Slice Engineering Copperhead Hotend

The Copperhead by Slice Engineering is a modular, open-source line of all-metal hotends and their relevant components designed with advanced adaptability, better printing performance, and ease of use in mind. Thanks to their flexible construction and enhanced functionality, the Copperhead devices come in multiple variations to fit the majority of existing 3D printer setups. One can choose appropriate components for the package depending on the user’s equipment (to do this, check out the Compatibility Guide section below and select the necessary parts in the Add-ons and Extras menu).

Replacing your standard printer hotend with the Copperhead will upgrade the machine’s performance due to the device’s capability to prevent heat creep issues, such as jamming, poor heat control, etc. Alongside enhanced 3D printing precision, various mount options, and improved noise reduction, the Copperhead hotend features advanced high-temperature capacity with heating up to 450 °C. This covers a full scope of currently available thermoplastics, including PEEK, Ultem (PEI), ASA, PC, Nylon, etc.

The Slice Engineering Bimetallic Heat Break and universal Hot Block are the main components in all configurations of the Copperhead hotend system. They are available in different variants to unlock upgrade potential for a variety of existing 3D printers. In addition, the manufacturer provides several full-fledged upgrade kits for certain brands, such as Creality, Raise3D, Prusa, and Craftbot. For more information, read the following sections.

Both Copperhead and Mosquito hotend series from Slice Engineering share the manufacturer’s proprietary Bimetallic Heat Break technology that implies efficient heat conduction and diffusion. As such, they are designed for high-performance applications due to the ability to effectively eliminate heat creep.

However, they are different in all other aspects. The Copperhead is a budget-friendly, traditional-style hotend aimed at improved quality of high-temperature 3D printing. As for the Mosquito devices, they boast innovative design with a protective roll cage around 85% thermally efficient heat break making for cold, one handed nozzle changes. Despite their differences, both options provide better printing experience, so one can choose any depending on their needs.

Specifications:

• Highlights
• Compatibility guide
• What’s in the box
• Look and feel
• Price

Highlights

Flexible modular design

One of the Copperhead hotend’s notable features is its modularity allowing for universal compatibility and high adaptability. With its rigid, carefully thought-out construction and versatile mounting options, the device offers smooth and quick integration as well as reliable operation.

Efficient self-developed technology

Similar to the well-known Mosquito hotend by Slice Engineering, the Copperhead also makes use of the manufacturer’s brand innovative technology — Bimetallic Heat Break. It involves the application of the lightweight, adaptable heat break produced from ultrathin, cold-worked stainless steel surgical tubing and sheathed in hardened copper alloy. This method effectively eliminates heat creep, reduces jamming, and improves printing resolution.

Dual-extrusion capable

With dual extruder 3D printers becoming even more popular, the Slice Engineering Copperhead comes with adjustable Z-height to fit the majority of dual-extrusion setups.

Wide variety of supported materials 

The Copperhead hotend can heat up to 450 °C, which basically allows it to print with all major thermoplastics available on the market.

Plug-and-play upgrades

Due to the previously mentioned modular design, the Copperhead hotend is suitable for a wide range of 3D printers, including special bundle offers. These packages represent all-in-one solutions that can help you boost the printer’s performance to the next level.

Always ready for use

The device comes with everything one needs to start 3D printing right after receiving the package. Due to the quick installation process, the Slice Engineering Copperhead hotends provide smooth and streamlined user experience.

Compatibility guide

The Slice Engineering Copperhead hotend comes available in numerous variants to achieve maximum adaptability to a wide range of 3D printers. To find a device compatible with your machine, please check out the official compatibility chart provided by the manufacturer:

The letter code indicated in the chart corresponds to one of the following hotend types:

In case your 3D printer is not listed here, please contact us to find the appropriate solution.

If you are interested in one of the provided upgrade bundles, here is the list of compatible printers for each of them:

What’s in the box

The standard Copperhand package includes:

• Selected Heat Sink + mounting hardware
• Selected Heat Break
• Hot Block
• Orange lollipops

Craftbot Flow upgrade bundle includes:

• CB-Flow Heat Break
• Hot Block
• AP3X nozzle — Vanadium / 0.4 mm
• Custom industrial heater — 50W 24V / 80 mm / JST XHP-2
• Boron nitride paste — 5 cc

Creality Ender upgrade kit includes:

• Heat Break
• Hot Block
• BridgeMaster nozzle — 0.4 mm
• Silicone boot
• Boron nitride paste — 5 cc
• Custom heater — 50W / 300 °C thermistor (optional)

Prusa i3 upgrade kit includes:

• RepRap 1.75 Heat Break
• Hot Block
• BridgeMaster® Nozzle — 0.4 mm
• Silicone boot
• Boron nitride paste — 5 cc
• Dowel pin (for filling in the extra space in the thermistor slot on the hot block)

Prusa MINI upgrade kit includes:

• P Mini Heat Break
• Hot Block
• BridgeMaster nozzle — 0.4 mm
• Silicone boot
• Capricorn Premium PTFE tube (pre-cut)
• Boron nitride paste — 5 cc
• Dowel pin (for filling in the extra space in the thermistor slot on the hot block)

Raise3D E2 upgrade bundle includes:

• Standard G2 Heat Break (x2)
• Custom industrial heater — 30W 24V / 170 mm / JST XHP-2 (x2)
• Vanadium nozzle — 0.4 mm (x2)
• Boron nitride paste — 5 cc

Raise3D Pro2 upgrade bundle includes:

• Standard G2 Heat Break (x2)
• Custom industrial heater — 50W 24V / 300 mm / Bare leads (x2)
• Custom thermocouple — Type K / 285 mm / Bare leads (x2)
• Vanadium nozzle — 0.4 mm (x2)
• Boron nitride paste — 5 cc

For some items, package content may change. In case of any questions, please get in touch.

Look and feel

The Slice Engineering Copperhead hotend is robust, compact, and light. Depending on the version, the dimensions and weight of the device will slightly differ.

Heat Sink:

Mounting mechanism: Groove Mount — G2

• Diameter: 28 mm
• Size: 41.5 x 19.75 mm
• Weight: 17.1 g

Mounting mechanism: Screw Mount — G2

• Diameter: 28 mm
• Size: 31 x 19.75 mm
• Weight: 12.4 g

Heat Break:

Standard G2 variant (Copperhead Heat Sink, Raise3D Pro2)

• Definition: M6 x 1 threaded hot section, 6 mm smooth cold section
• Diameter: 6 mm
• Length: 21 mm
• Weight: 4 g

RepRap 1.75 variant (E3D V6, Prusa 3D printers, etc.)

• Definition: M6 x 1 threaded hot section, M7 x 1 threaded cold section
• Diameter: 7 mm
• Length: 23 mm
• Weight: 4.2 g

Mk 8 variant (Makerbot Replicator, etc.)

• Definition: M6 x 1 threaded hot section, M6 x 1 threaded cold section
• Diameter: 6 mm
• Length: 27 mm
• Weight: 4.3 g

Mk 10 variant (MakerGear, etc.)

• Definition: M6 x 1 threaded hot section, 7.78 mm shank with flats on cold section
• Diameter: 7.78 mm
• Length: 27 mm
• Weight: 8.1 g

C-E variant (Creality Ender / CR-10 Series, etc.)

• Definition: M6 x 1 threaded hot section, 6.98 mm smooth cold section
• Diameter: 6.98 mm
• Length: 28 mm
• Weight: 6.1 g

C-Pro Max variant (CR-10S Pro / Max Series, etc.)

• Definition: M6 x 1 threaded hot section, M6 x 0.75 threaded cold section
• Diameter: 6 mm
• Length: 23 mm
• Weight: 3.2 g

LGX variant (Bondtech LGX extruder)

• Definition: M6 x 1 threaded hot section, LGX compatible cold section
• Diameter: 6 mm
• Length: 17.5 mm
• Weight: 2.8 g

CB-Flow variant (Craftbot Flow printers)

• Definition: M6 x 1 threaded hot section, 4.98 mm smooth cold section
• Diameter: 6 mm
• Length: 37.5 mm
• Weight: 5.22 g

P Mini variant (Prusa Mini)

• Definition: M6 x 1 threaded hot section, 5.4 mm smooth cold section
• Diameter: 6 mm
• Length: 32 mm
• Weight: 3.74 g

Hot Block:

• Size: 27 x 12.5 x 15.5 mm (w/ retaining screws)
• Weight: 18.0 g

Price

The price for the Slice Engineering Copperhead hotend is $99.99, which is reasonable considering its versatility and high performance.