Update 11.12.2024 see below!
This is an adapter for the Ender 5 Plus with BLTouch positioned at the left or right side or behind with space for the toolboard.
The duct and fan are located on the front right side in that way, that they don't disturb maintenance of the extruder gear and provides free sight to the nozzle.
I printed all stuff without problems, 80% infill and slowly, to gain maximum quality.
Maybe, use my brim-ears to ensure, the adapter doesn't warp: https://www.printables.com/de/model/694022-brim-ears-for-better-bed-adhesion
The vertical groove on the left side of the adapter plate is for inserting the cable to prevent it from being squeezed by the ribs of the heatsink.
You can print the STL files in the provided orientation and with support enabled. I gain best results with easily removable supports and clean surfaces with OrcaSlicer. Give it a try!
For discussion, leave a comment below or at the extraordinary facebook group of the inventor Robert Lőrincz, featuring discussions all about Orbiter extruders:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/705637896767655
Videos of the fan with 50% and 100% (first design with only 2 horns) and, at least with the previously mounted HeroMeGen5 with two 4010 blowers:
Assembly instructions:
Notes:
I would like to hear, if someone found it useful, had issues or improvements! Please comment and/or send some images.
If you like my projects, please consider to:
https://buymeacoffee.com/peuqui
Edit (11.12.2024):
I refined the rear duct to better point to the nozzle, creates a decent vortex around it and doesn't touch the print bed anymore. Additionally, I added more clearance between the duct and the cables reaching to the hotend, preventing the duct to get molten. I designed the hole system around the SO3 mockup and the mounting plate of the Ender 5 Plus, but it seems, there are some differences between the CAD files and my real life printer. So, the rear duct, I prior designed, touched the print bed and was a bit off of the center around the nozzle tip. I fixed that with this iteration and it worked for me. Let me know, if your printed version is spot on also.
Checkout the new photos of the setup and how the cable managment is meant to be used.
Edit (27.10.2024):
Made minor changes to the “OrbiterAdapterEnder5Plus-left-Cable” with cable tower to better fit and print.
Edit (19.8.2024):
This is untested yet. Maybe I have to adjust some dimensions. So, use it with a grain of salt.
Added a version with left handed BLTouch and a three horn duct in behind the extruder, which may help some users of Ender 5 (Pro) get more clearance in front of the extruder/print bed.
The new three horn duct design may add some “Umpf” to the cooling, while the nozzles are slightly offset to the center of the extruder nozzle to ensure a vortex style wind flow.
Please comment on your findings and suggestions.
Edit (18.8.2024):
Since the version with the BLTouch in behind has some issues with Klipper bedmesh area calculation, I decided to go back to the left handed version, where the BLTouch is much nearer to the nozzle. In addition I bought the SO3 Toolboard, which is located on the right side of the SO3 extruder, so the right handed version extends the extruder too much to the right. The cable tower is moved on top of the adapter to better fit the Toolboard cable, which is a thick USB cable. I routed it in a S-slope for strain relief. Additionally, I shortened the BLTouch arm about 15mm.
Currently, I am working on locating the fan and duct in behind of the extruder to make it more compact. As I heared of some problems with Ender 5 printers, which doesn't have much clearance to the front. Maybe the weight becomes better distributed. But I think, this is negligible.
→ We will see, if this brings any advantages…
Edit (11.7.2024):
Added a version with BLTouch behind the mounting plate to get some space for more print area. In my case, I gain about 18mm more print area to the left.
Edit (16.5.2024):
After some testing, I recommend using the adapter with the BLTouch attached to the left side, as it won't get disturbed by the magnetic field of the stepper motor. Now it functions very well and flawlessly on my printer.
Added longer versions of the BLTouch-Arm.
Corrected an export error of the left-handed adapter.
Edit (11.5.2024):
Designed an additional version with BLTouch on the left side. Because, I noticed, that the magnetic field of the extruder stepper motor may influence the function of the BLTouch, which results in malfunctions sometimes. I made some minor changes, too.
Edit (9.5.2024):
Because, my BLTouch had some errors deploying and retracting the pin in the first time , I found a useful hint to partially unscrew the pin to loosen it a bit and then rescrew it again. This helped a lot.
For maintenance or replacement of the pin, it may be helpful not to unmount the entire BLTouch from the toolhead, only access it through the center hole from above.
So, I just punched a center maintenance hole into the BLTouch mount.
Edit (7.5.2024):
Due to some assembly issues, I modified the duct and very slightly the adapter. Added pictures to clarify things and the noticable punch of the fan at 50% and 100%.
At the moment, it seems, that I reached the point of real usability. ;-)
Edit (4.5.2024 Hotfix of Hotfix):
Complete overhaul of the Fusion files and corrections of the Adapter and the duct.
During printing the duct shows some heat marks near the hotend cables. This will be fixed in an future version.
Edit (3.5.2024 Hotfix!) :
Due to some weird measurements, the adapter didn't fit, because of the screws of the mounting plate of the Ender 5 Plus.
Edit (2.5.2024) :
Unfortunately, I had a very busy time last months. So, I wasn't able to prove my adapter to fit onto the Ender 5 Plus mounting plate until now. Because, I have only one 3D printer at hand and couldn't do without it. The modification to the new Smart Orbiter V3 took quite some time.
I noticed a lack of thickness to prevent a screw to collide with another screw of the mounting plate. Meanwhile, I shimmed the missing thickness with a small slat and was able to print the new adapter with this makeshift solution.
Additionally, I uploaded the Fusion 360 files.
Edit (21.1.2024) :
I made some video comparisons between my current setup with a HeroMeGen 5 with two 4010 fans, which did the job and the new Orbiter with my duct design and the 5015 fan. The difference is striking! The both 4010 fans barely disturbing the water surface, but the one 5015 punches a hole into the surface.
Unfortunately, I can't post videos to prove this, but two pictures may help out. Check out the fb-forum, mentioned above, for the motion pictures.
I would like to hear, if someone found it useful, had issues or improvements! Please comment and/or send some images.
The author marked this model as their own original creation.