Very interesting video about gear extruders and some issues with print artefacts

[Redbrickman]

As per the title the presenter examines the possible link between dual gear extruders and print artefacts. Interestingly he suggests that the Prusa Mini and Ender 3 may produce better prints than the Prusa MK3 due to only using a single gear rather than the dual gear extruder.

 

[The Hat]

the possible link between dual gear extruders and print artefacts.

That is very interesting, because at one stage I was going to use a duel extrusion but never got around to it, and if I did I don’t reckon having a wood effect pattern on the side of my project would worry me very much..

Just as long as it prints, that’s all that I’m interested in and small issues like that are more than acceptable..

 

[Artur5]

What a bunch of biased nonsense ! (not your post @The Hat, but that video ).
Vertical or horizontal artifacts on prints are the combined result of multiple things and the fact that the extruder has one or two gears is only minor compared to the precision of the stepper motors, the tolerances of mechanical parts like gears, belts, pulleys, bearings, rods.. or the accuracy assembling the printer, the consistency of the hotend delivering melted filament, the condition of the nozzle, the resonances of the frame and the motors, the stability of the platform where the printer is sitting etc...
One or two gear extruders matter less than the diameter of the extruder gears, the bigger, the better.

 

[Nifty]

I've actually considered a dual-extruder a few times, but:

1: (similar to dual z screws) I don't have any issues that I'm trying to solve for that would justify doing the work / adding it.

2: I've heard too many mixed reviews and reactions about them to add one.

So, if I start having some issues that a dual extruder would fix I might give it a try... but for now, the single work fine for me. Heck, I still even have the OEM plastic one on my Ender 3 v2 (I did put metal single extruder replacement on my CR-10) and it's working fine.

 

[Redbrickman]

I use one on the Voron and yes there are small artefacts but nothing that is glaringly obvious like in the video. Dual geared extruder are very reliable as far as feeding the filament goes, certainy much mroe reliable than a single gear extruder.