1 Topic by tealvince

  • tealvince
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Topic: FilaChomper - experimental filament dismemberment tool

I wanted to share the results of my latest crazy idea--a filament-to-pellet chomping device based on a cheap hand meat grinder.  I've used it to re-extrude short or unevenly colored filament and to create subtle color shades I couldn't make with the primary colorbatch I have. 

http://www.soliforum.com/misc.php?action=pun_attachment&item=4870

I started with a cheap meat grinder that I bought online for $13.

My idea was to feed the filament backwards into the grinder, using the front grille to help hold and guide the filament as it is cut.

To do this, I took out the internal screw mechanism, and replaced it with a new shaft I fashioned from my old 5/16 z-rod, some printed parts, and misc nuts. 

http://www.soliforum.com/misc.php?action=pun_attachment&item=4871

At the front of the grinder, I added a right-angle gearbox with printed gears and an extruder-like feed mechanism that moves the filament about 3/4" per rotation into the four-bladed choppers.

http://www.soliforum.com/misc.php?action=pun_attachment&item=4872

This works surprisingly well, though it's a bit tiring to do manually.  Add a cordless drill, however, and it's really fun!

http://www.soliforum.com/misc.php?action=pun_attachment&item=4873

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2 Reply by alexcheve

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Re: FilaChomper - experimental filament dismemberment tool

I wish I could afford to destroy much valuable filament into pellets. Funny work you are into.

3 Reply by elmoret

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Re: FilaChomper - experimental filament dismemberment tool

alexcheve wrote:

I wish I could afford to destroy much valuable filament into pellets. Funny work you are into.

tealvince wrote:

I've used it to re-extrude short or unevenly colored filament and to create subtle color shades I couldn't make with the primary colorbatch I have.

Filastruder - the robust, inexpensive filament extruder
E3Dv6 All Metal Hotend - the premier 3D printing hotend

4 Reply by elmoret

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Re: FilaChomper - experimental filament dismemberment tool

Other pelletizers:

http://www.soliforum.com/topic/5159/fil … elletizer/
http://www.soliforum.com/topic/5837/fil … version-2/

Filastruder - the robust, inexpensive filament extruder
E3Dv6 All Metal Hotend - the premier 3D printing hotend

5 Reply by SharkBait

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Re: FilaChomper - experimental filament dismemberment tool

Now you got me wondering if a coffee grinder would work? One of those little ones for grinding a few cups of beans at a time, Cut off a few lengths of filament and in a minute you'd have a cup of master batch?

I know my local k-mart has them for about $9, I might get look at one tomorrow and give it a shot.

6 Reply by tealvince

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Re: FilaChomper - experimental filament dismemberment tool

SharkBait wrote:

Now you got me wondering if a coffee grinder would work? One of those little ones for grinding a few cups of beans at a time, Cut off a few lengths of filament and in a minute you'd have a cup of master batch?

I know my local k-mart has them for about $9, I might get look at one tomorrow and give it a shot.

I bet it will work.  My concern however, would be it would act like the pellets that I had previously cut with a high speed router;  some of the pieces would end up being too small and this "powder" would tend to stick to the filastruder feed hopper and fly around making a mess instead of going down into the auger.

7 Reply by SharkBait

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Re: FilaChomper - experimental filament dismemberment tool

tealvince wrote:

I bet it will work.  My concern however, would be it would act like the pellets that I had previously cut with a high speed router;  some of the pieces would end up being too small and this "powder" would tend to stick to the filastruder feed hopper and fly around making a mess instead of going down into the auger.

well i had a look today, My local kmart was sold out of the cheap grinders so will have to wait. Though it was my understanding filastruder could work with powder and the smaller the pellets the better. Though you could always use a kitchen sive to get rid of the powder, Though you would lose a chunk of weight. However for making a masterbatch it shouldn't be to bad.

8 Reply by CraigRK

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Re: FilaChomper - experimental filament dismemberment tool

SharkBait wrote:
tealvince wrote:

I bet it will work.  My concern however, would be it would act like the pellets that I had previously cut with a high speed router;  some of the pieces would end up being too small and this "powder" would tend to stick to the filastruder feed hopper and fly around making a mess instead of going down into the auger.

well i had a look today, My local kmart was sold out of the cheap grinders so will have to wait. Though it was my understanding filastruder could work with powder and the smaller the pellets the better. Though you could always use a kitchen sive to get rid of the powder, Though you would lose a chunk of weight. However for making a masterbatch it shouldn't be to bad.


I think the issue is more that the plastic sticks to everything (like static) so doesn't go down into the pipe. If it does, then I reckon the filastruder will be ok with it.

Masterbatch, ABS and PLA Pellets available for UK and Europe.
http://www.emakershop.com/Seller=1324

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9 Reply by elmoret

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Re: FilaChomper - experimental filament dismemberment tool

CraigRK wrote:
SharkBait wrote:
tealvince wrote:

I bet it will work.  My concern however, would be it would act like the pellets that I had previously cut with a high speed router;  some of the pieces would end up being too small and this "powder" would tend to stick to the filastruder feed hopper and fly around making a mess instead of going down into the auger.

well i had a look today, My local kmart was sold out of the cheap grinders so will have to wait. Though it was my understanding filastruder could work with powder and the smaller the pellets the better. Though you could always use a kitchen sive to get rid of the powder, Though you would lose a chunk of weight. However for making a masterbatch it shouldn't be to bad.


I think the issue is more that the plastic sticks to everything (like static) so doesn't go down into the pipe. If it does, then I reckon the filastruder will be ok with it.

Bingo.

Filastruder - the robust, inexpensive filament extruder
E3Dv6 All Metal Hotend - the premier 3D printing hotend