Changing SeeMeCNC's Orion Delta Heating Resistor Element

Created By: Joshua Bryant

     As an avid user of my printer it was only a matter of time before maintenance becomes a factor. Although I have to say this printer has required little to no maintenance since I've owned it, so this is the first real part change that has had to be done.

     Changing the heating element in your 'Hotend' is a very easy task and can be done with a few essentials including replacement parts. My method uses a blade connector instead of a permanent butt connector. I used this method so that future maintenance will be much easier (and possible).

Equipment and Supplies

1.   Permatex RTV Ultra Copper High Temp Silicone – This is used for sealing the element inside of the hotend. When applying, remember to be generous. It’s used as a heat sink compound to conduct heat from the resistor to the aluminum, so any air bubbles will diminish the effect. Air gaps will shorten the life of your heating elements by making them work harder to achieve temperature.

3.   Kapton Tape – This is for protecting the wires from contacting the element.

4.   Heating Resistor – These are the heating elements we will be replacing. Remember to buy two of them; they essentially have about the same life span, so don’t go through all of this work twice and replace both at once.

2.   Blade connector and receptacle – Using a disconnectable connector will make future maintenance more of a ‘Plug-n-Play’ experience.

Disassembly & Repair

     A majority of this part of the guide is covered by a video made by SeeMeCNC. Please review the video below for details on removing the old elements.

Personal Tip: Ensure that the leads from your resistors are straight and in line with the resistor. If they are angled or curved they may end up touching the aluminum when putting them into the hotend (which may cause a short).

Personal Tip: To ensure that there wouldn’t be any air bubbles I first filled the hole will silicone before passing the silicone covered resistor through. It was a bit messier, but I think it gave me a better installation.

Personal Tip: When installing this I gave the element silicone 48hrs to cure and the thermistor silicone 24 hrs to cure. Installation Method

1.     Remove hotend, old resistor elements, & pulled out thermistor.

2.     Installed new resistors

3.     Waited 24hrs to cure

4.     Shaped the resistor leads, attached the connectors.

5.     Installed thermistor with fresh silicon.

6.     Waited 24hrs to cure.

7.     Reassembled and began printing

Installation Modification: When you get to the part where you connect the butt connector switch this out to a blade connector & receptacle (connecting the blade part the wires). This modification will allow you to easily change the element in the future. If I hadn’t done this method I would have been left with no wire to change this out a next time.

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