1 Topic by Serin

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Topic: If one were to design a printable filament guide/fan assembly for PLA

What'd be the recommended angles and distances from the nozzle?
I'm looking for experience outside of just Tim's here, so if anyone else out there has had good success with PLA please do post your measurements or ideas. Basically just looking for as wide an experience base as possible.

Thinking I'll just print my own guide as my previous hacked together thing began to cause trouble.

It seems that with PLA the distances between the nozzle and the first time the extrusion touches the guide are pretty crucial to getting straight filament and for preventing build-up at the nozzle itself later in the extrusion.

This is a crowd funding thing that I'm running: http://www.gofundme.com/bvi140 It's for pretty selfish reasons tongue

2 Reply by elmoret

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Re: If one were to design a printable filament guide/fan assembly for PLA

Not sure if I'm allowed to post...

Serin wrote:

It seems that with PLA the distances between the nozzle and the first time the extrusion touches the guide are pretty crucial to getting straight filament and for preventing build-up at the nozzle itself later in the extrusion.

It is important for all polymers, not just PLA.  The first 6-12 inches should be pulled straight by hand, then laid over the filament guide. Positioning for the guide was described in the assembly manual.

You could also try a 30deg, 45deg or vertical setup.

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E3Dv6 All Metal Hotend - the premier 3D printing hotend

3 Reply by Serin

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Re: If one were to design a printable filament guide/fan assembly for PLA

Of course you're allowed to post! tongue I just meant that I'd love some input from the others here so as to not keep constantly bugging you for info.

Ah, wasn't aware of the pulling bit, Hmmm
Yeah I was going to set it up vertically, should be interesting.

This is a crowd funding thing that I'm running: http://www.gofundme.com/bvi140 It's for pretty selfish reasons tongue

4 Reply by Superdave (edited by Superdave 2014-10-23 02:12:55)

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Re: If one were to design a printable filament guide/fan assembly for PLA

I will be extruding solely in PLA due to my office environment.  I just received my system today and will be assembling it over the upcoming weekend with a vertical extruder orientation.  I plan to try different CL distances between the extruder and winder as well as sensor locations.  Once I have what I feel is my optimal setup I'll have our fab guys build be an enclosure to try to eliminate as many environmental factors as possible.  I'll post my findings as well as keep an eye out on this thread for information from others who have previous experiences.

If you build it they will come. Then they will make fun of it, tell you it's not worth doing and go home and try to copy you.
If a picture is worth a thousand words then being there is worth a thousand pictures.

(2) Stock Makerbot Z18s, Filastruder w/Melt Filter, Filawinder, Autodesk Inventor Design Suite 2014 .........so far.

5 Reply by elmoret

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Re: If one were to design a printable filament guide/fan assembly for PLA

Dave, with a vertical setup you won't need a filament guide.

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

6 Reply by bubbasnow

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Re: If one were to design a printable filament guide/fan assembly for PLA

elmoret wrote:

Dave, with a vertical setup you won't need a filament guide.

For some reason beyond my comprehension I have yet to have successful extrusions of pla with a vertical setup...

7 Reply by laird

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Re: If one were to design a printable filament guide/fan assembly for PLA

bubbasnow wrote:
elmoret wrote:

Dave, with a vertical setup you won't need a filament guide.

For some reason beyond my comprehension I have yet to have successful extrusions of pla with a vertical setup...

I've only done ABS so far. But I've read posts that there's a challenge with PLA vertically because the material remains soft so the weight pulls the filament too thin.

8 Reply by Serin

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Re: If one were to design a printable filament guide/fan assembly for PLA

I suppose some experimentation is warranted before committing to a design.
Assuming that perhaps a 30 or 45deg set up might be better for PLA, but then perhaps a vertical setup can be achieved with sufficient cooling?

This is a crowd funding thing that I'm running: http://www.gofundme.com/bvi140 It's for pretty selfish reasons tongue

9 Reply by Superdave (edited by Superdave 2014-10-23 23:44:19)

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Re: If one were to design a printable filament guide/fan assembly for PLA

Tim,

I guess I should have clarified myself.  You are absolutely correct but I was referring to all of the other nuances that this finicky material has.  I do appreciate the heads-up though.  By the way my S&R guys finally brought up my delivery of the Filastruder and Filawinder today.  I don't know why but I thought they were going to be bigger than that.  Don't get me wrong I very happy about that.  They will take up much less room in my Lab.  Before you go there I know the dims are on your web site I just never really looked at them. smile  I can't wait to assemble the system.

If you build it they will come. Then they will make fun of it, tell you it's not worth doing and go home and try to copy you.
If a picture is worth a thousand words then being there is worth a thousand pictures.

(2) Stock Makerbot Z18s, Filastruder w/Melt Filter, Filawinder, Autodesk Inventor Design Suite 2014 .........so far.

10 Reply by Superdave

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Re: If one were to design a printable filament guide/fan assembly for PLA

laird/bubbasnow,

I'm in a VERY well air conditioned Lab and will have the fan in place so the filament should be cooled quick enough to help stabilize the diameter.  That in conjunction with the winder should help immensely.

If you build it they will come. Then they will make fun of it, tell you it's not worth doing and go home and try to copy you.
If a picture is worth a thousand words then being there is worth a thousand pictures.

(2) Stock Makerbot Z18s, Filastruder w/Melt Filter, Filawinder, Autodesk Inventor Design Suite 2014 .........so far.

11 Reply by cor5151 (edited by cor5151 2014-10-27 22:41:20)

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Re: If one were to design a printable filament guide/fan assembly for PLA

more fans/better cooling is needed for pla, also dry your filament for a long time! it will result in a better final product.