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Following its announcement earlier this month, Rat Rig has fully revealed the V-Core 4 3D printer.

When equipped with two toolheads for what Rat Rig describes as “drop-in IDEX”, the V-Core 4 can print in three modes: standard CoreXY, hybrid – which leverages “two extra motors for [the] Y-axis” for increased acceleration – and IDEX for multi-material, copied, or mirrored prints.

As with previous Rat Rig printers, customization is a focal point for the V-Core 4. It arrives in three sizes: 300 x 300 x 300 mm, 400 x 400 x 400 mm, or 500 x 500 x 500 mm, all of which use the same frame. Rat Rig says this will enable users to add upgrades, such as panels to create a full enclosure, or the forthcoming multi-material module or HEPA + carbon filter kit.

Aside from its roomy build, the V-Core 4’s print bed also has room for accessories due to its threaded mounting points. The machine can be purchased as a “Full” or “Configurable” kit, so users can pick and choose what they need for their particular machine.

The V-Core 4 appears to use a Beacon eddy current displacement sensor for bed meshing, meaning the V-Core 4 will achieve automatic Z calibration through Beacon Contact, the nozzle touch probing system we covered last week, and which is scheduled as an early-May firmware update for all Beacon users.

Rounding out the machine are features such as “semi-automatic” Z offset calibration, “ultra-fast synchronized tool swapping” via Rat Rig-dubbed “Toolshift” technology – which switches between the IDEX print heads in a single job – and steel linear rails on every axis. In all, we’re seemingly looking at a heavy-duty machine that’s built with durability and stability in mind – especially given its “bottom heavy” design and “full metal motion system”.

There is currently no official information on the V-Core 4’s release date, although its (essentially empty) page on the Rat Rig store does say “April 2024”, suggesting a full release this month. The printer’s price tag, too, is still under wraps.

For now, you can find a great deal of spec- and feature-related information on the V-Core 4’s product page on Rat Rig’s website.

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