How to Install the Mosquito® Conduct™

Before Proceeding please read the Mosquito® Magnum+™ and Conduct™ Hotends Health and Safety Warnings, Limited Warranty, Limitations of Warranty, and Disclaimer of Liability. It is assumed that you have read and accepted any liability prior to beginning with the installation.

Warning: Mosquito® Conduct™ MUST be mounted to all metal components as other materials may fail mechanically or combust due to the heat conducted from the hot end. 

How to Install a Mosquito® Conduct™ on Your Printer: 

1. Mounting the Hotend

Three different mounting methods can be used on the Mosquito® Conduct™. The first is to use the tapped M2.5x0.45 screw holes on the Base Conduct™ to allow for mounting to the top surface of the heat sink from above, this is demonstrated in Figure 2. The second is to use the DIN rail on the Base Conduct™ to mount the hotend. Third is to use the M2.5x0.45 counterbored through holes from the bottom side to attach the Mosquito® Conduct™ to the bracket as seen in Figure 3. It is important that all mounting methods have only metal components and ample surface area to dissipate the conducted heat. Failure to provide enough surface area can allow heat build-up in the heat sink causing filament jams. 

2. Use Boron Nitride Paste

Slice Engineering® recommends Boron Nitride Paste for use in hot ends of any brand. For decades it has been used as a “heat transfer and release coating” for industrial cartridge heaters. Please see this article to learn how to properly use Boron Nitride Paste.

3. Install the Temperature Sensor

Mosquito works with all temperature sensor types commonly found in 3d printers:

 

Cartridge sensors of 3mm diameter such as those from Slice Engineering® :

     1.   Remove either retaining screw (M3 low head socket cap) from the hot block.

     2.   Insert a metal dowel pin (3 mm diameter with a 6 mm length) into the sensor socket (dowel pins are provided with Slice Engineering®  temperature sensors). More information can be found here.

     3.   Apply Boron Nitride Paste inside the hot block's sensor socket with the provided applicator swab and onto the surface of the cartridge.

     4.   Insert the sensor into the sensor socket.

     5.   Reinstall the removed retaining screw.

     6.   Wipe away any excess Boron Nitride Paste using a cotton swab, then allow it to dry as described in the preceding section.

 Threaded stud sensors with M3 threads:

     1.   Remove either retaining screw from the hot block.

     2.   Apply Boron Nitride Paste onto the threads and shoulder of the sensor.

     3.   Install the sensor into the threaded hole previously occupied by the retaining screw.

     4.    Wipe away any excess Boron Nitride Paste using a cotton swab, then allow it to dry as described in the preceding section.

Glass bead sensors:

    To achieve accurate temperature measurements with this sensor type, Boron Nitride Paste must fill the space between the glass bead and the wall of the sensor hole. This is achieved by potting the sensor into the hole.

     1.   Fill the sensor socket with Paste and insert the glass bead deeply into the wet paste. 

     2.   Anchor the sensor’s leads to the Mosquito™ heatsink using the included Panduit zip tie for cable control and strain relief.

     3.    Wipe away excess Boron Nitride Paste using a cotton swab or sponge and allow it to dry as described in the preceding section.

4. Install the Cartridge Heater

Any cartridge heater that has a 6 mm outer diameter and a cartridge length less than 22.5 mm may be used with Mosquito.

A low-quality cartridge heater may have a substantially oversize (out of specification) outer diameter and not fit Mosquito. If the heater inserts easily, use it, otherwise replace it. Do not force an oversize heater into the cartridge heater slot in the Mosquito.

     1.   Remove either retaining screw from the hot block.

     2.   Apply Boron Nitride Paste inside the hot block’s heater cartridge socket with the provided applicator swab and onto the surface of the cartridge.

     3.   Insert the heater into the heater socket.

     4.   Reinstall the removed retaining screw.

     5.   Wipe away any excess Boron Nitride Paste using a cotton swab and allow it to dry as described in the preceding section.

6. Install the Nozzle

If the threads of the nozzle and the hot block are clean of thermoplastic residue, there is no need to “pre-heat” Mosquito to change nozzles.  If thermoplastic residue exists, a traditional hot nozzle change is required as it is with other hot ends.  With proper tightening and use of high-quality nozzles, threads will stay clean. Slice Engineering®  recommends the use of a 1.5 Nm torque wrench for tightening nozzles to prevent plastic leakage.

Not all nozzles are manufactured to withstand 1.5 Nm of torque. Low-quality nozzles may snap under these loads. Do not use the Nozzle Torque Wrench on low-quality nozzles.