No Sock for the hot end?
Just got a new MK3s. No sock for the hot end? I would like to know why? The printer comes with almost every option you could want but no hot end sock? There should be a good reason for this since all printer some with one. I must be lacking some knowledge here.
RE: No Sock for the hot end?
When you looked at the printer description, did it say it came with hot end socks?
These are disposable - just buy some if you want them. I have none, and never wanted any.
Looks like these would work:
RE: No Sock for the hot end?
Oh no maybe I said it wrong. The printer works great no complaints. Just wondering why it doesn't have one. I already have some on order, I just don't see a down side for something so simple.
RE: No Sock for the hot end?
I'd say it's a lot more mandatory on many other printer with poorly designed part cooling. They don't always include a sock either. Many have some ungodly kapton tape mess mounted. It's a cheap option if you want to add one to your Prusa.
RE: No Sock for the hot end?
Just a word of caution about the silicone socks: If they aren't installed correctly, or if they are old and you have been printing a lot of hotter filaments, they may start to droop down a little bit and my crash into your print. I'm not trying to dissuade you from using the socks (I use them), rather just informing you of potential issues so you can make your own personal informed decision.
This has been discussed here on the boards before and many of us use a piece of bare wire (for example the wire core of a twist tie) to grip the top edge of the sock to keep the fingers engaged on the top of the heater block. Wrap the wire around and twist the ends together. Just be careful not to touch the heater wires or thermistor wires with the retention wire to avoid shorts in the future.
Also, there are two types of socks from E3D (the manufacturer of the stock hot end used on our Prusa printers), one only has a hole for the nozzle tip, and the other exposes the bottom of the full nozzle. There are arguments about which is better, but many have settled on the second one (the non-pro) version. (E3D actually states that the non-pro version is suitable for 99% of the users.) The first one (the pro version) has a habit of catching strings or the start of a blob-of-death inside the hole for the nozzle tip. Filament can accumulate inside the sock pulling it off and making recovery more difficult.
Many 3D printer shops carry these socks, so if you have a local 3D printer shop support your local economy and check them first. 😉 The socks come in packs of 3 because they are considered consumables. See E3D's blog post announcing the socks for more details on how to prematurely age them...
See my (limited) designs on:
Printables - https://www.printables.com/@Sembazuru
Thingiverse - https://www.thingiverse.com/Sembazuru/designs
RE: No Sock for the hot end?
Oh no maybe I said it wrong. The printer works great no complaints. Just wondering why it doesn't have one. I already have some on order, I just don't see a down side for something so simple.
I can't speak for Prusa, but as I recall the socks became available after the Mk3 was released. As a business, Prusa always has to choose between adding a "nice to have" and getting an immediate back-lash from all the previous customers now demanding a free toy. There were some incidents of the "Pro" version creating a mess around the heaterblock. It's also not required, and god knows how many people burn themselves installing those things, so it may be a simple business decision.
I do recommend using a silicone sock. The "non-pro" versions work very well. It helps keep nozzle temps steady and sticky filaments off the heater block.
RE: No Sock for the hot end?
Now that is exactly what I was looking for, Thank you all.
RE: No Sock for the hot end?
After once having to clean the hot end from a black PETG blob, I consider a sock a mandatory upgrade. There are just too damn many opportunities for plastic to stick to the nozzle and hot end e.g. after oozing, z homing and mesh calibration. The sock removes a lot of those, as the plastic will not stick to it.
I just bought a couple of these: https://www.aliexpress.com/item/32850418953.html
They seem to be a bit loose fit, but after carefully fitting it, I have not had any trouble with it. However YMMV....
RE: No Sock for the hot end?
Yeah I did that last night, no fun to clean PETG off of metal.
RE: No Sock for the hot end?
I'd say a sock is mandatory for a stringing prone material like PETG. Makes keeping things clean super easy.
For high temp, I use a DIY sock, but E3D's commercial ones are fine for low PETG temperatures.
The pro version here, but I remove the entire portion that would otherwise cover the nozzle. I like the pro because it covers the heater retention screw. Slicing away the nozzle covering portion just takes a couple minutes.
As mentioned earlier, a "garter belt" of beading wire keeps the socks from sagging down and colliding with your print.
Once you use a sock, you'll wonder why you didn't sooner.