing serious. The retraction issues where actually firmware related, but that’s all fixed now.
I cannot comment on the best setup. As I only have experience with Ultimakers. But I do know a bowden setup does not have to drag a motor along, which is good against backlash and positive for printing and travel speed (which in turn reduces stringing).
They’re really not any less reliable, I’ve been using a 1.75mm bowden setup on my i3 and it’s been nothing but perfect once I had it set up. I set my retraction to 2.5mm and bumped my retraction speed way up, and it’s fine.
Also, “direct drive” generally refers to not having any gearing in order to drive the filament. The Ultimaker has a geared bowden setup. I’ve found direct drive bowden setups to be troublesome with small nozzles, but geared has been fine. Quality of the push-fit connectors or the attachment of the bowden tube may come into play though.
Cheers @ThantiK , @Daid_Braam . I’ve found someone in nz that sells push fit hydraulic fittings and ptfe tube but can you recommend a good US supplier of bowen hardware? My hot ends are both 3mm but I guess that doesnt pose a problem.