Best suggestion to start over with a rapide lite 200?

[StridAst]

Ok, my rapide lite 200 has been collecting dust almost since it arrived. I had so many problems with getting it functioning (mostly filament feeding issues) that I simply gave up. I have been successfully using a wanhao duplicator I3 since. Thing is, I have a backlog of things I would like to print with the higher layer resolution of the RL 200, so I'm planning on dragging it out of storage and trying to use it again. IIRC I reversed the extruder hob and have the modified extruder plate printed and installed, and while that helped, it didnt fix the feeding problems. Should I just try to retrofit a new extruder on it? or is there any point to trying to troubleshoot until I get this extruder functioning? Would it be better to just rip out the board, and extruder both, and trying to turn it into just a standard i3 now, before more links go dead. (even all setup instructions for the RL 200 seem to be dead links already) if so, what boards/extruders should I be best considering? I still need the .05mm layer capability. its the only reason I am trying to un-mothball this overpriced poor quality POS.

[bolsoncerrado]

Titan+E3DV6 best thing I did to my rapide

[StridAst]

ah ok so titan extruder and e3dv6 hotend. worth trying to swap out the board? or is that only "if needed" kind of thing?

how did you attach it?

[bolsoncerrado]

I do like RUMBAs, and Rapide is a clone of the RUMBA so as long as it works I wouldnt touch it.


Someone posted an adapter here or in the e3d thread.

I have my own but since I had to pay for it, I cant share the files. I can send you a printed one though....

[StridAst]

I would gladly take a printed one if you don't mind. let me know how much you would like for it, and the paypall (I assume) address

[bolsoncerrado]

EMail me at gmail. Im alextc there

Ty!

[StridAst]

this is the extruder/hotend I am considering https://www.matterhackers.com/store/...kNgaAi7h8P8HAQ It's a shame that this printer needs an entire new extruder assembly just to function worth a damn but meh. it is what it is.

essentially titan aero and e3d v6 combined

[bolsoncerrado]

I didnt try the aero yet bc it may end with the hotend too high and not even getting close to the heatbed at its lowest position....

[StridAst]

hmm fair enough, so if I go the aero route, I would need to design some kind of custom bracket to lower it, which probably wouldn't help my print quality as that adds more flexibility in the mount =/ I was thinking less weight = milder jerking which in turn would help my prints. I'm trying to get some prints worth casting at my work (jeweler) So then, what's the difference between a bowden e3d v6 and a direct? just a longer filament tube between the extruder and the hotend right?

[bolsoncerrado]

bowden you have "less" control over the filament and its less flex filament friendly...
but there are great pro printers using bowden so...