Project Dashboard Maintenance and Repairs Replacing the LulzBot TAZ Hexagon Hot End Workflow

1 Getting Started

WARNING:

At Aleph Objects, Inc. we respect your freedom to modify your LulzBotā„¢ 3D printer. Any modifications or attempted repairs that cause damage are not covered under the Warranty.

Questions? Contact Technical Support by emailing Support@LulzBot.com, or by calling +1-970-377-1111.

2 Required Tools

  • Scissors
  • 1.5mm Driver
  • 2.5mm Driver
  • 3mm Driver
  • LulzBot Hexagon Hot End
  • Dental Pick (Included with your 3D printer tool kit)
  • Zip Ties
Required Tools

3 Power Off your 3D Printer

Power down and unplug your 3D printer.

Power Down

4 Unplug Connector(s)

Release the connector(s) for your tool head that are located above the large herringbone gear.

Remove Harness Connection

5 Remove Existing Tool Head

Be careful not to let the tool head fall onto your build plate.

Using your 2.5mm driver remove the single screw holding your tool head to the printer.

Remove Screw
Tool Head Removed

6 Remove Micro Blower Screw

Remove the screw holding the micro blower in place using your 1.5mm driver, and set the screw aside.

Micro Blower Screw

7 Remove Extruder Fan Mount Screws

Using your 2.5mm driver, remove the two screws holding the fan mount to the tool head.

Remove Fan Mount Screws
Fan Mount Removed

8 Cut Zip Tie

Cut the zip ties holding the wiring bundle for the toolhead harness.

Be careful not to cut any of the wires.

Cut Zip Tie

9 Remove Hot End From Extruder Assembly

Remove the two screws holding the extruder and hot end to the tool head mounting plate using your 3mm driver.

Gently remove the too head mount and aluminum plate.

Screw Locations
Components Separated

10 Remove the New Heater Cartridge Pins

Using the dental pick included with your toolkit, gently push down on the catch that holds the pin in place. This will allow you to remove the existing pins.

Release and remove just the two larger red wires.

The pick is sharp. Be careful.

Replacement Hotend
Pin Catch Location
Pins Removed

11 Raise Pin Catches

Using your dental pick, Gently raise the catch that was depressed in the previous step.

The pick is sharp. Be careful.

Pin Catch
Lift Catch

12 Remove Original Heater Cartridge Pins

Push down on the catch that holds the pin in place using the dental pick. This will allow you to remove the existing pins.

Release and remove just the two larger red wires.

The pick is sharp. Be careful.

Release Pin 1
Release Pin 2
Pins Removed

13 Insert New Heater Cartridge Pins

Insert the two red heater cartridge pins into the tool head connector.

Be sure the raised catch latches in the connector.

Reminder: Polarity does not matter.

Insert Pin 1
Insert Pin 2

14 Remove the New Thermistor Pins

Release the new thermistor pins using the dental pick.

Set aside the original connector.

The pick is sharp. Be careful.

Pin Catch Location
Pins Removed

15 Raise Pin Catches

Using your dental pick, Gently raise the catch that was depressed in the previous step.

The pick is sharp. Be careful.

Pin Catch

16 Remove the Original Thermistor Pins

Release the original thermistor pins using the dental pick included with your tool kit.

Thermistor Pin 1
Thermistor Pin 2

17 Insert New Thermistor Pins

Insert the two thermistor wire pins into the connector.

Be sure the raised catch latches in the connector.

Reminder: Polarity does not matter.

Insert Pin 1
Insert Pin 2
Completed Connector

18 Assemble Tool Head

Rotate the hot end so the Hexagon text faces forward, and the thick red wires are coming out of the right hand side of the block.

To aid in aligning the extruder body and the hot end, feed a small length of filament through the extruder so the hot end settles into alignment with the extruder.

Install the 2 M3x15mm screws from the underside of the tool head, through the hot end mounting plate and into the extruder body by using the 4mm driver. Torque to 6 in*lbs.

Caution: the extruder body can crack if there is too much torque applied to the mounting screws. Do not apply more than 6 in*lbs to the 2 M3x15mm screws.

Align the Hexagon Hot End
Assemble the Tool Head

19 Route Wires

Route the wires towards the front right-hand side of the tool head.

Route Wires to the Right

20 Install Extruder Fan Mount

Using your 2.5mm driver, install the extruder fan mount onto the right-hand side of the toolhead

Location of M3x12mm screws
Fan Mount Installed

21 Install Micro Blower

Using your 1.5mm driver, install the Micro Blower back onto the tool head.

Screw Location
Fan Alignment

22 Zip Tie Wires

Use zip tie(s) to ensure your wiring harness does not get caught in the gears.

This will prevent damage to your Tool Head and Hot End.

New Zip Ties
Completed Tool Head

23 Mount Repaired Tool Head

Using your 2.5mm driver secure the toolhead back into the X axis carriage.

Mount Tool Head

24 Connect Tool Head Connector

Connect the tool head to the existing wiring harness.

Match the pin orientation.

Proper Alignment

25 You're Done!

Verify everything is working properly:

  • Does your Micro Blower turn on when the 3D printer is powered on?
  • Do you get any errors when connecting through Cura?

Print your favorite test object to verify functionality.

Questions? Contact Technical Support by emailing Support@LulzBot.com, or by calling 1-970-377-1111.

Done! Take me home