I’ve had a home-made Prusa Mk3S clone with a Titan Aero extruder for many years. It runs on 12 volts and has a 200mm x 200mm heated build platform and a RAMPS controller as those are what I had in the bin at the time I put it together.
I’m looking at some projects that would benefit from a bigger build platform (uses the full Prusa mk3 platform), which has me thinking it might be time to revamp this printer. Alternatively, it may be time to move on to a new platform.
If upgrading, I’d be looking at:
24 v power supply
New controller (since RAMPS doesn’t do 24 volts without significant mods)
200mm x 250 mm build platform (as that’s the max that fits through the X axis frame opening and current Y rails)
Upgrading at least the heating element in the extruder
At the very least, I’d appreciate recommendations for controllers and extruders. Alternatively, if I’m thinking of this level of upgrade anyway, should I be looking at an overall rebuild? If so, what to?
I use 24V for the heat bed (200x300) with ramps 1.4 and 12V for the nozzle it heats up in 20 to 30 seconds depending off the room temperatuur.
I do but not know the Titan Aero extruder but if it is a bowden setup it is also easy to replace the heat element to 24V
I have kept much older machines running for a long time, so I understand using what works.
The state of the ordinary today is so much better than the state of the art from then.
Since this is the V1 forums, I’ll note that the V1 MP3DP V5 machine is amazing.
From your list,
PS to 24V
new controller (say, SKR Pro 1.2)
new build platform (24V or AC Mains, > 200 x 250mm platform)
Upgraded, possibly new extruder.
You’re well over halfway to a completely new machine at that point.
Not mentioned, but a probable consideration is firmware. For a new build you may want to run Klipper and that may either change your controller decision or add something like a raspberrry Pi to your list.
Do you prefer to build your own? (I presume so given the nature of the question.)
Then the question is one of budget. Voron 2.x or MP3DP V5 or similar puts you in the ~$900 up to $1200 ballpark and up depending on options.
You might also want to buy and mod, like the the FlashForge3 AD5M discussed here on the forums. Budget maybe 60-70% of the build above.
Finally, if you’re considering a rebuild / mod anyway, you may consider hitting craigslist or marketplace or similar and finding a locally sourced newer platform to mod. There’s a ready supply of modern machines in the hands of folks that bought them and got bored or couldn’t keep them running. I’ve helped a few folks go this route, and it can be VERY cost effective.
Not sure I answered any of your questions but perhaps it’s at least food for more discussion.
Titan Aero is an E3D extruder that came out just a bit before their Hemera and Revo lines. It’s a compact top-to-bottom direct-drive extruder and hot-end combined but still uses the V6-style heat block and nozzles. I should be able to pop a 24 volt cartridge in without changing any of the rest of it.
I’d kind of like the ease of nozzle change that the Revo allows for, but don’t know if I can justify replacing the whole extruder on top of the rest of the changes I want to make.
Of course, if I go the “whole new machine” route, I guess I could keep this one as-is as a secondary.
Actually ended up getting a complete and functioning Sovol SV01 printer. 24 volt, build envelope is 280 mm wide x 240 mm deep x 300 mm tall running a Creality v 2.2 controller. Seller mentioned bed adhesion problems, but a quick wipe with 91% isopropyl alcohol and my first couple of prints haven’t had any problems.
I get that this isn’t a big step into the current state of the art, but it will let me do the larger prints I’ve been eyeing.