Introduction
This upgrade process has not only enhanced the performance of my 3D printer but has also broadened my knowledge and skills in the world of 3D printing. In this article, I’ll take you through the steps and experiences of this transformative upgrade. Before delving into the upgrade process, let’s briefly introduce the Voron 2.4 3D printer. Known for its precision, reliability, and open-source nature, the Voron 2.4 is a popular choice among 3D printing enthusiasts and professionals. However, as technology evolves, so do the components that drive our machines.
The StealthBurner Design
The StealthBurner tool head represents the latest innovation from Voron. This cutting-edge design promises superior print quality, faster print speeds, and enhanced reliability. With a keen interest in pushing the boundaries of my 3D printing capabilities, I decided to embark on this upgrade journey. Upgrading to the StealthBurner tool head was an exciting yet meticulous process. Here’s an overview of the steps involved:
The Building Process
01
Research and Preparation
To ensure a smooth transition, I thoroughly researched the StealthBurner tool head, gathering information on its assembly, calibration, and potential challenges.
02
Sourcing the Components
I procured all the necessary components, including the StealthBurner tool head kit, additional wiring, and any specialized tools required.
03
disAssembly
The first step was disassembling the existing tool head of my Voron 2.4, which required careful attention to detail to avoid damage to any components.
04
Assembling Stealth burner
Following Voron’s detailed instructions and documentation, I assembled the StealthBurner tool head. This involved precise assembly of components, ensuring that everything fit together seamlessly.
05
Wiring and calibration
After assembly, I meticulously wired the new tool head, ensuring correct connections and cable management. Calibration was a crucial step to achieve precise and accurate printing results.
06
Test prints and optimization
With the new tool head in place, I conducted test prints, making adjustments to optimize print quality, speed, and reliability.
Challenges Encountered
Throughout the upgrade process, I encountered various challenges, such as fine-tuning the PID settings for the hotend, dealing with tolerance issues with the printed parts and calibrating the printer to perfection. These challenges provided valuable learning experiences and helped me deepen my understanding of 3D printing technology. Let’s dive in deeper to each challenge:
- Fine Tuning & PID Adjustment While using the same hotend and heater the new fan design caused more effective cooling which improves print quality but also made my heater require more energy to stay hot. So after recalibrating the PID of my hotend that problem was fixed. The new design also features a new extruder motor with a different gear ratio. I had to retune my Extruder’s step to distance number. This adjustment means that when my printer extrudes 5mm of filament 5mm is actually extruded.
- Poor Tolerance In Printed Parts For this upgrade I printed my own ABS parts on my existing setup with the Voron AfterBurner tool head. I tried to dial my printer in to produce accurate parts but with all the test prints I made I ran out of the brand of filament I was using for the tests. When I printed the parts for this upgrade the plastics extrusion multiplier was not accurate and caused over extrusion meaning my parts had poor tolerances.