
How to Install the Creality Ender Upgrade Kit (Copperhead® - No Heater/Sensor)
Materials
Provided in the Copperhead® - No Heater/Sensor Creality Ender Upgrade Kit
- Copperhead® Hotend w/ Copperhead® Silicone Boot and Dowel Pin
- Boron Nitride Paste
- Applicator Swabs
Required but not provided with the upgrade kit
Stock Creality, or aftermarket, heat sink that will accept a stock Creality heat break. Must include a setscrew (see picture)
- Heater
- Sensor
- Philips Head Screw Driver
- 1.5 mm hex key
- 2.0 mm hex key
Removal and Disassembly of the Existing Hotend
Prior to removing the current hotend you may find it easier to remove any filament that is currently loaded. While this is not required, it will make the process easier. Follow all normal safety steps while removing filament from the hotend. - Ensure the hotend has been allowed to cool down to ambient temperatures.
- Turn off the power to the printer and remove the power cord.

- Using a 2.0 mm hex key, remove the two screws attaching the fan housing to the gantry plate

Set the fan housing to the side
- Remove the Bowden tube from the heat sink by pushing down on the top of the pneumatic fitting. This will allow the Bowden tube to be pulled out. This step can be performed at any time prior to installing the Copperhead hotend.


- Using a 2.0 mm hex key, remove the two screws located at the bottom of the hotend

- Using a 1.5 mm hex key, loosen the setscrew on the heat sink to release the hotend.

- Gently pull the hotend out of the heat sink.

- Using a Philips head screwdriver, remove the temperature sensor setscrew from the hot block and gently remove the temperature sensor.

- Using a 1.5 mm hex key, loosen the setscrew on the bottom of the hot block and gently remove the heater from the hot block.

Installation of the Copperhead® Hotend
- Remove the Copperhead® Silicone boot from the hotend.
- Using a 2.0 mm hex key, remove the retaining screw located on the side of the Copperhead® hotend, to the left of the Slice Engineering logo.
Care must be taken to not lose the dowel pin located inside the hot block. Only the indicated retaining screw should be removed, pictured below. This will ensure the heater and sensor are routed the correct way to allow proper installation of the hotend into the heat sink/printer. Do not grip the heat break when removing the retaining screw as doing so may cause damage to the heat break. 
Remove the cap from the syringe of Boron Nitride Paste. Push the open end of the syringe onto the small temperature sensor hole and fill the hole with Boron Nitride paste. This will be done on the side you removed the retaining screw from. Any excess Boron Nitride Paste can easily be clean after installation with a damp paper towel/ Q-tip
.
- Dispense a pea-sized amount of Boron Nitride Paste onto an applicator swab.

- Using the Boron Nitride Paste on the applicator swab, coat the interior of the heater hole with paste.

- If needed, apply more Boron Nitride Paste to the applicator swab and then coat the heater cartridge with paste.

Insert the heater and temperature sensor into the hot block. An applicator swab can be used to clean up any excess Boron Nitride Paste on the exterior of the hot block.
Using a 2.0 mm hex key, reinsert and tighten the hot block retaining screw. The retaining screw is used to hold the temperature sensor wire in place, as well as to retain the heater. Do not overtighten the retaining screw as this may damage the temperature sensor wire.
- Insert the hotend into the heat sink until it comes to a stop. With the stock heat sink, the fully inserted heat break will remain ~1.5mm out of the heat sink. Using a 1.5 mm hex key, tighten the setscrew on the heat sink to secure the hotend.


- Reinstall the Copperhead® Silicone Boot and Bowden tube.

- Using a 2.0 mm hex key, reinstall the fan housing.

Adjust Z stop to the height of the new
hotend.
- Plug in the power cable and turn the machine on.
- PID tune your newly installed Copperhead® hotend.
When changing the nozzle we recommend the use of our 1.5 nm Nozzle Torque Wrench to prevent plastic leakage. To change nozzles, grasp the Hot Block wrench flats shown below with a wrench, and then tighten, or loosen, the nozzle. The hot block must be held in place when changing nozzles to prevent any accidental damage to the hotend. 

The table listed below is a recommended starting point for certain slicer settings when using this upgrade. It is best practice to calibrate your slicer settings when using new components/filaments. This is most commonly done by printing a temperature tower and retraction tests.
All listed specifications are based on the use of a 0.4 mm nozzle. The suggested settings below can, and in most cases should, be adjusted to optimize your particular printer's performance.
Material Type |
Retraction Distance |
Perimeter Speed |
Infill Speed |
PLA |
2.0 mm |
80 mm/s |
100 mm/s |
PETG |
2.0 mm |
60 mm/s |
80 mm/s |
Congratulations on your newly installed Copperhead® Hotend