Replacing the MakerBot Replicator 2's heater block assembly can be tricky, so we made a tutorial that will hopefully make this process a little bit easier.
Get your replacement heater block assembly here: http://www.fargo3dprinting.com/products/makerbot-replicator-2-extruder-assembly
Tools Needed:
5MM Hex Key
Side/flush cutter or scissors
Crescent wrench
MakerBot Replicator 2 Heater Block Assembly
1. Before replacing your extruder assembly, make sure you turn off your machine and unplug it from the wall.
2. Take out the two front hex bolts and remove the fan cover.
3. Move the fan off to the side and hang it to the left.
4. Remove the two black spacers and set them aside.
5. Remove the heat sink.
6. Unplug the cord from the stepper motor.
7. Pull the motor off of the gantry system.
8. Pull off the blower fan.
9. Remove the two hex bolts from the gantry system with 2.5mm Hex Key.
10. Go the back of the Replicator 2 and remove the zip tie if there is one.
11. Remove the cord mesh from its holder.
12. Remove the head from the gantry system and set aside.
13. Remove two Philips screws from the head on the blower duct.
14. Take off the plastic blower duct.
15. Remove the blower fan.
16. Cut off zip tie if there is one.
17. Push cords off to the side.
18. Take off the two hex bolts that hold the bar mount assembly onto the plastic piece.
19. Remove bar mount assembly.
20. Cut the ceramic tape and remove.
21. Loosen the set screw.
22. Unplug the heater cartridge cord.
23. Remove the heater cartridge.
24. Remove the nut on top of the bar mount assembly.
25. Pull aluminum bar mount piece off of the barrier tube.
26. Take the thermistor off of the heater block. (Do not bend the black covering as this could damage the thermistor.)
27. Set heater block aside.
28. Open your Fargo 3D Printing extruder assembly kit.
29. Screw the thermistor onto the right side of the heater block assembly and the heater cartridge will go on the left side.
30. Unscrew the set screw and make sure it is flush with the bottom.
31. Push heater cartridge back into the heater block. The cord should be facing to your right or towards the thermistor.
32. Screw set screw to lock in place. (Do not overtighten as you may strip the screw.)
33. Screw nut to the open part of the threads and put bar mount piece back onto the screw. Make sure the four-holed side is facing the heater block. The two holes in the front should be on the right side of the bar mount piece.
34. Place other nut back onto the top of the bar mount assembly. The bar mount piece should be parallel to the heater block piece.
35. The nut on the top of the bar mount piece should be flush with the thermal barrier tube.
36. Put the plastic piece back onto the side. Make sure the overhang is over the bar mount assembly and fan is still through the plastic piece.
37. Take two hex nuts and screw those back through the plastic piece onto the bar mount assembly.
38. Put the ceramic insulation tape around the heater block: http://www.fargo3dprinting.com/replacing-ceramic-tape-makerbot-replicator-2/
39. Put on blower fan.
40. Screw Philips screws back onto plastic piece.
41. Put plastic blower duct onto blower fan and screw down.
42. Put the stepper motor back on.
43. Put the heat sink on top of the stepper motor.
44. Put the spacers in and on top of those put the fan.
45. Put the fan cover back over the fan.
46. Screw this entire assembly down.
47. Place the cord back into the stepper motor.
48. Zip tie the mesh wiring harness down to the plastic upright.
49. After zip tying the cable harness, place the cable mesh back into the holders on the back of the machine.
50. Zip tie the top of the cable mesh to the machine.
51. Replace screws in the bar mount assembly.
52. Put the blower duct back.
53. Plug in the machine and you’re done!
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