Ender 3 IDEX: DIY Dual Extruder X-Carriage 3D Printer Installation Kit by SEN 3D

[@willwebbjr]

You did alot of R&D on this and it shows.

[@SEN3Dcom]

Thank you so much for your kind words Will, I really appreciate your time watching my video and support 😁

[@Fury9er]

Love this, two heads are the 3d printing future, along with the high-speed resonance-sensing machines and real-time filament diameter sensing.

[@SEN3Dcom]

Thank you for your kind words, I'm glad you like it 🤩 I agree, there are so many cool ideas and technology to come in the world of 3D. We've only just begun! 😲

[@amateurhour-solderingelect345]

This is such a brilliantly executed/engineered kit! Very well done.

[@marko2210]

I own another IDEX machines and so this is not aplicable for me, but i have to tell you, this is by far the coolest thing i’ve seen in a while. Very, very well executed. Great tutorial and great height adjustment mechanism for X2. Also, the whole thing looks like it’s well thought out. You have my sub now, hope to see more of such material. Keep the great work! Regards from Slovenia

[@KanePowley]

Thank you so much marko2210, I really appreciate your kind words. What IDEX printer do you have? Do you use it for Duplicate printing or 2 material/colour prints more?

[@marko2210]

Kane i give credit where it’s due, and this is pretty pretty cool. Especially for wide ender audience. Anyhow, my IDEX of choice is Tenlog D3, run by DuetWifi+Duex5, with dual hemera. It’s pretty ok 😉 the other one is stock but currently on an operating table getting overhauled I mostly print dual color for work (architectural scaled models), dual material trials for some engineering weekend storming and duplication for stuff that get’s printed in volumes either for sale or for giveaways. So a lot of all i would say. In the works is a dual IDEX that will make quadruple and quad color/material available. Come join “MarX group” on facebook if interested. We could use a guy like you there 😉

[@KanePowley]

​@@marko2210 ah yes, the Tenlog D3 is probably the other main entry point IDEX printer out there. Sounds like you've given it a serious overhaul...but then that's half the fun right? 😂😉 I love your use cases, it's exactly the kind of thing I envisioned when I started working on the kit and when I think about the power of an IDEX printer overall. Quad-IDEX, now you really have my attention 😯 I will definitely join the group, I'd love to see the progress that is making and help in any way if I can.

[@marko2210]

Kane we are just makers, aren’t we 😉

[@christians.9430]

@@marko2210 do you mind sharing your duet config files? :)

[@arthurmorgan8966]

Two different nozzle sizes idea is cool. You can have nice and fine detail perimeters, top fills, inside could be filled quickly, sturdier.

[@SEN3Dcom]

Exactly, and even if you tend to switch from regular 0.4mm prints but every now and then like to blast out a 0.8mm or larger "rough" print...it ends the pain of frequent nozzle changes. I don't know anyone that actually enjoys changing out a nozzle, especially if you have ABL setup too 😅

[@retroluminico]

I found this an excellent option to get dual extrusion on a budget. You can print with soluble supports for a very reasonable price with this kit. I’m fighting with my self to buy it Excellent development!!! Congratulations!!

[@SEN3Dcom]

Thank you so much for your kind words, it really does mean so much to me. I'd love to have you join the growing community of "IDEX owners" soon but in the mean time your support is amazing. Reach out and let me know if I can answer any questions of help you with anything. 😁👍

[@patstarks]

Thorough, Clear, and concise video! Tough to get all three of those together!

[@SEN3Dcom]

You are very kind, thank you for your wonderful feedback 😊

[@NeseComedy]

"As the bed is already level we only need to do this at a single point", I wish my Ender 3 worked that way lol

[@certified-forklifter]

just wanted to say your video quality is awesome. Nice video

[@SEN3Dcom]

Thank you so much, I really appreciate your feedback and support. 😁

[@grahamdwells]

awesome video. clear in-depth without being patronising. Amazing kit too! very well thought out.

[@TATTOOFREAK937]

Wow i love it!! Went to your website to buy one.... you want $100 more for this than I paid for a whole new printer!!! Quite honestly for almost $300 I could tweak and geek on 2 printers and have one massive printer with two heads. Sorry mate. Great product but that price

[@SEN3Dcom]

Hey Darren, Thanks for the feedback, I think you make a fair point. Overall an IDEX printer is a complex piece of kit - a bit like going from a moped to a motorbike. You could buy 2 mopeds but it's still not a motorbike 😜 I realise the kit isn't for everyone but maybe one or two of my future products catch your eye too. And at the very least I hope I have sparked your imagination so you can come up with some innovative ideas too 😁

[@bobcatt2294]

May I complement you on excellent production quality on: lighting, audio, audio levels camera angles, close ups and a clean well lite background. Thumbs up.

[@SEN3Dcom]

Thank you so much, you're very kind. It takes a lot of work to make a video like this and your kind feedback really means a lot 🙂

[@duality4y]

This is cool

[@thecursedmodder1]

The is sick i have thought about putting a second extruder on my printer

[@samdajani2573]

its actually the best in the market because u will have both ender 3 and idex the only thing holding me is waiting for them to upgrade the kit because at the left side the original extruder don't go farther more which don't allow the new extruder to maximize the space to the edge force a smaller printing space for the dual color and i am waiting the kit for ender S1 extender size and idex

[@only4470]

Thank you soooooo much dude . This what i am finding. This video is very very helpful for me. Thank you so much again.

[@kamiwey]

This is awesome, if you can do something like that for Artillery for sure I will get one. Great job do.

[@SEN3Dcom]

Thank you so much, I'll have to look into a version for the Artillery soon 😉

[@kamiwey]

@@SEN3Dcom meanwhile I’m thinking to buy an ender 3. You ship to spain?

[@SEN3Dcom]

@@kamiwey I do indeed 😊

[@alexoji75]

@@SEN3Dcom Count me in for 2 of those extruders if they are available for Artillery X1!

[@gastondombiak1538]

Very impressive job! Your video is also very good and clear!

[@SEN3Dcom]

Thank you Gaston, you are very kind 😊 Do you have an Ender 3 (or a few 😜)

[@gastondombiak1538]

@@SEN3Dcom 1 Ender 3 (heavily customized, probably the frame and the LCD screen are the only original part left) and a Prusa MK3

[@SEN3Dcom]

@@gastondombiak1538 Nice, how do you think the Ender and Prusa compare?

[@gastondombiak1538]

SEN 3D both work very well and reliable for me. Ender With bltouch, creality glass bed and all metal hot end performs as well as the MK3. I then added 32 bit board with latest marlin and hemera hot end and it is now even better. I use both printers for same kind of work. Both reliable. Both good.

[@SEN3Dcom]

@@gastondombiak1538 That's really interesting and good to get your view. It seems fairly rare to find owners of an Ender and a Prusa. The vast majority of printer people seems to live in one camp of the other :)

[@haworthluke]

This is amazing my friend I've been looking for a manageable solution to dual extrusion on my Ender 3. I will be looking to order your kit for sure

[@SEN3Dcom]

Thank you so much for your kind words Luke 😊 I'm glad you like my kit and maybe one day you'll be an Ender IDEX owner too (you can also buy just the files now and print your own if you want a bigger project 😮) At the very least I hope I have inspired you to look into and try something new with your machine 😊

[@donaldfoster5998]

This is very intriguing, I really want an IDEX. I wonder if adding the dual z kit would make this my new go to. hmm

[@SEN3Dcom]

Thank you for your kind words and interest Donald 😁 Dual Z is a great additional upgrade and certainly worth adding as well. The good news is that the typical dual Z kits (with a second Z stepper motor) are fully compatible with the Ender IDEX setup and many people have made that exact upgrade already 😮 Do let me know if I can provide any additional information or help 😇

[@donaldfoster5998]

@@SEN3Dcom Do you have U.S distribution? If so who?

[@ameliabuns4058]

Huh this needs more attention

[@SEN3Dcom]

Thank you so much for taking a look at my video, I really appreciate it 😁

[@WokeCancer]

Wow that's crazy the kit cost more then the bambu lab a1. I rather buy the bambu lab then I'll have 4 colors and new printer. I only have ender 3 but I am considering upgrading.

[@wolfboi8785]

Now if only you had one for my CR10s5 ! I might end up getting one of these and seeing if I can make it work on the Cr10s5 anyway lol

[@SEN3Dcom]

I like the way you're thinking 😀 Ender IDEX XL. I am working on the CR-10 version at the moment so hopefully it will be available soon 😇 Make sure you join my mailing list at EnderIDEX.com to find out as soon as it's release. However, I also like your idea of taking the existing kit and transferring it across, it would be a great custom project. The core frame is obviously very similar just larger. And you'd have to be confident with opening the motherboard box. But if you did I'd be delighted to help you along the way. 👍

[@bartsalemink5729]

I have a CR10S that I'm looking to modify into something fancy. I was planning on going DIY but truth be told I wouldn't be able to match this bit of kit. I do think a double sided Z axis propulsion is the better way to go because of the added weight. Luckily the CR10S has that covered. If you manage to come up with a CR10S version, it may very well be this years Christmas gift I instruct my wife to get me 🤣

[@luzz1901]

incredible work, i wish a had money to buy this

[@Distanc3]

I wish it didn’t cost more than a new Ender 3! It just the electronics cost less, I would love to print the parts to do this mood myself.

[@ritiksadh1999]

You did a really great job and with perfection, i loved this upgrade and also want to do it with my Ender 3 model Q.1 = can i add 3-4 color printing heads? Q2. = if yes, could you please drop me the links for the upgrading additional parts to change ? Q.3 = do i need to change the firmware code along with hard ware, or not needed if the board is preloaded with the firmware? Q.4 = in addition of all extra hardwares, do i need to upgrade the power supply unit? if yes then please drop the voltage, amp & watt here. Q.5 = does changing such motherboard and other hardware components affect my printing quality ?

[@sergiomartins2692]

And how is the configuration in the slicer?

[@emberprototypes]

Wow this is super cool! Didn't know there was a kit out there for Ender IDEX. We make a camera tool for doing the XY offset more accurately and easier. If you're curious there are some videos on our youtube channel showcasing it.

[@DarrenBladez-p5p]

Costs more than a Bambu Lab A1 Combo 3D Printer which comes with the ability to print 4 colours at once.

[@threedeeprince]

You could sell your old board too to offset the price of that kit.

[@SEN3Dcom]

Great idea! Although it's always handy to keep a spare board too...you never know when it will come in handy 😁😇

[@felixgonzalez9776]

This should (probably) work on a Voxelab Aquila right? It's pretty similar

[@SEN3Dcom]

Hey Felix, Excellent question and on the face of it the Voxelab Aquila seems to have a very similar "Ender 3" style frame and components so I would expect it to work (obviously not a 100% guarantee). To be sure if the X-axis extrusion is 345mm long then it is identical to the Ender 3 and much more likely to work in exactly the same way. The only things that might be a tad different are the X-axis belt tensioner. To make space for the X2 pulley you may need to swap it for one that only attaches to the axis on one side. The screen may also need a bit of tinkering, does it work with stock Marlin? The kit uses a stick SKR Pro v1.2 so if the screen can work with that board then you should be fine. Otherwise it looks like it could be an excellent upgrade for sure! Maybe I'll have to get one soon to test it on 😉

[@johanngeorgvogginger7227]

Very good video!

[@RippledRealm]

Will this work on the v2?

[@SEN3Dcom]

Great question and short answer is yes! a fair few V2 users already have the IDEX kit installed (even some Ender 3 V2 Extenders too!). the only main differences are: >You need to replace the V2's screen, it doesn't play well with non-creality boards and loses tons of settings for IDEX specific features. Either a classic Ender 3 LCD or one of the BTT TFT touch screen work great. > The V2 does not have an XT60 power cable at the back so you need to screw the power cables directly into the power supply > The stock X-axis tensioner needs to be replaced as it's design blocks the mounting point for the X2's pulley arm If you're printing the kit yourself this is all quite easy to deal with and if you wish to buy a complete kit I have a V2 version that comes with a TFT35 and all the other chances needed to solve the above differences. Just check out the Alternative Kits section on the kit buy page here: 3d.plus/buy/ender-idex/#IDEX-alternative-kits 😁👍

[@lumaxigaming7897]

This is so impressive.. I think you filled a huge gap of quality dual extruder printing in this price range. What about shipment cost and customs to EU?

[@SEN3Dcom]

Thank you so much for your kind words Lumaxia. Shipping within the EU is not too bad and varies from country to country. If you check my website and go to checkout, when you input your country the shipping cost/options will show there. For customs again it can vary a lot from country to country but typically you will have to pay VAT on delivery to the courier. However, if you want to avoid all this my "file pack" option can give you a great alternative route. You can grab the hardware yourself and print the parts too, saving on the big heavy box coming into your country 😮 And of course I'll still be here and happy to help whichever option you chose 😇

[@turbomax1209]

Love what you've done but is there a cheaper version of this I'm on a budget and don't have a lot of money at the moment if there is please let me know.

[@SEN3Dcom]

Thank you for your kind words. I am delighted you like the kit and it has inspired you. So there is a lot in the kit, SKR Pro board, complete wiring loom, 2 stepper motors, new carriage, hotend, X-axis extrusion, 10+ custom designed and produced parts. However, I also appreciate there are lots of different budgets for 3D printing enthusiasts. One of the best ways some people have bought the kit is to buy just the custom X-axis parts or let me know the parts they need and I can quote for that. You can then use existing stepper motors or other parts you might already have to complete the build. Obviously this will require a bit more hands on work for things like wiring up and installing it, but I'd still be happy to help. Drop me an email at [e-mail] and let me know what you're thinking and I'll see what I can do to help you join team IDEX 😉

[@douggjoseph]

Impressive. 2 requests: a version of this for Ender-3 V2 that's been extended using the Ender Extender 400 XL kit, and a version of it for BIQU B1 printers!

[@SEN3Dcom]

Thank you, you're very kind. There are a few Ender 3 V2 versions out in the wild now 😮 The only requirement is that you replace the Creality screen with a classic LCD or something like a TFT35 (the Creality screen does not play well with non-creality motherboards). It is also possible to use it with the Ender Extenders too! Depending on where you're based I can quote you for the longer X-axis extrusion, belts and cables to get it working. There is already an Ender 3V2 300XL out in the wild 😇 Drop me an email if you'd like to know more [e-mail] Great suggestion on the BIQU B1 too! it's very similar to the ender 3 so I don't expect it would be too difficult mechanically. The challenge once again would probably be the screen etc. But I would be hopeful that as the BIQU makes that printer and also the SKR Pro that comes in the kit it may actually work really well....maybe this is an excuse for me to buy another printer for "testing" 😅😜

[@douggjoseph]

@@SEN3Dcom Yes, the BIQU B1 has an SKR 1.4 board and it uses the vaunted BTT TFT35 touchscreen. It would seem the kit for B1 would not need a new motherboard. The Ender Extender has no substantial changes other than dimensions and minor tweak to firmware to accommodate the larger dimensions.

[@SEN3Dcom]

@@douggjoseph super, the need for the SKR Pro is actually it's ability to drive 6 stepper motors (X1, X2, Y, Z, E1 and E2). Most standard board can only run 4 or 5 stepper motors. You are correct, I have quite a few existing customers on the 300xl and 400xl Ender Extender (just one that started out as an Ender 3 V2). A longer X-axis is needed to give X2 space to park off to the side and longer belts and cables for carriage 2 but otherwise it is a pretty simple change :)

[@rolfsteinmann4140]

Very nice job, lg swiss 3d Rolf

[@SEN3Dcom]

Thank you Rolf, you're very kind. I'm glad you liked it 😁

[@floris4451]

Anet a8 plus would be a great machine for this. Let me know when you have a kit for that

[@SEN3Dcom]

Thanks for your vote on the "next IDEX kit" 😁 I few people have mentioned the Anet A8 so hopefully it won't take me too long to get to. I will of course announce as soon as I make it available 🎉

[@bryanblaise79]

Can this be used for the Ender S1/S1 Pro? What modifications would need to be made (hardware or firmware)?

[@svmsales202]

Guessing a ender 3 pro should be fine?

[@SEN3Dcom]

Absolutely, the standard kit works identically on the Ender 3 and Ender 3 pro without any changes needed 😁

[@SafetyDan101]

I noticed you printed a purge block on your 2 color print. Is this required?

[@Fullspectrumly]

I have 2 ender 3s, time to turn that into one 😂

[@SEN3Dcom]

...or turn the 2 into 4 😮😉

[@maxz9787]

But then you saw the price

[@BossAuto_]

Saw this hoping the print files were available!

[@SEN3Dcom]

Hey there. Did you mean files for the IDEX parts? For now it's a physical only product/kit - but I may make a digital "print yourself" version in the future. Join my mailing list over at EnderIDEX.com and you'll be among the first to hear if it becomes available 😁

[@Smiley-yz5bu]

@@SEN3Dcom Make it to where you still have to pay so people can’t just get the product for free. But I would pay 50 dollars easily for this and a detailed instruction manual with pictures/ part list!

[@SEN3Dcom]

@@Smiley-yz5bu Thank you for your kind comment, I'm delighted you like the product :) I am very close to making the files available so make sure you join my mailing list and watch this space over the next few weeks 😉🤫

[@jeffrey-deitch]

Amazing! Excellent design & engineering. PLEASE tell me you have plans to make this kit for the Lulzbot TAZ 6?

[@SEN3Dcom]

Thank you so much for your kind feedback 😁 I am working on the next printers to bring the kit to so the more people request a printer the more likely it could be next. Your vote for the Lulzbot TAZ 6 has been registered 😉

[@jeffrey-deitch]

@@SEN3Dcom I will then publish you video in a few TAZ forum and instruct them to comment here. There is a TON of interest in IDEX upgrades for the TAZ which is such a rock solid machine.

[@SEN3Dcom]

@@jeffrey-deitch That's awesome. As silly as it sounds I am keen to hear what people want. I use my own research and guessed but if there is big demand for the TAZ who am I to stand in their way 😁😇

[@Adopted_Gaming]

Will this still work with the BL touch on the first extruder?

[@adamflight1]

What an amazing tool. I've been looking at the JGmaker Artist D because I want the idex. But I also want the large build volume of the cr-10. Is there any way in the world you could also fit the same setup on the cr-10 version 3. I would buy that in a heartbeat especially if it is direct drive.

[@SEN3Dcom]

Hi Adam, Thank you for your kind words, it's great to hear you're exploring what's available and also what's possible in the world of IDEX printing 😁 So in principle I believe the kit would work on a CR-10 (or even an Ender Extender kit) as the basic printer parts and structure are the same. I believe the only changes needed would be: - a longer x-axis extrusion to give the 2nd carriage somewhere to park as well as enable the X2 belt pulley to be mounted - longer belts for this new longer x-axis - Longer cables for the 2nd hotend Obviously other snags or hiccups may come up, but this is all I expect it would take. I am working on a more specific kit for the CR-10 but this will take a little longer before it's available 😇 Also, in terms of direct drive. The new 2nd hotend is bowden based but it is possible to have hotend 1 as a direct drive as long as the stepper motor placement does not interfere with the X2 belt path.

[@schoert09]

I second this comment, I'd buy six in a heart beat

[@judontknow69]

Say I converted my ender 3 into a direct drive, could this kit work for that ? And could I run both extenders on direct drive ? And would I be able to put a bl touch on each ?

[@SEN3Dcom]

Great questions, in answer: 1. Yes, you can run direct drive on the Ender IDEX. However for hotend 1 you need to select a carriage design that has the stepper motor over the front. If it's over the back like the MicroSwiss design this will collide with the X2 belt path directly above the existing X1 belt path. Many of the low cost and "print yourself" direct drive options work great. For hotend 2 the kit comes with a file for a direct drive option you can print and install yourself 😁 If you do go single or double direct drive I would also suggest you install a dual Z axis motor kit on the Ender 3. This is a good idea anyway for a direct drive ender 3, even without an additional IDEX carriage. The common dual Z-axis motor kits for the Ender 3 work great with the Ender IDEX parts too. 2. You can indeed install and use a BL Touch with an IDEX printer like the Ender IDEX. You would install it on the hotend 1 carriage and use the usual Gcode to create a mesh. Hotend 2 (provided it has been calibrated with X/Y offsets) will then just use the same mesh data during printing, so no need for a second sensor. The only time Auto Bed Levelling is not useful for an IDEX machine is when you run a duplicate or mirror mode print. This is because you have 2 hotends touching the bed at 2 points at the same time. This is the case for any IDEX machine, however you can still use the BL Touch mesh data to help you achieve a near perfect "manual level" too.

[@judontknow69]

@@SEN3Dcom thank you for the response. I hate to be a pain but i did have a few more questions, given that I'm new to this. 1. Seeing that the whole board is replaced, would this mean that something like an SKR board is redundant? 2. Will an extension kit on my ender 3 say a 400X400X500 be compatible? 3. Will a Raspberry Pi be compatible? 4. Can i attach a blockhead fans to both hotends without them colliding? 5. Do you guys plan to make something similar for a CR30 for example? or any type of conveyor belt like printer? Thank you for your time

[@SEN3Dcom]

@@judontknow69 No problem at all 😁 1. yes, the new board replaces the existing one entirely. BUT you can always keep the existing board and use it for a future project (you'd be surprised how handy it is). 2. Yes indeed, many people have done it and I offer versions of my kit for the Ender Extender printers (and even the some CR-10 models). The main differences needed is longer cables, longer x-axis extrusion and a different firmware file. 3. Yes indeed, the firmware I provide is pretty close to "vanilla" Marlin so it's just as compatible as any other printer. However you will likely need to customise OctoPrint a little to account for the 2 hotends and some plugins may get a little confused, but nothing major. 4. Blockhead fans...so installing on hotend 1 is fine, hotend 2 is a bit more custom as it raises and lowers with a screw independently so may be harder to install. BUT if you are good with CAD you do get access to the parts files too so you could modify a custom fan setup too! In terms of collision, the min distance between the two carriages can be set in the firmware so if you did want to enlarge it to account for wider fan setups this is an easy edit to make 😁 5. I like the way you're thinking! So currently a few different models in the pipeline (admittedly not the CR-30 just yet). A small operation of just me 😢 means that I often have too many ideas to work on and not enough time for them all. So one day soon but I wouldn't want to promise a date. Also, with files access it may be possible if you wanted to get really stuck in to try it yourself...but this would certainly be a more advanced project for sure! Keep the questions coming if you have more! 😁👍

[@judontknow69]

@@SEN3Dcom hey thank you so much! With customer support like this, the sky is the limit for you and your team. God bless you.

[@jacobbiro4054]

Are you going to be making a ender v2 version , id love one

[@SEN3Dcom]

So the big challenge with the V2 is the screen, it really doesn't play well with non-creality board and a non-standard configuration like the IDEX. There are a few Ender 3 v2 IDEX kits in the wild already, but they use either an original Ender 3 LCD or a TFT35 screen. The only other changes need from the standard kit are a "one sided" belt tensions like this imgaz.staticbg.com/thumb/large/oaupload/ser1/banggood/images/4A/A7/0fa467a4-02d3-4589-9c82-576d352fd5e4.jpg And you'd have to be comfortable wiring up the power supply cables directly as the v2 doesn't come with an XT60 plug. If you were comfortable with this you could get the kit today and have it ready to install within about a week 😮😉 Let me know if I can be of any more help and thank you for your kind feedback.

[@dustojnikhummer]

@@SEN3Dcom Would it be possible to just run the base model display? Both Ender 3 Pro and V2 are now using the same motherboard (at stock of course)

[@SEN3Dcom]

@@dustojnikhummer Yes you're right. The motherboard is not a big issue as the kit replaces it anyway. It's the screen. So the customers that have the Ender 3 V2 version of the Ender IDEX just swap the screen out for either a stock Ender 3 LCD or something like the BTT TFT35. Basically any screen that can work with a BTT motherboard should be fine with the Ender IDEX. 😁

[@Commanderhurtz1]

Hey! I really like what I am seeing here. Would this work on the Voxelab Aquila or the TRONXY XY-2?

[@SEN3Dcom]

Hey Batarn, Thank you for your comment and kind words 😁 I have not tested either of these printers directly but after a quick google I would say yes, probably 😇 The frame and brackets all seem to be identical to the Ender 3 ones and so should work in the same way (some people have tested the kit of other clone machines without issues). The main thing I would consider is they both seem to have custom LCD screen. These may be possible to transfer over to another motherboard/firmware but I cannot be sure. Worst case you may have to switch to a classic LCD or something like a TFT35 to control the printer. Let me know if you're interested in getting stuck into this, I would be delighted to help with any minor hiccups that may crop up compared to the classic Ender 3 version of the kit. And also I now offer the Files Pack so you might want to print and make everything yourself 😮 Video here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/e5Otl5mFoNCXhKM&ab_channel=SEN3D File pack here: enderidex.com/files-pack/

[@krishnabeesoony8698]

what if you want to print 2 different print having different heights? love the design by th way

[@manuelterc5019]

Will this work with ender extender?

[@SEN3Dcom]

So in principle yes, I believe it will. I have not been able to test it yet in real life but my assumption is the only changes needed would be: - A longer x-axis extrusion (to give the extra 55mm for carriage 2 to park) - Longer belts - Longer cables for carriage 2 I'd also advise a second Z stepper but I would recommend this for the Ender Extender anyway, without the IDEX kit. The SKR Pro board the kit comes with does have a spare Z port anyway, so this should be easy. I have a few customers at the moment working on Ender IDEX Extenders so I shall be seeing how they get on and hopefully have something to share soon 😁

[@1QKGLH]

I'm tempted. I'd like to know if this kit is compatible with any larger Crealilty printers, like the CR series? Also, the whole reason for me wanting IDEX as opposed to two-in-one-out style is the horrendous amount of waste with the prime tower. But I see you have a prime tower. Is that just to catch the ooze that happens while an extruder is at rest? Can that be made smaller or eliminated with a wiper or similar?

[@SEN3Dcom]

Hi there, Great questions, broadly yes the kit should be applicable to most of the CR series. However, as you'll know there are so many models and variations I am still working on ways to make it "guaranteed" on as many as possible. In most cases the changes are mainly for the X-axis extrusion length and cable lengths. But for example some old CR-10s use a 12v power supply instead of 24v and I like to ensure I catch as many of these issues as possible 😇 I will soon be launching an "official CR-10" version of the kit but some of my amazing customers have already started building their own CR-10 or Ender Extender IDEX versions from the kit. So as long as you don't mind tinkering nothing should be insurmountable. Excellent question on prime towers. You are correct a 2 in 1 out hotend will need much more purging on a purge tower. This is not only to prime the nozzle but importantly to purge the other material/colour out. With an IDEX it's very much up to you, in many cases I would use a very tiny purge tower but this acts more like a skirt for each layer getting the flow going before it starts to print. maybe like 1 or 2 hollow rings before it can crack on with the printing. It is absolutely not a necessity to use a purge tower with an IDEX. It will depend a lot on things like your chosen holding temperature, material, retraction settings etc. In many cases you could use a purge bucket, maybe an ooze shield or for a large model just print from the "infill" first and let the initial couple of mm act as that "flow starter". The other big benefit of IDEX is that each nozzle can print a different material and not just colour, so you can try PETG with PLA supports (as the 2 don't stick very well). Or PVA dissolvable filament or even TPU & ABS for example. These king of mixes would be almost impossible via a single hotend or require enormous purge towers. Let me know if I can provide any further information or support 😁

[@1QKGLH]

@@SEN3Dcom Thank you for chatting with me on your website early Sunday morning.

[@skop1219]

now i know what to beg my perants for

[@SEN3Dcom]

😍

[@kathleenrobertpogue6818]

I have Questions. How much wider does it make the ender 3? Can i have the files to the 3d printed parts, I need to make them out of nylon or polycarbonate? Can i have 2 direct drive extruders on it? Can one of those extruders be 450c and the other one at 220c? Can i have one print the shell while the other does the infill? Thank you to anyone that answers this.

[@SEN3Dcom]

Excellent questions. On the left side the mod adds 20mm and on the right side it adds ~30mm from the outer edge of the screen. I will soon be releasing the files for personal use/printing so you will be able to produce the kit yourself in any colour/material you like. Be sure to join my mailing list at EnderIDEX.com to find out as soon as the files are available. Hotend 1 can be direct drive. Most setups work but it has to be a version that mounts the motor over the front of the carriage. Those that put the motor over the back will collide with the path of the new X2 belt. For hotend 2, currently the hotend is a bowden setup and this is quite custom as it also needs to raise and lower independently to get it perfectly in line with hotend 2. When the files become available there will also be a beta of the direct drive version available too. So long story short, yes hotend 2 can be direct drive but the setup will initially be a beta so may have some room for improvement compared to the standard bowden setup. You certainly can have different hotends at different temperatures. As long as the hotend you choose/install can support the higher temperatures that is fine. And it is one of the many advantages of IDEX that you can print vastly different materials at the same time. Finally, yes you can choose the options in your file slicing to have infill printed with a different hotend from the overall print. I suggest Cura but as a standard Marlin based IDEX printer, any slicer than can slice a multi-extruder Gcode file should be compatible.

[@progressivewholesomeness4937]

Can you add auto bed leveling using a bl touch?

[@SEN3Dcom]

You sure can. The sensor is installed on hotend 1 like normal. As long as you tube you X/Y offset well both hotends can then use the bed levelling mesh. If you did buy my kit I provide an installation guide and pre-compiled firmware too 🎉 The only case it is not useful is for duplicate or mirror mode prints. In this case 2 hotends touch the bed at 2 points at the same time so ABL will not be able to adjust for both at once (this is true of any IDEX setup). But you can still use the BL Touch data to accurately level your bed manually.

[@jamessawyer1331]

Planning on upgrading my Ender 3 with the extender. Was wondering if this work?

[@SEN3Dcom]

I like the way you think. In principle it should work, the main additional requirements would be: longer X-axis extrusion (so E2 can part on the right side), longer belts, longer bowden tubes & longer cable extensions for the reach. It might also be a good idea to look into dual z steppers as the extra span is a lot of load on a single motor. But, this is also true for the Ender Extender kit even without IDEX 🙂

[@Markus_J.]

Is this only red or can i buy it in other colors?

[@SEN3Dcom]

Hey There, thank you for your comment and excellent question. The kit and parts I provide are only currently available in red. BUT...I do now offer the "files kit" too. So you could actually buy that for a lot less and print all of the parts yourself in any colour of material you like. If you have not seen the files kit take a look at my other video "Print your own Ender IDEX" 😊 I only supply red myself as I run the production across multiple machines and with each kit needing 10 to 15 parts even adding one additional colour would add a huge amount of time changing machines back and forth, as well as keeping ~20kg of another colour of filament in stock too 😇

[@jeffmilkey]

Did you come out with a kit for Ender 5 Plus? Thanks

[@gsuresh2u]

Hi, good video on idex I already built one, now I want to upgrade to dual idex printer I want to use 4 extruders and 2 nozzles, I want to use 2 in 1 out hotend, is it possible?

[@nathanbunten4299]

do you have a kit with the motor mounted on right side? duel z. Also can you run a micro swiss on these?

[@Alpha-ez9dc]

amazing tutorial, quick question is this compatible with the ender max neo?

[@richmeister4eva]

Could this in theory be used for the Ended 5 plus?

[@TechBuild]

Is there a way to make this work with Klipper?

[@anthonyfong8165]

How would you slice a 2 colour print? Can you use cura to slice it?

[@SEN3Dcom]

Absolutely, Cura is great for slicing prints for IDEX. I will be releasing a video very soon on slicing prints for an IDEX printer (2 colour, duplicate and mirror modes). Watch this space 😉

[@Coffeeology]

If we already have an SKR V2 board can we just skip that part of the kit for a discount?

[@SEN3Dcom]

You would need the SKR Pro board mainly as it can drive 6 stepper motors (X1, X2, Y, Z, E1 & E2). However I do sell just the X-axis for people that have the board or other setup they'd like to use it on. Drop me an email and I'd be happy to help: [e-mail]

[@strykervalkyrion]

How did this slip under the radar of Ender 3 enthusiasts? Send on to Teaching Tech and watch your orders roll in

[@SEN3Dcom]

😁 thank you for your kind words. It's still pretty new and has been received fantastically by the community. As the kit grows I certainly would love to get it to some of the fantastic 3D printing KZbinrs like Teaching Tech...watch this space 😉

[@ulyssesbejarano1847]

Will it work with the wifi creality box?

[@NerdyNeckbeard]

Is this compatible with Auto bed Leveling?

[@1990bryghen]

Will this work with upgraded extruder like the sprite?

[@ulyssesbejarano1847]

Also will it work on an Ender 3 V2

[@add56246]

How do you slice the object in two colors?

[@StSwagzz]

What if you add bl touch too one or both of the extruders

[@TizianoWIFI]

ALSO FOR ender 3 v2?

[@LG-kj5qq]

Is there a kit or will this fit for the Creality CR10 S5? Thanks

[@MoisFamilyTech]

I need one of these kits later this year for one if my Ender 3 Pros and I have a Lot of questions, lol... Here's a simple question to start with: can I request a specific filament/color of the printed plarts please...?

[@SEN3Dcom]

That is awesome, thank you for your kind comment 🙂 Currently the kit is available in a single colour as the 10+ parts in each kit are printed across multiple printers and so even a single additional colour would require multiple kg's of it and a lot of time to re-spool all the printers. However, once you do buy the kit all of the "non-critical" parts files like the spool holders, extruder holders & motherboard box will be made available to you. So you could re-print those parts at a later date if you wanted. I also have a private group for kit owners you'd be invited to join where you can see what everyone else is working on. There are also lots of additional modifications available in that group that have been created by the Ender IDEX community.

[@MoisFamilyTech]

@@SEN3Dcom @SEN 3D Thank you for your response to my questions and all this useful information, I think you just sealed the deal on my future purchase, lol. I'm not going to post the rest of my questions here, unless you want me to of course, lol, as I have not seen the answers in your FAQs on your website either. I am also super excited to know that there is a support group for your setup as the Ender and Creality Facebook groups have been Super helpful for me and all the upgrades I have done to my printers over the last almost 2 years. 😁👍🏼

[@SEN3Dcom]

@@MoisFamilyTech You're very kind, that sounds great. I can't wait to have you join team IDEX 😉 If there is anything else at all I can help with just drop me an email: [e-mail] and I'll be happy to help

[@MrMann-dw5uh]

How would I make this work with a linear rail installed on the front of the x-axis?

[@LilHeavenlyTreasures]

What is the difference between the bar that comes with the kit and the bar that the ender 3 printer comes with?

[@borisdamole]

New extrusion is longer, so the left toolhead can reach the entire bed

[@Smiley-yz5bu]

I like the product but could I use BL touch with this and is there any way to use this kit with a silent motherboard that I already hav on my ender 3 pro

[@SEN3Dcom]

Great questions, yes you can use a BL Touch no problem. It fits to hotend 1 and works in mostly the same way as normal. The only difference is for duplicate and mirror mode prints you still need a manually levelled bed as 2 hotends touch the bed at 2 points at the same time. Sadly, the challenge with using your existing board is that it cannot run enough stepper motors. The Ender IDEX has 6 stepper motors (X1, X2, Y, Z, E1 & E2). A majority of board only run 4 or 5 steppers. This is why I supply the kit with an SKR Pro board (it's also an excellent board). However, if you did want the Ender IDEX to be silent you are still able to install silent stepper drivers too and get the same noise output as you'd get from any other silent board 😇

[@rodgerhanson]

I currently have a BL-Touch attached, how does this affect the new IDEX??

[@SEN3Dcom]

Excellent question, in short it works great with a BL Touch! You attached the BL Touch to the hotend 1 like normal and use it in all the typical ways. The only drawback is that for a duplicate or mirror mode print you still need to manually level your bed. This is because 2 hotends touch the bed at 2 points at the same time. This is true of any IDEX printer, the Z axis cannot correct both hotends at once. Also, the SKR Pro motherboard I use in the kit has a port ready to accept the BL touch cable. Plus, I provide pre-compiled firmware for the BL Touch and an install guide so it couldn't be easier. 😁

[@st0rr1e]

So could this go on an ender 3 v3 se? Might be a stupid question but I wanna know for sure haha

[@poramatporamat5535]

Hey can I select only supports structure to use PVA filament?

[@gunbuster333SMSTI]

I have an Ender three pro and I’ve been looking for something like this or printer like this and this is exactly what I’m looking for as an upgrade for my enter three pro however. What I want to do is print models and use the water dissolving filming as support material.. is that configurable within the slicer or whatever slicer that supports idex?

[@quantisedspace7047]

Prusa slicer supports using dissolvable support filament I'm the way that you describe.

[@twizted3473]

Could i do this to a ender max instead?

[@SEN3Dcom]

There are a few people that have installed the kit on the Ender 3 Max. Dimensionally it's the same as my Ender Extender 300 kit. The only difference is that you will also need a new bracket where the filament runout sensor currently is. This is to create the required space for the X2 motor mount. I can provide this if you required, just email me at [e-mail]

[@marinolionnet]

Can we use the bltouch and the dual z motor on this kit

[@sammybrown6730]

Would this work with a voxlab aquila???

[@corporalmcmuffin7562]

Hey, real talk. if they don't make different color schemes, I would print my own colored parts, given I am able to do that legally

[@SEN3Dcom]

Hey Corporal McMuffin, Thanks for watching my video and your comment, I think I get the gist of it 😇 Currently the parts I print and sell are only available in red. This is because with 10+ parts in each kit printed across 20+ printers, even 1 additional colour would require many KGs of filament and a lot of time swapping machines over and increasing stock buffers etc. 😅 However, I think as you said, you can also get my files kit and print the parts in any colour or material you wish 🎉 To date I have seen the Ender IDEX in everything from Black to Blue, Orange and even Purple. So if there is something even crazier you'd like to print it in I'd love to see it 😁

[@alexnuttall9162]

Would this work on the ender 5pro

[@SEN3Dcom]

Not as it stands. I have not progressed the kit to the Ender 5 just yet as the "cube" frame makes it harder to part hotends off the bed without loosing print volume. Watch this space as it is on my list (with many many other things 😅)

[@oliverrufa1064]

This thing looks amazing! Is it compatible with a bl/cr touch? I feel like having one could make things more reliable.

[@quantisedspace7047]

The instructions refer to a Z limit switch. I don't have one of those because that function is provided by my CR Touch, also used for bed level mesh generation.

[@voldy3565]

So you're telling me I can use PVA supports on an Ender 3!? Yup. I'm doing this.

[@joshuamarks4131]

Will the auto level work with this?

[@renegadus5037]

Is a purge block required when printing?

[@doktorfluuf1643]

Is there a way to get cr touch to work?

[@CaptainPrinterMan]

I assume this will work if I have the extender kit (400x400x400)? I also have a direct drive extruder so could the other hotend have another one of those equipped? Also could I have marlin or klipper installed with this? Are there any limitations to the motherboard, I have a bl touch, runout sensor, and octopi running

[@tactikool4740]

Are there any plans for making a Klipper based firmware for this? I think it would be awesome.

[@josephobregon4419]

Could this be used to print the water soluble filament as supports? Like 2nd hotend/extruder for that filament strictly for support?

[@SEN3Dcom]

Absolutely, that is a perfect use case for IDEX printing. Provided the dissolvable filament (PVA) you select is printable at ~240ºC or less then you should be fine. Also, materials like PLA and PETG do not adhere to each-other very well. So you could experiment with using one or the other as support material that should come away much easier. As you may know ABS also dissolves in acetone so using ABS as a support materials with another acetone resistant filament gives you another option. Finally, as dissolvable filament can be quite expensive you also have the option in most IDEX capable slicers to only print the interface layer in PVA. So your support towers would be PLA for example but the 2-3 layers that touch the finished part are in PVA and so dissolve away whilst also using a very small amount of the filament.

[@0nelifeliveit1987]

Is there a solution for direct drive?

[@SEN3Dcom]

Hi Chris, thanks for commenting. For it to work effectively with direct drive you'd really also need to add a second z-axis stepper motor to deal with the extra weight on the axis. That is of course possible and probably wouldn't be too hard (the SKR Pro board has a built in plug for a second Z motor). I have just kept it simple for the first version 🙂😇

[@SEN3Dcom]

@חן רוזנפלד Yes definetly. The SKR Pro board actually has 2 connectors for the Z-stepper. Sou you would just plug the second motor into the free slot on the board

[@SEN3Dcom]

@חן רוזנפלד So I have not done it for the SKR V1.4 myself but I can see it does also split out the Z into 2 connectors (github.com/bigtreetech/BIGTREETECH-SKR-V1.3/blob/master/BTT%20SKR%20V1.4/Hardware/connect.jpg) So should be possible and quite easy :)l

[@Sam-ch4jh]

Does it work with Ender 3 V1 ?

[@SEN3Dcom]

Absolutely, Ender 3 V1 (standard Ender 3), Ender 3 Pro, Ender 3 V2. Even the Ender 3 Max and Ender 3 Extender variants are compatible 😇

[@Omaralbear]

Will this work with the ender 3D pro?

[@Levelupeachday]

is it compatible with the Ender 3 V2?

[@SEN3Dcom]

It certainly is! There are just a few differences compared to the Ender 3/Ender 3 Pro standard version: 1. You will need to use a different screen. the larger V2 screen Creality provide does not play well with non-creality motherboards and misses a lot of the settings needed for IDEX machines. You can use either a classic Ender 3 LCD or something like the TFT35 (or just manage the printer over USB with something like an OctoPi). The Ender 3 V2 version of the kit I sell comes with a TFT35 included. 2. The Ender 3 V2 does not have an XT60 plug for the power so you will have to screw the power cables directly into the power supply but this is very easy and adds no more than 5 minutes to the build. 3. You need to replace the X-axis belt tensioner as the large V2 version does not leave enough room for the X2 carriage and belt arm to fit on the axis. You can print or buy an alternative quite easily and as before my V2 version of the kit comes with everything you need. I hope this helps. You can see what is involved a little clearer by checking the "Alternative Kits" that I offer here: 3d.plus/buy/ender-idex/#IDEX-alternative-kits

[@maxxmad354]

This is awesome! Would it be possible to direct drive one of the extruders to print flexibles, or would there be space conflicts?

[@SEN3Dcom]

Excellent question. Hotend 1 can certainly be direct drive. You just need to be sure that the setup you choose does not mount the stepper motor over the back of the carriage. This is because the X2 belt runs directly above the X1 belt. So make sure the direct drive does not cross the "belt line" and you should have no issues. You can actually get excellent results from the low cost brackets like this: www.aliexpress.com/item/1005001786191892.html Hotend 2 is not possible currently as Direct Drive as the carriage is bespoke to this setup and can raise or lower via a screw. However, if hotend 1 is direct drive keeping hotend 2 as a Bowden setup can present advantages too for mixing different materials and print modes. For example hotend 1 is TPU and hotend 2 is ABS or PETG.

[@maxxmad354]

@@SEN3Dcom Sen, thank you for the thorough reply! This might well be my next project... great work, by the way.

[@SEN3Dcom]

@@maxxmad354 You are very kind, thank you so much 😁Can't wait to maybe have you join Team IDEX 😉

[@kodyaudette]

FYI, I am actually currently in the process of trying to get a direct drive set up on E2 with this kit (or at least the core parts of this kit). I'm using a Biqu H2 direct drive unit which is very compact and light and won't interfere with the belt path above like a microswiss or similar would. I'm not currently using the adjustable carriage plate (mostly because I forgot to order it and shipping is $20 and a week to get to the US), but I'm trying to decide whether I should just design a custom plate for belt tension and drive mounting or buy the file pack and modify the existing design to my needs.

[@kodyaudette]

@@SEN3Dcom if I do modify the file pack version, I'll send you a copy of the file. Might be nice to have support for mounting alternate hardware options, if only in the file pack.

[@matthewmaniace817]

where can i purchase site will not load what is the pricing?