What we mean with Independent Dual Extruder System?
IDEX – short for Independent Dual Extruders – is the 3D printing technique that allows two print heads to move independently from each other. Each head has its own nozzle and can print with the same, or different material than the other head. This technology has a number of advantages in comparison to a single head with dual extruders.
Each independent head has its own nozzle and filament. When one nozzle is active and printing, the other inactive nozzle moves to the side of the bed. Since the head that is not printing is on the side, any filament that leaks out of the inactive head does not stick to your workpiece. This prevents contamination of materials and gives cleaner prints.
Another big advantage of the independent dual extruders is that it allows the two nozzles to have a big temperature difference and therefore allows to combine different materials. For instance, complex prints using soluble support such as the print of the left are made possible. Since the heads are separated from each other, it is possible to set the nozzles at different temperatures with a large difference in temperature between them. This allows the user to make many more material combinations.