PitStop 2 extruder in depth (releasing soon)

I've been working for over a year on the PitStop 2 extruder with swappable hotends and am releasing it soon! Here's a comprehensive walkthrough. Early beta access for Patreon supporters starts this month of October. Check out my Patreon below to support my project and get the chance of trying it out.
Update: the project will only be accessible to certain Patreon tires. Check out the details at / mihaidesigns
Chapters:
0:00 Project overview
1:01 Extruder
2:01 Pogo connectors
2:41 Kinematic mounting
3:15 Cooling
3:44 Non-planar printing
3:56 Pinda probe
4:06 Extruder offset
4:56 Fixing vibrations
5:23 Geared motor for a future version
5:48 Engine overview
6:28 Hotend support
7:02 Nozzle offsets
7:30 Printer mounting support
7:58 MK3S with Bear frame mounting
9:22 Ender 3 mounting
10:36 Release
11:23 EngineSwap preview
Twitter: / mihaidesigns
Instagram: / mihaidesigns
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#mihaidesigns

[@FilamentStories]

Mihai, you have done some serious work towards getting PitStop 2 ready for release. Love the video!

[@MihaiDesigns]

Thank you! 😊

[@marsgizmo]

Amazing work behind! 👏😌 It’s wonderful seeing all these details!

[@MihaiDesigns]

Thanks @marsgizmo!

[@at0mic282]

@@MihaiDesigns I really like your style of videos! You explain it carefully and you show your progress in between stages of a project unlike other channels which only present the final product without the work behind it. If I wasn't an engineering student scraping by on government funds I would donate you some money to keep your amazing development going :) Keep it up!

[@rafaelguida2317]

The approach to chanhe only the hotend asswmbly while keepinh the stepper is just brilliant

[@celsotardeli9623]

Your videos really inspired me to return this long forgotten dream of design things and rethink many objects I use daily. Your passion and effort is helping not only to improve the printers, but the owners to be better versions of themselves. Thanks from Brazil.

[@MihaiDesigns]

Wonderful! Glad to hear that this is inspiring for you. Cheers from Romania to Brazil!

[@apollowellstein188]

I would swap the pogo pins so the male is on the extruder. The female part should have more coupling cycles since it's non mechanical, and given that hotends are considered consumable parts that eventually have to be replaced it makes sense if it was there since it's likely that parts on it will have to be replaced anyway. Instead of RFID I recommend more pogo pins, embedded to an ATTINY or something of that size, with the pogo pins delivering GND, VCC, SDA, SDC, so you can do basic communication with it to ask it for it's information. I do embedded work so if you need any help with that hit me up!

[@MihaiDesigns]

Thanks! Yeah, swapping the connectors is a safer choice, but a bit pricier. You do make a valid point about the coupling cycles.

[@TheLarsUrban]

@@MihaiDesigns Is also common practive to give the "live" part the female connector so its safer with regard to electric shock.

[@josuehernandez4716]

Incredible design on this and I've loved watching the progress you've made on this on your instagram. Super impressive and I can't wait to see where this heads in the near future. Keep up the great work Mihai!

[@MihaiDesigns]

Thank you Josue! Cheers!

[@autofctrl]

I so enjoy watching/listening to your videos as your voice really calms me down and the content is always either super informative, very inspiring or incredibly funny XD

[@Hangs4Fun]

Wow Mihai! Well thought out and very transparent on your technical challenges left to solve.

[@manny4148]

I probably could never afford this, but I can still recognize that this is dope as hell

[@MihaiDesigns]

Hey thanks! 😁

[@BrazenRain]

Thanks for being awesome! Great to see your thought processes and the ideas you're trading against each other for future iterations.

[@MihaiDesigns]

My pleasure!

[@lorlimann]

Wow I’m so looking forward to the outcome of this amazing project!

[@someoneonly]

Very nice extruder design :) the amount of thought and work put into the design is apparent

[@MihaiDesigns]

Thank you very much!

[@ThinAir-3D]

Amazing work as always. Really appreciate the in depth look at the design so far!

[@MihaiDesigns]

Much appreciated!

[@MarcelRobitaille]

Very nice design. I have been waiting for this for so long after you teased us all with your #shorts

[@MihaiDesigns]

Thanks! Yeah, took a while to get here, and the rest will take even longer.

[@MarcelRobitaille]

@@MihaiDesigns I can't wait!

[@niklasmeyn1914]

I think this project reaches a point, where it's not so much about a simple retrofit on a stock mk3 anymore. Instead think about it as a specialised solution that requires a custom made 3d printer (at least X and Z axis architecture). A stiff traverse with linear rails, the NEMA 17 on the back of the traverse... So many new opportunities. I guess you have to start your own 3d printer business. let me know when you are hiring.

[@MihaiDesigns]

Yeah, I know! Actually mounting it on a Prusa is entirely an afterthought. It's what I had available that worked reliably enough, but is a big tradeoff. I might focus on 2020 + linear rail for the future versions.

[@crokatron]

Sign me up.

[@elofos0815]

sorry guys, look @ prusa with his new XL printer (showcast this week), automatik tool chage, core XY and so on... This printer a little cheaper....

[@vamperspective3332]

im really fascinated of your design, u thought about so many details. Great Inspiration and work. Have a nice day!

[@kamran6533]

This is a really clever design! Thanks for sharing your valuable work!

[@agentfifteen]

Wow you've come so far! Revolutionary stuff. Seriously impressive dude, keep it up!

[@ackbarboypratama1277]

Amazing mihai, i really waiting for my ender 3 v2

[@ramjetnuesse]

Amazing design and work. I have been following you for quite some time and will continue to do so. Thank you.

[@MihaiDesigns]

Thank you! Cheers!

[@wforider4786]

"KEEP THE BOAT AFLOAT" Your design is is evolving beautifully love what your doing and thanks for sharing your experiences with us!

[@MihaiDesigns]

Thanks so much!

[@winandd8649]

Very nice! I'll be following this!

[@johnrobinson3642]

This is all sorts of awesome, thanks so much for sharing the video, and for making your designs available.

[@MihaiDesigns]

Glad you like it!

[@RizwanSarwar]

Awesome design. I have been waiting for it and will certainly be trying it on my enders. Good work Mihai (y).

[@MihaiDesigns]

Enjoy! Can't wait to get some feedback.

[@fishemrock]

Beautiful work, very inspiring! Can not wait to see the iteration where the center of mass is more directly over the linear rail. Also love the video.

[@MihaiDesigns]

You and me both! Several months I hope.

[@drewgossage8842]

Amazing work Mihai!! Looking great mate!!

[@MihaiDesigns]

Thank you! Cheers!

[@surajbiswas8642]

Wonderful work. And well explained. Keep sharing knowledge.

[@eyegreene936]

This is extremely impressive. I look forward to seeing this project evolve

[@MihaiDesigns]

Thank you!

[@joshua43214]

Yep, if you he can double the complexity, then the Voron crowd will be all over it. They never accept a solution that is not 10x as complex as it should be

[@onlineshaman]

Amazing Mihai! Great job! Thanks for sharing!

[@MihaiDesigns]

My pleasure!

[@davidlaforce382]

Amazing works. You re inspiring!

[@Mondflug_Osnabrück]

Dude, This is absolutely Awesome!! Feel like this could be a gamechanger. Please go on 🙏🏻

[@MihaiDesigns]

Thanks, I intend to!

[@Ungluedstarfish]

Thank you for your work!

[@aecrim1969]

Brilliant, like always!

[@mihaivasai4919]

The amount of work involved in this is crazy. Well done Mihai :)

[@GMC997]

Indeed very impressive and immensely useful. Well done Mihai!

[@MihaiDesigns]

Thanks! 😁

[@vinothkumarm3999]

Awesome design and your work

[@MihaiDesigns]

Glad you like it

[@Termite_Studios]

This is really great, specially the design has a small amount of moving parts also less wearing and breaking

[@craycle]

Incredible work here! Awesome project 👏👏

[@MihaiDesigns]

Thanks a lot!

[@axelknauff3928]

That is a very nice engineered solution. Deep respect.

[@notjannet]

Great work. Nice to see someone trying to push things forward :D

[@MihaiDesigns]

Hey, thanks! Huge effort, but I believe it's worth it!

[@Naturesyouth]

this looks like an awesome project, i will definitely follow along!!

[@MihaiDesigns]

Awesome, thank you!

[@AdelineTurner]

I'm all about automatic switching and multimaterial, but honestly for me with my current ender 3 printers the biggest benefit I see is easier maintenance and general problem solving. If my wife has a problem while I'm traveling, much easier to just swap the whole hot end out and adjust z axis, then I can fix it when I get home

[@MihaiDesigns]

That's a good point indeed! Haven't thought of that.

[@stormmy66]

Brilliant, absolutely brilliant. Very impressive work.

[@MihaiDesigns]

Thank you so much 😀

[@stealthcopter7398]

Awesome, I've subscribed to your channel to follow up all your work 👍

[@Creative_Electronics]

As always, nice video 👍👍

[@MihaiDesigns]

Thanks again!

[@LucasHartmann]

This looks awesome.

[@rwz]

This is amazing work!

[@MihaiDesigns]

Thank you!

[@ParsMaker]

Very interesting, I really like this project , I may work on it

[@ionutvas6514]

Interesant! Mult succes și la cât mai multe invenții îți doresc!

[@LFSPille]

Really a nice and smart design👍.

[@pradonegro683]

Awesome work like always. You are awesome!

[@MihaiDesigns]

Thank you so much 😀

[@micultimy91]

I know it's going to increase the complexity of the whole printer, but if you want to miniaturize the swapping mechanism, you have to involve other kind of technologies such as pneumatics. By adding some small pneumatic pistons, you will have more force in a small package to fix the nozzle assembly in place. Thanks for sharing the development details with us! Baftă 👍🏻

[@tinusblaauw4092]

These are some of the best 3d printing hardware designs I have ever seen. And it is great! :) At this stage sitting with a clogged nozzle in my Prusa mk3; hence pitstop will be one of the first things when this is sorted, hopefully tomorrow.

[@MihaiDesigns]

Wow, thank you!

[@arenree]

Can't wait to try this out on my Anycubic I3 Mega S :) Love the video as always Mihai

[@MihaiDesigns]

Have fun!

[@samuelgonzalez7783]

This can be good for those who often use different nozzle sizes. With the right mind set this can do a lot

[@MihaiDesigns]

Yup, I've already got about a dozen of them.

[@janzugic6798]

YESSS I WAS WAITING SO LONG

[@dragonstyneenterprises5344]

Beautiful design!

[@MihaiDesigns]

Thank you! 😊

[@DaruoshAghajaney]

Awesome work.

[@MihaiDesigns]

Thank you so much 😀

[@protoTYPElab44]

Love the design, i am still a noob in 3d printing but might try this on my printer. Amazing design!!

[@AvramBlackmith98]

Mihai, this is awsome! Keep rocking! Greetings from eastern Serbia!

[@MihaiDesigns]

Rock on! Greetings from Romania to Serbia!

[@3dpyromaniac560]

Interesting approach to a tool changer Eager to see more

[@MihaiDesigns]

Yup, releasing the extruder soon and working on the EngineSwap.

[@kylepotter9162]

Seriously, this is super cool.

[@MihaiDesigns]

Hey thanks Kyle!

[@Pixelcrafter_exe]

Amazing Design

[@meeder78]

What a great design!

[@MihaiDesigns]

Glad you like it!

[@nilsk.7078]

You‘re genius, keep up the great work!

[@MihaiDesigns]

Thanks, will do!

[@Minemac2]

Really looking forward to the full engine swap. This Looks really promising and I like the idea of getting rid of all the waste with traditional multicolor printer with something like the mmu from Prusa. Definitely more complicated but in my opinion a better product in the end

[@MihaiDesigns]

Thanks! Still a long way to go, but I'll get there.

[@MrManatres]

I really think that you don't get enough attention, this is really amazing

[@MihaiDesigns]

Thank you Matías!

[@kaiserucho]

I love this project, is so usefull!

[@MihaiDesigns]

Glad you like it!

[@jenshendriks9092]

This... Is... brilliant

[@DarshanRayate1]

Wow nice work 😊👍

[@MihaiDesigns]

Thank you! Cheers!

[@heorhiirublov3023]

Awesome idea

[@apollyon7573]

This is amazing!

[@SoundShunter72]

I agree it needs some space optimization, but damn it does look good like this!

[@saddlepiggy]

This is sick af.

[@samv6477]

Bravo Mihai, foarte mișto

[@johnshillinglaw8433]

You my hero! I'm about to build a Frankenstein printer from old parts salvaged from my original anet printer. Can't wait

[@MihaiDesigns]

That's an interesting approach! Can't wait to see where you take it 😃

[@robob3ar]

Great idea

[@SantaDragon]

Very cool project. Would love to build it myself. Another very important downside is the higher weight for the travelling, what means reduced printing speeds overall.

[@theyeetbear]

This is awesome!

[@MihaiDesigns]

I think so too! 😃

[@Dt0ur]

Very nice!

[@MihaiDesigns]

Thanks for the visit

[@nuagedemots8524]

super idée et conception, attention peut être, a la différence d'hauteur entre chaque buse qui risque de décaler la hauteur du Z au changement de buse !

[@toddcoello6461]

This is so awesome. I'm so excited for this to be available. I have a ender 3 with the sen3d idex conversion kit plus it's a 400x400x500 build volume. This could be fun. Also just became a patreon.

[@MihaiDesigns]

Wow thanks for supporting my work! 😃

[@Kaiei3D]

good job

[@MeikBundesen]

I'm so existed to see the end result. It's whey cool Michai. Let me know if you like some explainer our anything for explaining the setup :D

[@PrintCraft_3D]

wooow is very cool, you are really the best and very very ingenious

[@MihaiDesigns]

Thank you! Cheers!

[@doulos5322]

this is great!

[@rayknn]

Fun and good project! I think your number one design challenge is the distance of the nozzle to the linear rails. Besides I think that that edge where that bearing touches in order to grip the filament might be too thin.

[@MihaiDesigns]

Yup, that's one main aspect to sort out for the extruder. Quite a big change though, so I'll be addressing it in PitStop 3 most likely.

[@nathanb62]

Fantastic work!! You could try moving the extruder motor/transmission behind the carriage. If you used maybe a belt transmission you could have dual bearings on the driven pulley axel so it wouldn't need to be supported in the front. It would help balance the weight but would reduce the y travel.

[@johnpatkin]

This is brilliant. It would be great if we could also redesign the hot end wiring. It always seems so messy.

[@peterkiss1204]

Very clever locking mechanism! Making it free for personal use is generous. I think on the prusa frame you could put the motor behind the rods and use a planetary gear set to reduce the stepping, then could make the output shaft poke forward between the rods to drive the filament. It reduces the hotend Y offset and makes the head more balanced. On the Ender frame you could just make the motor sit above the crossbar for the same reason.

[@MihaiDesigns]

I know, but I doubt the motor will fit inside the frame. For the Ender, positioning the motor above the extrusion could work for the linear rail option at the cost of longer filament path. With the stock carriage it's way too high up I think.

[@sealightube333]

What if the motor is on the left or on the right side of the extruder?

[@mrmartinimo2299]

2:04 It might be a good idea to install the pogo connectors on the extruder itself to avoid short circuiting the main board 🙈 But fantastic work! It looks like a hell of a lot of brain work. 👍

[@MihaiDesigns]

Yup, that is one safer way and I'll make sure to include the info. The tradeoff is that the pogos are about 3x more expensive than the other part, and you'd only need one on the extruder side. But I did short one and destroy one board so there's that 😅 Thanks for the note!

[@Smackdabinu]

Hi Mihai, once again, your engineering skills shine ✨ like a shooting star!! Here’s my 2 cents, I think the perfect apparatus for your design would be SCARA. It certainly would help with the automated hot end exchange system. I could even see you building a multiple robotic arm system producing different parts, possibly with different filaments, for the same or different projects. Well, anyway, good luck and keep up the good work!! 👍🤖

[@MihaiDesigns]

Hey thanks! Yeah, you can be sure that I've been thinking of a multi-arm 3D printer for a long time. But won't be looking into that for now. Too many open projects...

[@Da-Real-Gigachad]

Cant wait.

[@MihaiDesigns]

Do not wait! 😛

[@Da-Real-Gigachad]

@@MihaiDesigns 😛

[@robertlackey7212]

Great Video ! I just discovered your channel and have been watching a lot of your videos . I have one request if possible it would be very helpful to have dates on your videos , I'm following the evolution of designs and without dates it is hard to figure out what came before or after what.

[@mjcantontube]

Very fun to see everything coming together. Looks like you have some ideas for improvement to keep you busy! For packaging, could you push the extruder motor back over the X axis to reduce the overhang? Might not be possible on the Prusa design, would be much easier on the Ender 3. Are there any concerns with shorting the heater cartridge pins? The reason I ask is you have the male ends exposed.

[@KanielD]

Nice!

[@MihaiDesigns]

Very!

[@becauseican2607]

Nice project 👍 If you move the motor above the x axis, you could implement a belt drive similar to the M3 - VoronDesign. The offset would be much smaller and the extruder would be more powerful 😉

[@khelloMz]

Hi! Muhai! HUGE STANDING CLAPS for your awesome work and commitment. Question: Do you think It could place the extruder motor behind the X horizontal bars on a future version in order to avoid the distance from the bar to the extruder and make it more balace?

[@MihaiDesigns]

Thank you! 😊 Yeah, the next version will be way more balanced and closer to the carriage

[@arerosl]

Cool project! For me bowden extruder is less complicated to use for swaps - just cost a lot more cause additional stepper motor. You could do same and use self-sufficient extruder + stepper that would be replaced with another pair of extruder + stepper.

[@--3D]

Mihai this is amazing, i love te filament!!!!! what type of filament you use?? thank you! awesome work!!!!!! 🙌🙌✅✅

[@5256667]

I started modeling a similar solution for the orbiter extruder, I will become your patreon to get the files and complete my design.