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Topic: How I made 300kg of pla filament in New Zealand

Hello every one

First time writing but Tim Elmore ask if I could share my information on how I make my pla filament for my 10 printers

so here it is please note I'm badly dyslexia and have dyspraxia so bear with me.

So once you get you hand on your masterbatch and your pla granules.

You will need to mix it some how Now I decided to buy a mixer and dryer from alibaba I had be using the Filastruder for about 9 months and at this point as I had felt the colours doesn't mix evenly.

So because I print,laser cut and CNC for work I found the smallest dryer and mixer 25kg model small right...
all up shipping tax and port charges which are a thing now I know.

so the dryer 25kg and the mixer which oddly was upgraded to a 50kg mixer sounds great but its over kill.
cost 920us on alibaba once it got to me total cost is closer to 2500 nz
need less to say don't recommend unless you make money from this, also NZ is a small country before you ask no such thing as second hand home made as the parts would cost alot more.

any way moving along now I did finely convince a NZ plastic supply to sell to me as trade prices, the only caveat is I have to buy 1000 kg of raw pla and for each colour/masterbatch 5 kg of that so a big out lay.

I only bring this up if you are in New Zealand and want to buy small amounts from me hell I can even mix and dry while I'm at it.

so you have all you parts your ready to.

1. measure you parts the masterbatch only need 2% per 1kg so 1kg pla + 20g masterbatch done!
http://soliforum.com/i/?yhSLEfE.jpg
http://soliforum.com/i/?kmtFeRr.jpg


2. Mix, if its like my mixer it will have a timer so set that to 10 mins done!
http://soliforum.com/i/?5DKtxtP.jpg
http://soliforum.com/i/?Nn4qDef.jpg

3.remove from the mixer, my one has like a door on the front you can take out, if so place a container under that and switch it back on it back on. the last part will need to be done by hand so remove the blade wipe it of over the drum as the masterbatch can be stuck to it, use something like a car window wiper to get the rest.
http://soliforum.com/i/?B7lpNGG.jpg
http://soliforum.com/i/?IzS8HJk.jpg

Note I must be clean before next it you use it colour mixing is fun when is on purpose don't be like me and have a 500 mm tall print in purple with on red ring in the middle.
http://soliforum.com/i/?zrzXJJb.jpg

4. next drying nothing hard about this set it to 90 degrees, and set a timer on your phone for something like 1 hour per 5kg.
http://soliforum.com/i/?y8ZxrhP.jpg
http://soliforum.com/i/?PR0nyBB.jpg

5. remove from the dryer same rule as the mixer clean it out and store in a air tight container.
http://soliforum.com/i/?EZvILdA.jpg

http://soliforum.com/i/?qXsGYiZ.jpg

http://soliforum.com/i/?khUUufD.jpg

http://soliforum.com/i/?q3I9nCm.jpg

http://soliforum.com/i/?OxBqs8g.jpg

http://soliforum.com/i/?9c4xtIp.jpg

6. ready for your filastruder I recommend drilling you die hole to 1.9mm use the cooling fan.

When it comes to what temperature its a some were around 180-190 oddly some colours are softer then other who knew.

notes my filastruder set up is as following
die hole to 1.9mm
cooling fan

home made laser spools ( I make 3kg at a time)
the filastruder motor runs on 18v on a separate power supply( don't control the speed its not worth it)

add a blower fan for cooling the filastruder motor
give it oil on the bearings only between colours as it can leak into the barrel and make a mess.

remove the hopper every time you change colours this will stop rogue masterbatch form stuffing up you filament
light guard for the filament Sensor save you form your shadow or afternoon sun.

printer settings

it will be a bit softer then normal pla filament when extruding so dont let your Extruder motor heat it up to much.
I use 6xTitan Extruder 2 home made and one bondtech extruder they all work fine.

and if you are interested these are my printer (from old to new)
rockstock max v2 fitted with a e3d ChimeraTitan Extruder

3x home made delta from sizes 200d bed -550d bed high 650mm tall and 2200mm tall all fitted with a e3d v6 and Titan Extruder

wanhao I.3 fitted with a Titan Aero

Up mini second hand going it fit with a ramps
same for a xyz printer davinci

a chines printer called a super helper?
prusa I3 mark 2 only printer I have worked on

and a home make mini delta made partly from wood.

http://soliforum.com/i/?jlO0LeB.jpg
http://soliforum.com/i/?HFvQbsF.jpg
http://soliforum.com/i/?RiN6ZyC.jpg
http://soliforum.com/i/?eylfY9w.jpg
http://soliforum.com/i/?nd5Vzhm.jpg


My tools list thuder laser, CNC mill, 2x Filastruder and 10 3d printer,
My Business( its just me) Embrace Design Makes designer item and alot of one offs Like right know I'm making a life size R2D2.
Its 2 years old and its a lot of fun.

Thats all I can think of for now
I hope this helps

You can contact me at
[email protected]

2 (edited by XmodAlloy 2017-05-07 18:48:39)

Re: How I made 300kg of pla filament in New Zealand

This is awesome!

How is your color consistency in the filament using a masterbatch? I've had lumps of colorant that's not fully absorbed into the base plastic with mine.

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Re: How I made 300kg of pla filament in New Zealand

You said you run 3kg per run, how long does that take you?

4 (edited by zero2033 2017-05-08 03:59:47)

Re: How I made 300kg of pla filament in New Zealand

http://soliforum.com/i/?vaO36Nn.jpg

good thinking I forgot to add a photo like this,
It takes about 3 full days , I recommend putting a fire alarm with it and even a webcam so you can keep an eye on it like this.
its in the top left.
http://soliforum.com/i/?Uz5sSts.jpg

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Re: How I made 300kg of pla filament in New Zealand

What temperature do you keep your extruding enclosure? I have been struggling with getting PLA to extrude. Had no issues making filament with recycled PE pellets but once I tried with PLA had no luck.