1 Topic by Skyblue

  • Skyblue
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  • From: Keller, Texas
  • Registered: 2013-01-04
  • Posts: 201

Topic: Filament twisting into build area.

Seems that the spool system for the Press may be flawed.  Anyone experience the filament twisting, and ending up in the build area, getting caught in the movement?  The roll does not turn, and the filament is twisted on roll when it is wound. When you pull it through the center, it does not turn spooll, just pulls off of roll, ends up twisting filament.  Does not happen when I feed from a turning roll outside the machine.

2 Reply by omaha

  • omaha
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  • Registered: 2015-01-16
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Re: Filament twisting into build area.

That is a problem I noticed also, the entire filament feed setup it a problem.
#1 Not enough clearance from the bottom of the spool holder to the top of the extruder.
#2 You can't pull filament off a spool that way. Sure it will work for a while but sooner or later it will knot up. Just wait till people try 12-24 hour prints, no way that will work. There's a reason no other 3D printer unspools like this It's problematic.

3 Reply by cptskippy

  • cptskippy
  • cptskippy
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  • Registered: 2014-09-17
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Re: Filament twisting into build area.

omaha wrote:

#1 Not enough clearance from the bottom of the spool holder to the top of the extruder.

Having the top of the Press closed causes 2 problems for me.  The first what you're describing where, due to the lack of clearance between the dispenser and the extruder, the filament will kink and either jam or snap off at the gear.  The second issue is that the lid prevents heat from escaping causing excessive build up, this heat softens the filament which then jams in the extruder between the gear and the hot end.

Closing the front door and propping the lid on top resolve both those issues.  I'm working out the design for a lid riser that will fit on top of the press and allow the lid to mount to it, and allow the front door to still function.