Let’s Install:

Silicone Heater Blocks for MakerBot Rep 2x

Remove the acrylic plates if you haven’t already.

• Bring your extruder assembly to the front. Cut off the zip tie and remove the plastic holder.
• Remove the two hex bolts underneath the extruder assembly.

Remove the entire assembly from the gantry. Place it on top of the machine for easy access.

• Remove the two fan bolts.
• These bolts hold the fan guard to the fan, the fan to the heat sink, and the heat sink to the bar mount assembly.

Unplug and remove the motors from the assembly. A set screw should be revealed on the bar mount assembly.

• Remove the thermal barrier tube from the bar mount assembly. Loosen this set screw.
• Straighten the black wrapped end of the thermocouple, so as not to damage it while removing the assembly.
• Pull down on the heater block until the thermal barrier tube is free.

Remove the heater cartridge by loosening the set screw on the heater block.

• Loosen the nozzle with your socket set.
• You may want to place one of the large hex keys through the hole for the heater cartridge for leverage.

Loosen the thermocouple. Either by hand or with your pliers.

• Remove the heater block from the thermocouple.
• DO NOT twist or bend the wires of the thermocouple, this will cause damage and require a replacement.

Remove the thermal barrier tube from the heater block. Use your crescent wrench.

• Start installing your new Silicone Insulated Heater Blocks. Screw in your thermal barrier tube.
• Proper height is if the notch of the unthreaded portion is aligned with the top surface of the heater block.

Attach the nozzle. Tighten first by hand, then with the socket.

• Make sure the nozzle and thermal barrier tube are tightened.
• Once the nozzle is tightened, try unscrewing the barrier tube by hand. If it comes loose, you’ll have to unscrew the nozzle a few turns, screw in the tube a few turns, and then screw back on the nozzle until it is tight. The two parts may not have been close enough together inside the heater block the first time you tightened them.

Screw on the thermocouple attachment by hand. Then tighten with pliers.

• Push the thermal barrier tube, and thus the heater block assembly, back into the bar mount. Grab your alignment jig.
• The alignment jig snaps onto the bar mount assembly. Align both extruder heads so they are aligned with the jig.
• If you find that the one you are not working on is far tighter to the jig than the other, remove that stepper motor and align properly.

Once aligned, tighten the set screw.

• Put heater cartridge back in, tighten with the heater block set screw.
• Push the thermocouple wire back into its slot on the bar mount.

Replace the stepper motor, plug it in.

• Replace the heat sink, the spacers, the fan, the fan guard, and the hex bolts. Make sure the fan’s label is facing down.
• Reattach the extruder assembly to the gantry system.