Hi Erik please share the firmware changes as a patch file, or even better, a fork on github. This will help answer a lot of the questions people have about your hex file and how to reconfigure the firmware. It would be great if you can share the source files for your models, instead of STL, which is difficult to obtain exact dimensions from, and impossible to obtain true curvatures from. You also mentioned a longer 5mm shaft. Can you provide a off-the-shelf component source for this? Perhaps a McMaster-Carr part number? Thanks

<p>Hello Erik,</p><p>I can't get the flexdrive working on my UM2. I already made some other modifications, so I can't use your hex file. Could you elaborate what you did to get the motor running at the faster speeds?</p><p>I tried everything I removed micro stepping changed the settings for max speed and acceleration but still as soon as I start printing the motor skips and starts vibrating. But and thats the frustrating thing only when printing. Sending a G1 or moving the filament with the rotary switch works just fine at even higher speeds.</p>

Hi Erik, Would this work with the ultimaker original + ?

Somebody knows the BoM for this? Of I have to buy one kit? I wanna try this...

No rush for me - still waiting on Mutley to ship the HW.

Not yet. But you can use the attached firmware and change the E steps with M92 xxx.

Erik: Have you updated the firmware for UM2 motor?

Thanks! So it is loaded by Install Custom Firmware in Cura, then - got it.

The motor direction is wrong. When you change the filament the length between the feeder and hotend is wrong. And there are more hard coded settings that needed tweaking. I also virtually halved the E mircosteps. This is needed to increase the e-speed.

Wouldn't it be easier to just change the Esteps setting under Machine Settings and Retraction under Advanced? What else would be necessary to tweak?

The hex file is the firmware needed for the flex3drive. The settings are for the flex3drive and for a 200 step extruder motor. I will change this to a 400 step extruder motor (The one currently on the UM2) when I have tested it. You can program the hex file with cura

Could you tell us what the HEX file is?

All the needed parts are in the flex3drive kit (http://mutley3d.com/Flex3Drive/) Only the 5mm shaft needs to be longer and you do not need the printed parts from mutley.

I really like to try this.... can you share a list of needed components and where to get them ?

Wow, so you managed to get the whole thing below the bars and linear bearings without enlarging the printhead in critical areas.

<p>I placed a flex3drive order earlier today. I will give your design some testing when it arrives. I'm printing Arjan's rail system to move my motor and filament spool into a better position so I can eliminate some under extrusion, but it shouldn't be difficult to come up with a motor mount to use in conjunction with the flex3drive that fit the same rails. I'll upload any designs I put together.</p>

<p>Thanks - you had me worried. Filaflex is tough stuff.<br>6^)</p>

- The bowden is used as filament guide. - The robot print is filaflex. It is impossible to use with an ultimaker and difficult to use on most printers. This was my first print with filaflex. (http://forums.reprap.org/read.php?1,269018,269018) I did not tune the settings for filaflex. It had around 20% over extrusion and the printing temperature was probably to high.

I've got a flexdrive on order, but I must be missing something: - Why are you still using a bowden tube? - Why does the robot print look so bad?

The power of the flex3drive is very high. I need to lower the motor power to protect the hotend. I have done many prints with it, But still needs to do some tuning. I need to fine tune the flow rate and retraction. The print quality is at least comparable with the bowden setup. With the flex3drive it is possible to print with flexible filament (filaflex is very flexible). This is a new design and only tested by me. It probably needs some improvements. The motor mount is missing. I had no time designing it.

<p>I've been trying to sort out under extrusion problems on my UM2 for the past few months and this flex3drive looks like a potential solution. Were you experiencing the same problems? How do your prints compare to the bowden tube setup?</p>