Introduction
Before you upgrade your Creality Machine with Revo CR please read the following safety cautions.
This upgrade guide is for Revo CR. It is a complete upgrade guide applicable to many Creality machines. The guide shows the installation on a standard Ender 3 Pro (with no mods), although the process will be similar for any machines listed in our compatibility list:
To complete this upgrade, you will need:
- Your Creality printer
- A Revo CR HotEnd kit (Please check what voltage your Creality machine uses before buying)
- Pliers
- Corresponding Hex Keys (2.0mm for the Ender 3 Pro)
- Flush cutters
- A handful of cable ties
General Disassembly Instructions
As mentioned at the start, this guide will show the installation on an Ender 3 Pro. However, the process will be similar if you have any of the Creality machines listed above.
Double-check your machine is TURNED OFF before starting the upgrade
1. Start by cutting any cable ties that you have got securing the wires as they enter your HotEnd.
2. Carefully remove the HotEnd cover if you have one on your machine, leaving the HotEnd exposed. Set the fixings aside as you will need them to complete the upgrade.
The fans should still be attached, so be careful not to pull on the wires as you remove the cover.
3. Remove any PTFE Tube from the top of your existing HotEnd. Push down on the collet while you pull up on the tube to release it.
The tube can often be a bit stuck. In which case you can turn your printer back on, briefly heat the HotEnd to 200 degrees and then attempt to remove it. You should put the fan cover back on whilst you do this.
Make sure the machine has cooled and that you have turned off the printer before continuing.
4. Remove your existing HotEnd. The heater and thermistor should still be connected at this point. Set the fixings aside as you will need them to complete the upgrade.
5. For now, rest the whole wiring loom on your print bed.
It's fine for all the wiring to still be connected at this stage. We will be swapping these over next.
Revo Wiring and Reassembly
We will be using the provided butt splice connectors in this guide. They are one-time use, so DO NOT press the orange button until you have loaded in the wires.
6. Place your Revo CR alongside your old HotEnd. Feel free to pull back the wiring sleeve some of the way, but don't unplug anything from the board. Identify the Heater and Thermistor on your existing HotEnd and Revo CR.
7. Cut the connector off the HeaterCore thermistor wire using flush cutters. Do this as close to the connector as possible.
Also, cut the thermistor wires on your original HotEnd. You should do this close to the HotEnd to give you plenty of wire length to work with.
You may want to consider staggering your butt splice connectors. This will make cable management easier. You can do this by staggering the location of your cuts.
8. Take a butt splice connector and feed one thermistor wire from the Revo CR and one thermistor wire from the wiring loom into the holes.
Do not strip the wires before inserting them. This is not necessary.
Thermistors don't have a polarity, so you can connect the wires up either way around. Be very careful not to mix the heater and thermistor wires though
This next part is a little fiddly. Read the new few steps very carefully before starting. You only have 5x connectors, so you don't want to do this wrong!
The underside of the connector is translucent. Check to make sure the wires are all the way at the end of the holes before pressing the button on the connector. Otherwise, you risk them not being secured by the blade inside the connector.
You need to make sure the wires stay in position whilst you press down the button on the connector.
Pressing the button cuts into the wires and fills the cavity with resin. This holds them in place and provides an electrical connection.
Sometimes some of the silicone gel will be forced out of the connector. This is fine and is to be expected. Wipe away any excess with a tissue.
9. Use a pair of pliers to compress the button. Press down until it is all the way depressed; You will have to press down reasonably hard.
Make sure the button is fully depressed before releasing the wires. It helps to give it a second squeeze just to make sure.
10. Repeat this process for the remaining thermistor wire.
11. Now, you need to follow exactly the same process for the Heater wires.
12. With Revo CR now wired in, it is time to re-assemble. Lift up the Revo CR, fan cover and wiring loom, draping the wires over the top of the X-axis extrusion. Bolt your Revo CR onto the carriage using the same M3 bolts/washers from the previous HotEnd.
13. With Revo CR mounted, you can now connect the PTFE tube. Remove the collet clip before pressing the tube in. Remember to add the collet clip back at the end.
14. Reattach the fan cover. You should be able to use the wiring sleeve to cover the butt splice connectors. This allows for better strain relief.
15. Use some cable ties to connect the bowden tube to your wiring loom. You should add one above and below the Butt Splice joints. This will help to strain relief the joint.
Your printer's nozzle should be in the same place as prior to the upgrade but you should still check your nozzle offset before starting the first print to make sure it has not changed.
We recommend PID tuning your new HotEnd before running your first print. You may have the option of PID tuning through your 3D Printers Menu, if not, we have a guide for Marlin firmware here.
Congratulations, your Creality machine is now upgraded Revo!
With the upgrade complete, why not print a fancy holder for your Nozzles?
https://www.printables.com/model/162022-2020-bracket-revo-connect
