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I know I posted this video about how I printed a large nose cone in pieces using my Prusa MK3S:
Print Large Parts
However, what are the options for extended Z height on 3D printers so we could print larger nose cones in one piece?
The FLSUM V400 looks like a nice option. The description of 400 mm Z is a bit misleading because that's not to the periphery (the Z limit is a cone), but for nose cones that doesn't matter. So you could print a 15" exposed nose cone with a 3/4" flange to fit inside a coupler. Most HPR nose cones are larger than 15" exposed, but at least this is starting to be in the ballpark.
Of course there's also the RatRig which goes up to 500 mm³ (19.7") build volume. This looks like a beast and not sure the extra X and Y are really helpful to us. (Maybe for a fin can, but I think the jury is still out on whether the inherent Z axis weakness of FDM parts makes large printed fin cans viable). 19" exposed covers a good range of nose cones, so this seems like a good option.
Someone also modified a Voron 2.4 with a radically extended Z, but I can't find any reports of how well it worked. 920 mm (36.2") is certainly big enough for most any HPR nose cone, even a 6" Nike-Smoke IIRC.
Print Large Parts
However, what are the options for extended Z height on 3D printers so we could print larger nose cones in one piece?
The FLSUM V400 looks like a nice option. The description of 400 mm Z is a bit misleading because that's not to the periphery (the Z limit is a cone), but for nose cones that doesn't matter. So you could print a 15" exposed nose cone with a 3/4" flange to fit inside a coupler. Most HPR nose cones are larger than 15" exposed, but at least this is starting to be in the ballpark.
Of course there's also the RatRig which goes up to 500 mm³ (19.7") build volume. This looks like a beast and not sure the extra X and Y are really helpful to us. (Maybe for a fin can, but I think the jury is still out on whether the inherent Z axis weakness of FDM parts makes large printed fin cans viable). 19" exposed covers a good range of nose cones, so this seems like a good option.
Someone also modified a Voron 2.4 with a radically extended Z, but I can't find any reports of how well it worked. 920 mm (36.2") is certainly big enough for most any HPR nose cone, even a 6" Nike-Smoke IIRC.