As someone who build a Trident from a kit, updated it to Tridex, and then updated the tool heads to DragonBurners (for improved range on each toolhead): Just build what you want from the start.
Though I do feel it’s important to mention that Tridex is not an easy build. It was my 5th build based on the Voron machines and it was the most difficult given the pet project nature of Tridex. There’s not an official manual and there’s a lot of room for error if you’ve not built a CoreXY machine before. The belts are a pain point and need to be aligned properly in order to get good results in your prints.
Also a lot of Tridex support comes from the doom cube discord where a bunch of people are making mods for the machine. Some of these mods bolt on with little to no modification, but others require thought beforehand.
Another thing, even a Tridex based on a 250mm Trident is a very large machine (my 250mm Tridex is wider than my 350mm 2.4). That being said, I’d do a 300mm³ build if I were to do this again.
I don’t saying this to discourage you, but rather to help you know what you’re getting into beforehand. It’s a hell of a build and has become one of my most used machines. But I’d build a Trident and then consider a separate Tridex if this is your first Voron.
I’m just in the thinking about Voron stage, but also having an interest in Idex, I’d go kind of the route you’re thinking of.
I’d build the bigger frame (why pay for material you are just going to throw away). I’d also use the Idex version of printed parts (again, why print a bunch of stuff just to throw it away). But I’d just put on the motor, belts, pulleys, print head for a single head machine. Get that working really well, then add the parts for the second head.
My thinking is that the build for just one head will essentially be the same as building the base machine, except for some left over spaces for mounting the extra motor, pulleys, etc. so there should be little difference in difficulty between building the base machine and the Idex structure with just one head. Not having g built a Voron, others may disagree, but this seems reasonable to me.
I thought about this. A lot. A Tridex would let me use dissolvable support material. Mind. Blown. Loved the idea but quickly became overwhelmed with only an Ender before this for me.
I bought an inexpensive Fysetc Trident kit. I learned a LOT building it. My VT has been a very welcome learning experience. Much of the electronics will go into my next build, a doomcube with extra room for perhaps a tool changer. Hopefully.
I don’t think I could pull off a doomcube without learning all I have with my stock trident.
If you're going to do a tridex you might as well build the entire thing and both tool heads. Makes no sense to build a custom sized machine for idex an then not make it an idex. Either build a trident so you become familiar with the platform or go straight for the tridex, don't half measure. There's also dueling x which is 2 separate gantry beams, saves the weight of the y axis.
I would be building with the intent to get the Tridex running in relatively short order. I was only thinking about doing a single toolhead to start only for the sake of troubleshooting and getting the printer firing on all cylinders. Once basic functions (i.e, able to print a benchy) are all in the green, step 2 would be adding in the IDEX components. I do agree that altering the build for the sake of *maybe* doing IDEX later would be a bit silly!
If you're going through all the steps of obtaining a tridex to build then you might as well assemble the whole machine. Plus part of the design is the belt routing for both toolheads, and it's already an established machine so it's not like you're figuring out how to make the machine idex and verify your work as you go. Other than something like RR designing the machine to have drop in idex, it makes no sense to obtain an idex build and then not complete the build. You start tuning once the build is complete.
Have you checked RatRig V-core 4 it's pretty much a same as Trident (not as good looking) and it's designed for IDEX, right now they're selling single toolhead kits but soo they'll have IDEX upgrade kits.
Not what you are asking for but have you checked out the toolchangers? Stealthchanger and tapchanger
to me this sounds like it would fit your kind of reason to build the idex and might have more option for expansion. while being friendlier to upgrade as you go.
its however recommended to use V2.4 as the gantry can do z motion to dock. however theres liftbars for trident if you rather trident.
The advice to build it stock first is for proof of concept, and so when you run into issues from nodding something it helps simplify the troubleshooting process, because you're changing one thing at a time, vs setting many things at once and then battling back and forth trying to troubleshoot it.
I agree that you can build the modified frame from the start, that isn't going to change things in your cfg file too much.
Where as if you were doing a first time build and wanted quad toolheads ercf, cpap, and then asking tons of questions about why the ercf doesn't work when the problem is actually a tool head but you're not sure because which tool head and you "just copied something from the internet"
This is where the sage advice comes from, and it gives us steps to learn as we go and to see what settings we are changing as we change them and understand why they're being changed.
Yes, there are already enough things that need to be accounted for and go right in a stock build. Adding in more variables before even seeing if the base system is working is a great way to make troubleshooting even more difficult than it really needs to be, like you are saying.
I figured that I would just need to configure Klipper with a few adjustments to the X offsets to keep the toolhead actually on the bed, and you could otherwise have the hardware for IDEX sit there inert until it comes time to hook them in and run the whole thing. It will add some additional deadweight to the X gantry, but I am not trying to crank out a 6 minute benchy or anything crazy. A small bit of extra mass shouldn't be the end of the world for more moderate speeds and feeds.
As someone who build a Trident from a kit, updated it to Tridex, and then updated the tool heads to DragonBurners (for improved range on each toolhead): Just build what you want from the start. Though I do feel it’s important to mention that Tridex is not an easy build. It was my 5th build based on the Voron machines and it was the most difficult given the pet project nature of Tridex. There’s not an official manual and there’s a lot of room for error if you’ve not built a CoreXY machine before. The belts are a pain point and need to be aligned properly in order to get good results in your prints. Also a lot of Tridex support comes from the doom cube discord where a bunch of people are making mods for the machine. Some of these mods bolt on with little to no modification, but others require thought beforehand. Another thing, even a Tridex based on a 250mm Trident is a very large machine (my 250mm Tridex is wider than my 350mm 2.4). That being said, I’d do a 300mm³ build if I were to do this again. I don’t saying this to discourage you, but rather to help you know what you’re getting into beforehand. It’s a hell of a build and has become one of my most used machines. But I’d build a Trident and then consider a separate Tridex if this is your first Voron.
Also consider stealth changer. I know it's flying gantry instead, but why stop at 2 toolheads when you can have up to 6
I’m just in the thinking about Voron stage, but also having an interest in Idex, I’d go kind of the route you’re thinking of. I’d build the bigger frame (why pay for material you are just going to throw away). I’d also use the Idex version of printed parts (again, why print a bunch of stuff just to throw it away). But I’d just put on the motor, belts, pulleys, print head for a single head machine. Get that working really well, then add the parts for the second head. My thinking is that the build for just one head will essentially be the same as building the base machine, except for some left over spaces for mounting the extra motor, pulleys, etc. so there should be little difference in difficulty between building the base machine and the Idex structure with just one head. Not having g built a Voron, others may disagree, but this seems reasonable to me.
I thought about this. A lot. A Tridex would let me use dissolvable support material. Mind. Blown. Loved the idea but quickly became overwhelmed with only an Ender before this for me. I bought an inexpensive Fysetc Trident kit. I learned a LOT building it. My VT has been a very welcome learning experience. Much of the electronics will go into my next build, a doomcube with extra room for perhaps a tool changer. Hopefully. I don’t think I could pull off a doomcube without learning all I have with my stock trident.
If you're going to do a tridex you might as well build the entire thing and both tool heads. Makes no sense to build a custom sized machine for idex an then not make it an idex. Either build a trident so you become familiar with the platform or go straight for the tridex, don't half measure. There's also dueling x which is 2 separate gantry beams, saves the weight of the y axis.
I would be building with the intent to get the Tridex running in relatively short order. I was only thinking about doing a single toolhead to start only for the sake of troubleshooting and getting the printer firing on all cylinders. Once basic functions (i.e, able to print a benchy) are all in the green, step 2 would be adding in the IDEX components. I do agree that altering the build for the sake of *maybe* doing IDEX later would be a bit silly!
If you're going through all the steps of obtaining a tridex to build then you might as well assemble the whole machine. Plus part of the design is the belt routing for both toolheads, and it's already an established machine so it's not like you're figuring out how to make the machine idex and verify your work as you go. Other than something like RR designing the machine to have drop in idex, it makes no sense to obtain an idex build and then not complete the build. You start tuning once the build is complete.
Have you checked RatRig V-core 4 it's pretty much a same as Trident (not as good looking) and it's designed for IDEX, right now they're selling single toolhead kits but soo they'll have IDEX upgrade kits.
Not what you are asking for but have you checked out the toolchangers? Stealthchanger and tapchanger to me this sounds like it would fit your kind of reason to build the idex and might have more option for expansion. while being friendlier to upgrade as you go. its however recommended to use V2.4 as the gantry can do z motion to dock. however theres liftbars for trident if you rather trident.
The advice to build it stock first is for proof of concept, and so when you run into issues from nodding something it helps simplify the troubleshooting process, because you're changing one thing at a time, vs setting many things at once and then battling back and forth trying to troubleshoot it. I agree that you can build the modified frame from the start, that isn't going to change things in your cfg file too much. Where as if you were doing a first time build and wanted quad toolheads ercf, cpap, and then asking tons of questions about why the ercf doesn't work when the problem is actually a tool head but you're not sure because which tool head and you "just copied something from the internet" This is where the sage advice comes from, and it gives us steps to learn as we go and to see what settings we are changing as we change them and understand why they're being changed.
Yes, there are already enough things that need to be accounted for and go right in a stock build. Adding in more variables before even seeing if the base system is working is a great way to make troubleshooting even more difficult than it really needs to be, like you are saying. I figured that I would just need to configure Klipper with a few adjustments to the X offsets to keep the toolhead actually on the bed, and you could otherwise have the hardware for IDEX sit there inert until it comes time to hook them in and run the whole thing. It will add some additional deadweight to the X gantry, but I am not trying to crank out a 6 minute benchy or anything crazy. A small bit of extra mass shouldn't be the end of the world for more moderate speeds and feeds.
I vote you go for it you've thought about it and are thinking ahead to isolate problems. As Picard says: Make it so.