FAQ

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If there are any other payment methods you would prefer (or need) get in touch with us and we will have a look to see if it is possible. 

See our Shipping page for more information.

This warranty applies only to the original purchaser of parts purchased directly from the Zesty.tech website.

The Nimble housing is next to unbreakable. The bearings are not taxed anywhere near their use limits, so they should be OK. The gear set is expected to last as long as the housing, so you are good to go there.

The only part that is likely to eventially wear is the breech block. That is the only part that is not under warranty. But it is available as a spare part, so it is not an issue. We suggest you order an extra one together with the Nimble.

In conclusion, with the exception of the breech the overall warranty for the Nimble is 2 years. We have a Nimble still running that was a prototype and it is more than 2 years old. No sign of it giving up any time soon.

The Drive Cable has a life long warranty under normal use. We are well under the manufacturer stated operating limitations, the cable should work till your printer is worn out.

It is possible to break the drive cable if you mount it wrong. For instance, not attaching the drive cable sleeve properly.

So if you have a problem with the cable, let us know and we will ship a replacement cable. All you need to do is pay the shipping.

If you are not happy with the Nimble and want to return it, please get in touch within 30 days.

But seriously, we cannot imagine somebody not being happy with the Nimble, so if you are, we REALLY want to know why. We intend to improve the Nimble all the time, so your input will be important.

Be warned, though. We are going to badger you to find out what is wrong, why you don't like it, how can we improve it, and we will try to help you get it working before we accept a return.

If you contacted us within 30 days and after we've actively tried to get you up and running without success then we will arrange for you to ship the Nimble back and refund you the purchase cost (minus shipping) once it is received.

Our standard length of 95 cm will fit almost all printers. If you think you need a different length, here is a simple way to measure the best length.

Hold one end of a length of bowden tube or filament at the print head, the other end in a nice loose arc to where you want the stepper to be mounted ensuring that the bend diameter is not  less than 20 cm. Measure the length of the filament and add 5 cm.

The measured length can now be used to select the closest available Nimble cable length.

Note: Make sure you measure the path when the print head is as far away as possible from the stepper.

The drive cable has a minimum recommended bend diameter of 20 cm. It is best to have a single loose bend in an arch over the printhead or effector. 

S bends are less than ideal, but if you have the space for it, and each bends are at least 20 cm diameter, go for it.

The drive cable should not require any lubrication, if you really want to add something we suggest a silicon or lithium based lubricant.

Of course it will. Well actually..

Usually it will. There are a few cases where it might be a bit more challenging to make it work, but overall, yes it will fit. 

As an example of a difficult case, the Cetus 3D printer. The Nimble will fit perfectly, we have an mount designed and tested for it. Only trouble is, the cable that drives the extruder is bundled with a lot of other cables in a flat cable. So we would need to develop a cable with the right pcb connector etc to be able to place the extrusion stepper at the base of the frame.

Most of them are on Thingiverse. 

If you'd like to make your own adapter provide downloadable mockups of the nimble and a basic adapter plate.  

We also design adapters for customers (free of charge) that are unable to model their own provided they can supply the following info :

Name and url of printer. What hot end you want to use. All the 3D models, drawings or details you can get your hands on. Any more needs or conditions relevant to the adapter.

We will also ask you to connect with us through our customer chat, as it makes adapter development so much faster and easier. Usually you will have your adapter design before the Nimble arrives.

If you don't have a 3D printer to make your adapter, we can put the adapter on Shapeways allowing you to order it printed the same way the Nimble shell is made.

Do NOT overtighten the 2 mounting screws. Finger tight and then 1/4 turn more is all that is needed. The 2 screws are only there to keep the Nimble closed and roughly in place. The adapter should locate the Nimble precisely.

Be aware that they might stick out underneath and damage your mount or hot end. So before tightening them completely, check to see if they are not too long (or too short)

You can use the screw next to the breech to get the Nimble in position. Then you can do the rest of the installation, fiddle with the adapter or mount, tweak the position, check the alignment with the hot end (that should be easy if the right adapter is used) and route the drive cable. Once everything is in place, attach the drive cable last.

The Nimble needs very little maintenance. Just a simple cleaning every now and then. Because it is difficult to measure it in working hours we decided to specify the maintenance per spool printed. Without further ado, for the longevity of your Nimble we recommend you use the following maintenance schedule.

After every 750 gr or 1 kg spool

    Blow out chaff from inside, using the vents provided.
    Blow out chaff from breech, when opened.

After every 5 spools

    All of the above
    Open the breech to check the teeth of the hob. They are easy to clean using a tooth brush if required.

When the breech is open, or completely removed, you have unrestricted visibility and access to feed filament straight into the hotend.

When open is also a perfect time to check the hob for chaff.

It is also the perfect way to check the status of your nozzle. (Yes, the nozzle that is at the bottom of your hot end)

Simply heat your hot end to working temperature, and push filament down into the hot end. If plastic extrudes out in a straight line and is smooth and easy to push out. You have a clean nozzle working well. Is it curly or does it feel like you need a lot of force to get the plastic to flow? Hmm, partially blocked nozzle or the tip is damaged.

If you are switching filaments, just keep pushing until the new filament runs clear.

If your spool is mounted somewhere without a clear path to the hotend you may need to use a reverse bowden.

Normally bowden tubes go from the extruder to the hot end. This one goes from the extruder to the spool. As I said, the other way.

To help you install a reverse bowden, we designed a little bowden clip.

The Nimble doesn't require the same torque as a regular extruder, lightness and speed are the key attributes. It needs to start fast, rotate at high speed and stop on a dime.

This means you need a stepper that has the following qualities.

Low rotor inertia

This allows it to start and stop rotating fast.

A value lower than 15 g-cm2 is desirable.

This often isn’t shown on the specification sheet, In this case an overall weight of the stepper of 120 to 150 grams is way to get something close to the target.

Low inductance

This means that the currents set up by the pulses are not too strong.

This allows the stepper to spin fast without the pulses interfering with each other.

Aim for a value of 3.5mH to 4.5mH

It can be low torque

Because we have a 30:1 (Nimble V1) or 20:1 (Nimble V2) gear ratio, you do not need a lot of grunt, it needs to be nimble.

As long as it is above 12 Ncm (roughly 17 oz.in) it will be plenty strong enough for the Nimble.