INo Trident hotend - Plasmics

The INo Trident hotend, developed by Plasmics, is the world's first commercially available induction-heated hotend for 3D printing. This revolutionary hotend ensures rapid heat-up times (max. 500 ºC) and precise temperature regulation, surpassing the capabilities of conventional hotends and heralding a new era of precision and performance in additive manufacturing. Unlike traditional hotends relying on resistance heating cartridges, the INo Trident harnesses a modulated magnetic field to swiftly convert energy into heat.

Image 1: The INo Trident induction hotend. Source: Plasmics.

The Plasmics INo Trident stands out as one of the lightest hotends available in the market today. Crafted from lightweight aluminum, the INo Trident weighs a mere 30 g and boasts compact dimensions of Ø 24.6 x 61.5 mm. This lightweight construction not only facilitates swifter movements but also significantly reduces inertia vibrations, ensuring smoother printing operations. Equipped with a K-type thermocouple, the INo Trident provides precise temperature readings directly from the nozzle.

Image 2: The INo Trident induction hotend. Source: Plasmics.

The nozzle itself is forged from hardened tool steel, engineered specifically for plastic extrusion tooling applications. Its exceptional abrasion resistance guarantees a prolonged lifespan and consistent functionality, regardless of the filament type or additives used. Eliminating the need for frequent nozzle changes for different materials or prints, the INo Trident offers unparalleled convenience and versatility. Furthermore, its flexible mounting system enables easy installation on almost any FDM 3D printer, whether mounted on the top or side.

How does it work?

Through the utilization of induction heating, heat is directly applied to the nozzle, eliminating the need for a separate heater block. This innovative approach significantly reduces thermal mass, minimizing energy loss due to heat radiation and maximizing energy efficiency. Moreover, Plasmics' pioneering design incorporates the temperature sensor directly onto the nozzle itself, providing instantaneous feedback on filament temperature. By leveraging induction heating, temperature variations can be swiftly responded to, ensuring precise control without overshooting the target temperature. This level of precision enables flawless extrusion, delivering impeccable print results with unparalleled accuracy.

Image 3: The main features of the INo Trident hotend. Source: Plasmics.

The INo Trident boasts an impressive heat-up time of under 4 seconds, swiftly reaching temperatures of up to 250°C, all thanks to its cutting-edge induction coil technology. This remarkable feat is achieved through two unique advantages exclusive to induction heating. Firstly, the INo Trident excels in transferring energy at an accelerated rate, ensuring rapid heat generation. Secondly, the heating element demands minimal mass for safe operation, further contributing to the reduction in heat-up duration. By harnessing these innovative features, the INo Trident significantly minimizes wait times, revolutionizing the efficiency of multi-material prints with frequent material changes. In regular use cases, this translates to a fivefold increase in speed, while in certain edge cases, the acceleration can reach up to twentyfold, offering unmatched performance and versatility in 3D printing.

Image 4: The efficient heating and cooling of the the INo Trident hotend. Source: Plasmics.

The cooling efficiency (to 150 ºC in 15 seconds) of the INo Trident surpasses that of a conventional 30W hotend by a remarkable fivefold. This expedited cooldown process is facilitated by the heating element's reduced mass requirement for safe operation, minimizing the energy that needs dissipation. Moreover, the inclusion of a highly accurate temperature probe prevents any temperature overshoot, ensuring precise temperature regulation throughout the cooldown phase. Even under the most challenging conditions, with no filament flow and lacking a cooling fan, the INo Trident outperforms comparable hotends by a significant margin. In practical printing scenarios, this translates to rapid cooldown times and reduced oozing, enhancing overall print quality and efficiency.

Wide compatiblity

The versatility of the INo Trident hotend extends to its compatibility with a wide range of filament materials, including PLA, ABS, HIPS, PC, TPU, TPE, PETG, ASA, PP, PVA, GF, CF, PEKK, PEEK, ULTEM, PA, glass fiber and carbon fiber filaments, metal filaments or wood-infused filaments. With its rapid heat-up capability reaching a maximum of 500 °C and highly efficient energy transfer, the INo Trident surpasses its competitors by delivering exceptional performance across the board. This standout feature proves invaluable in multi-material prints, where it drastically reduces print times, as well as when working with filaments featuring temperature-dependent characteristics like Varioshore.

Video 1: 3D printing with the INo Trident hotend. Source: Plasmics.

In addition to its filament versatility, the INo Trident seamlessly integrates with nearly every FDM 3D printer and is fully compatible with Klipper firmware. Communication with the control software is facilitated via USB, and the hotend requires a 24 V power supply capable of sustaining around 60 W of continuous draw, comparable to that of a regular hotend. The hardware supports both USB and SPI communication protocols right out of the box. Installing the Plasmics INo Trident in a 3D printer is straightforward; simply connect the communication bus to a Raspberry Pi's USB port and link the electronics' power supply to the printer's 24 V rail, with a maximum draw of 60 W.