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Topic: Sqeaking again

Switched my filastruder to vertical to test PP extrusion.  Ran it for about 5 hours, then noticed I was getting metal shavings in the extruded filament and tonight it started that infernal squeaking again.

Help, suggestions, comments are welcome.

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Re: Sqeaking again

Which thrust plate do you have? White laminate, or wood?

Squeaking is not really a problem. If you're seeing contaminants, best solution is a melt filter nozzle.

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Re: Sqeaking again

I have the white thrust plate and a melt filter nozzle.  I'm experimenting with the original non-filtered nozzle, as I may have to alter the hole size to get the filament diameter I want.  DIdn't want to mess up the melt filter nozzle.

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Re: Sqeaking again

Please keep us posted on your advances with PP.
I am checking with local suppliers in my town and it seems that PP is cheaper. I am waiting for my filastruder to arrive.
So.. I am now starting material research as so far I have only worked with PLA and ABS for 3d printing.
Thanks.

5 (edited by gwfami 2013-11-12 20:08:21)

Re: Sqeaking again

I plan on putting a complete primer on PP once I get it all figured out.  The PP pellets I have for testing are food safe, and I have some food safe colorant samples as well.  The color, tried red, came out nice and even, no grinding of the colorants was required.

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Re: Sqeaking again

I'm not sure that the brass in the nozzle is food safe (lead) and the carbon steel barrel/tool steel feedscrew are not food safety rated...

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Re: Sqeaking again

PLA is food safe, but the issue is that the way 3D printers (FDM) prints the material is not food safe.
Somewhere on the RepRAP forums there is a discussion on this topic complete with microscope pictures showing the un-cleanable pits in the plastic... I guess for one-time use 3D printed food equipment it would be OK, but that doesn't make much sense.

If you are doing this for yourself, then whatever - after all, what doesn't give you cancer these days? But if you're doing something for other people it's a no-go.

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Re: Sqeaking again

Strange as it may sound, the final product needs to be in food safe PP, but will not be in direct contact with food.  Going to be used for a housing for a new dishwasher invention I've got patent pending.

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Re: Sqeaking again

Brass is supposed to be made of zinc and copper, not lead.  Unless there is something I'm not aware of.

elmoret wrote:

I'm not sure that the brass in the nozzle is food safe (lead) and the carbon steel barrel/tool steel feedscrew are not food safety rated...

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Re: Sqeaking again

gwfami wrote:

Brass is supposed to be made of zinc and copper, not lead.  Unless there is something I'm not aware of.

elmoret wrote:

I'm not sure that the brass in the nozzle is food safe (lead) and the carbon steel barrel/tool steel feedscrew are not food safety rated...


To enhance the machinability of brass, lead is often added in concentrations of around 2%.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brass#Lead_content

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Re: Sqeaking again

Just spiffy.  Is the brass used here the lead-free brass from CA?

elmoret wrote:
gwfami wrote:

Brass is supposed to be made of zinc and copper, not lead.  Unless there is something I'm not aware of.

elmoret wrote:

I'm not sure that the brass in the nozzle is food safe (lead) and the carbon steel barrel/tool steel feedscrew are not food safety rated...


To enhance the machinability of brass, lead is often added in concentrations of around 2%.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brass#Lead_content

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Re: Sqeaking again

The supplier doesn't say either way. I can ask.

Not that it would really matter, since none of the other components are food safety rated.

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Re: Sqeaking again

If you could ask I would appreciate it.

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Re: Sqeaking again

gwfami wrote:

If you could ask I would appreciate it.

Supplier wrote:

There is greater than .025% lead in this product.