This extrusion system mounts the extruder motor directly onto the print head, eliminating the Bowden tube setup found in many other printers. This configuration allows the motor to directly control filament flow into the hotend. An example would be a printer where the stepper motor responsible for feeding filament is attached directly to the hotend assembly, moving with it across the print bed.
This approach offers enhanced control over filament extrusion, leading to improved print quality, particularly with flexible materials like TPU. It reduces issues like retraction inconsistencies and allows for faster printing speeds. While less common in earlier consumer-grade machines, this setup is increasingly popular due to its advantages in handling challenging filaments and intricate designs. The simplified mechanical system also generally requires less maintenance.
