The Nimble C/C is not simply a double Nimble.
There are a few clever little tricks .going on. So how do the Nimble and the C/C relate to each other and how to make a C/C out of a Nimble. These seem simple questions but they are surprisingly hard to explain. In this post I will give it my best shot and illustrate using photos.
The Nimble C/C
The Nimble C/C is designed to fit on top of the E3D Chimera or Cyclops hot end and allows the printer to control 2 filaments. The base of the C/C is shaped in such a way that the hot end can be mounted with the fan facing forward, or facing backwards. We could not make it ambidextrous, this was the closest thing.
We decided to not create a completely new design for the C/C, as most of the parts of the Nimble itself would fit. No point in re-inventing the wheel (hob) is there?
So how does that work exactly. Well, the C/C base is a unique part, clearly. But all the other parts are standard Nimble parts. The gear and worm sets, the sleeve clamps, the breech blocks and of course all the metal parts for the stepper side of things are identical. The interesting thing is that the upper housing parts are standard Nimble as well. The two housing parts closing the top of the Nimble C/C are actually the top and bottom shell of a single Nimble.
The following images can clarify. Again, we used a two colour Nimble to show you what is going on.
Top left, a C/C base with a few parts and a complete Nimble.
Top right, the Nimble is opened and the worm gear, including the bearings, are placed in the C/C base.
Bottom left, the gear shaft and the integrated hob, again with the bearings, are placed in the right hand side of the C/C base, and the bottom shell of the Nimble is placed over the left gear.
Bottom right, the last (top) shell is placed over the right hand gear shaft, closing the C/C. All that is left to do is mount it on the Chimera/Cyclops and close the breeches.
In essence, by designing 1 part we have increased the possibilities of the parts and this trend will continue with the other types of Nimbles we are developing.
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