Orbiter V2.5 Direct Drive Extruder with Stepper Motor - Dual Drive Planetary Gear

Specifications

• Extrusion Type: Direct Drive (Dual Gear)

• Gear Ratio: 7.5:1 Planetary

• Supported Filament: 1.75mm

• Motor Type: Custom High-Temp Pancake Stepper

• Recommended Motor Current: 0.85A RMS (Max 1A)

• E-Steps: ~690 steps/mm (Requires microstepping calibration)

• Pushing Force: ~10kg

• Dimensions: ~51mm (H) x 48mm (W)

• Total Weight: ~145g

Key Applications and Projects

• Flexible Filament Mastery: Removing the long Bowden tube and gripping the filament right above the hotend makes printing soft TPU and NinjaFlex incredibly reliable.

• Voron & RatRig Toolheads: Integrating perfectly into custom CoreXY toolhead designs (like the Stealthburner or EVA) for maximum acceleration and speed.

• Ender 3 Direct Drive Conversion: Upgrading standard Cartesian bedslingers to direct drive without adding excessive weight to the X-axis gantry.

Unlock New Capabilities (Project Evolution) The High-Speed, High-Flow Hotend Swap: Now that you have the mechanical pushing power of the Orbiter V2.5, your old standard hotend is the bottleneck! Evolve your toolhead. Pair this Orbiter extruder with a high-flow hotend like a Phaetus Rapido or E3D Revo. Because the Orbiter can push filament flawlessly at extreme speeds, matching it with a hotend that can melt plastic just as fast will allow you to confidently push your print speeds past 250mm/s, cutting your total print times in half while maintaining perfect extrusion!

Package Includes

• 1x Orbiter V2.5 Extruder Assembly

• 1x Integrated Pancake Stepper Motor

• 1x Tensioning Screw and Spring

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQ)

Q: Will this fit my Ender 3 / CR-10 directly? No, it does not bolt directly onto factory metal carriages. You will need to 3D print a specific mounting adapter bracket for your specific printer model. Many free designs are available on platforms like Printables or Thingiverse.

Q: What should I set my E-steps to? Due to the 7.5:1 gear ratio, your E-steps (steps per millimeter) will need to be changed significantly in your firmware. A typical starting point is around 690 steps/mm (at 16 microsteps), but you must perform an extrusion calibration test to find the exact number for your setup.

Q: What is the recommended motor current? The motor should be run at approximately 0.85A RMS. Running the current too high will cause the tiny motor to overheat, which can travel through the gears and soften your filament before it reaches the hotend.

Q: Can I use this in a heated enclosure? Yes. The motor is rated for high temperatures (up to 120°C class), and the internal gears and housing are designed to withstand the ambient heat of an enclosed ABS/ASA printing chamber (typically up to 70°C ambient).

Q: Is it compatible with 2.85mm filament? No, the Orbiter V2.5 is designed exclusively for standard 1.75mm 3D printer filament.

Q: How do I load filament? Simply pull back the latch lever to disengage the gears, push your filament down through the top PTFE guide until it reaches the hotend, and release the lever.

Q: What does the thumbwheel on the side do? The thumbwheel adjusts the compression of the internal spring, which dictates how hard the dual-drive gears bite into the filament. You want it tight enough so it doesn't slip, but not so tight that it crushes and deforms the filament.

Q: Do I need to lubricate the internal gears? The planetary gears usually come pre-lubricated from the factory. If you ever disassemble the unit for maintenance, you should apply a very light coat of lithium or PTFE grease to the planetary gears, but never get grease on the filament drive gears.

Q: Can I use this as a Bowden extruder? While technically possible to mount it to your frame and run a long PTFE tube to your hotend, it defeats the purpose of buying an ultra-lightweight extruder. It is designed to be mounted directly on the moving print head.