Topic: PETG extruding. Water cooling for barrel? Motor replacement?
Hi all,
Just bought a filastruder and trying to solve several issues I am having with PETG extruding which is my main material.
So far I have managed to extrude about half a spool of PETG but then the motor stalls about an hour later.
I already tried suggested methods here like drilling a wider hole for nozzle, increasing the temp up to 205C-215C, removing the barrel insulation etc. but they create their own problems as well.
I suspect several issues that might cause it. It might be a combination of all of it as well.
1. I am using powdered colorant that probably contributes lower viscosity after some time due to not evenly spread all over the pellets and collecting inside the barrel walls/auger in time, causing more pressure.
2. Barrel gets too hot near feeder due to increased temp (205C and up), causing too early melting and creating too much pressure over the motor.
3. Low torque.
Possible solutions that might fix.
1. Adding a water cooling loop with copper pipes rolled around barrel where its closer to the feeder that keeps the temp lower to avoid early melting. Cost is around 100 USD This might solve issue number 2.
2. Replacing the motor with much higher torque rated geared NEMA 23 stepper motor, about 40NM with speed controller driver, around 2.5 times more torque than default filastruder motor. I suspect if that might bend the barrel so it might need a beefier barrel build maybe as well? This might solve issues number 1 and 3. Cost is around 110 USD
3. Increasing the length of barrel/auger and/or replacing it with a proper plastic extrusion screw. Adding extra 1 or 2 heat zones with lower temps (180-190C for better viscosity control and reduce the overall stress to motor. I wonder if barrel material matters if it is made of stainless steel and polished or plated interior etc.? This might solve issue number 1 and 2. Cost is around 150 to 450 USD, depending of barrel/auger/heater combination.
I am still very new to filament extruding and some of these solutions probably wont be a good ones but its still alot cheaper than getting a filabot ex6 system which I am still considering to buy in future. But I wanted to give a chance to filastruder first.
Before I start making those improvements, do you think those might solve the issues I am having or any other suggestions?
Thanks.