Created for Modification Purposes
I am converting a Replicator Z18 to a Open Source Printer using a Revo Voron Hot end and SKR Octopus Electronics there are two versions of a mount to connect the hot end to the linear rail on the printer. The alternate version does not use the original heatsink and only requires three pieces. The mount and the two blower fans.
Updated 12/30/22 To Make Ribs Bigger and correct heatsinck hole spacing
Updated 1/2/23 Changed design to be three pieces for easier printing
Added alternate 2 piece version that does not require the aluminum mount in the original printer
Lalokera, We kept the kinematic parts and discarded all of the electronics from the hot ends to the power supply. We used the stepper motors and frame and installed a BTT Octopus board and new power supply. If you go this route there are excellent instruction for wiring and Klipper setup on the Voron Design web site that can also be used for this setup. We built a box to mount the electronics outside the case. The original electronics were a nightmare to get to and we wanted easier access. We are also using a E3D V6 hot end mounted to this carriage. Hope that helps. Hope this helps
Sorry it took so long to reply . My son is doing this conversion. He is still working on it. The Z18 is a real pain to take apart to get to the controller board and power supply. In the end he did not even need to do that. He is building it with an octopus controller board and will run Klipper on the new board. He is also going to build a detached external control box for those parts and just run the wires needed to the hot end and stepper motors. So, he could have just left the internal control parts in the frame as long as he had access to the required hardware. I hope the results are worth the effort.
How did this project turn out. School IT staff guy here. I've built a Voron 2.1 and upgraded it to a 2.4 all hand wired with my PA-09s. before they had those beautiful LDO wiring harnesses. Anyway our school has an old Z18 they're trashing. Makes me sick to know how much they paid for it and the many extruders they bought over the years.
There are no directions but you have to completly disassemble the machine to do the conversion.
We replaced all the electronics including the power supply we will be using an SKR Octopus 2.0 board and it will be running Klipper firmware. Hope that helps. Glad you liked the file.
Hi! I have a Z18 lying around and I was wondering if I can swap the original firmware for an open source one and I find your post, this is an awesome job. Could you tell me any directions? Of what hardware changes you made and which firmware did you used.