$99.90
The LDO Smart Orbiter v3.5 is the latest version of Dr. Robert Lorincz's compact dual-drive extruder. It adds quieter operation, better filament sensing, and improved extrusion.
Since the v3.5 is built on the v3.0 platform, technical characteristics are similar to the previous generation. The complete specifications are listed at the bottom of this page.
A targeted set of improvements over the v3.0, optimized for quieter, cleaner, more reliable prints.
A reshaped front heatsink moves air more smoothly and clears up the high-pitched "mosquito" whine, cutting fan noise by roughly 10 dB.
An improved sensor switch and the new combined filament guide catch runouts reliably, with far fewer false alarms mid-print.
A new knurled spider-shaft seats the drive gear with better alignment, keeping extrusion consistent and layers smooth.
Smoother airflow, roughly 10 dB less noise
The most visible change on v3.5 is a redesigned front heatsink. Its new fin shape reduces air turbulence and eliminates the nagging high-pitched "mosquito" fan noise, bringing the sound level down by about 10 dB. The heatsink fits both the LDO hotend and the E3D Revo ecosystem.
Heatsink and filament guide in a single part
On the v3.5, the front heatsink and filament guide are now combined into one part. This change gives tighter control over the filament path and its spacing to the filament sensor, and it trims the number of parts that have to line up during assembly. The result is a design that handles better with manufacturing tolerances.
The input ring has also been reshaped to take a small PTFE coupler, so the PTFE tube is held mechanically rather than by friction alone. The heatsink and hub housing are 0.5 mm wider, which seats the left-side mounting surface just past the stepper body for better alignment when you mount it.
Knurled spider-shaft with a shoulder-bolt tension lever
How accurately the drive gear is centered has a lot to do with extrusion quality. The v3.5 swaps the old octagon-shaped precision shaft for a new knurled spider-shaft. It's simpler to produce and lets the drive gear be press-fitted with better centering, which keeps extrusion steady and leaves prints looking smoother, with fewer of the diagonal marks that off-center gears tend to leave behind. The secondary drive-gear tension lever now turns on a custom M3 shoulder bolt instead of a standard M3 screw, so it pivots against a smooth surface rather than the screw threads.
Hotend compatibility
The v3.5 front heatsink fits both the LDO hotend, paired with the new TFN nozzle for a higher maximum flow rate and finer layers, and the E3D Revo ecosystem, so you can build it to match your printer.
Please note, the E3D Revo hotend is 4 mm longer than the LDO hotend, so you'll need to allow for that in your mount and Z-offset.
Built on the proven Orbiter v2.0 smart sensor
The filament sensor now uses the same switch found in the Orbiter v2.0. That brings more dependable filament detection, less friction in the top section of the extruder, and runout detection you can trust, without the false trips that can stop a print for no reason. The new sensor board also carries two RGB LEDs in place of the single LED on the previous version.
chain_count to 2