1 Topic by IanJohnson

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Topic: Filament Pelletizer

Here is a proof of concept.  It's working just like I hoped-

The auger is chucked into my drill press inside an extra Filastruder barrel.  The threads are going up, cutting the filament against the edge of the cutout and spitting the pellets out the top of the pipe into the bucket.  I would rather do this with a hand drill horizontally, but I would need to find an auger with a small enough shank.

Next step is making a motorized filament feeder that can mount on to the pipe, feeding the filament into a drilled hole.

2 Reply by elmoret

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Re: Filament Pelletizer

This is terrifying. And awesome.

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3 Reply by IanJohnson

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Re: Filament Pelletizer

I like how it sounds like a pellet-shooting machine gun.   The trouble with doing it by hand is I was also pelletizing the tube a little bit.

4 Reply by IanJohnson

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Re: Filament Pelletizer

Here is it with a motor to feed the filament.  You can get some pretty small pellets out of it.  Definitely promising for making premixed, low concentration masterbatch.

https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/s/gni6lytoop2pulu/2014-01-12%2021.24.33.jpg?dl=1&token_hash=AAEe84RliaJ8NKZNysERmzJMyrGgaEOwLgHFeM1BU_VRtA

https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/s/fi8gfzggls5lprs/2014-01-12%2021.24.04.jpg?dl=1&token_hash=AAEjZJxQbfs3jMi3H2nPCiR4T73VKgHDfg1NkUPhQuLG5Q

5 Reply by elmoret

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Re: Filament Pelletizer

Sounds like its time for the FilaPellitizer.

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

6 Reply by ronsii

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Re: Filament Pelletizer

'FilaChopper'  Yeah!!! wink

7 Reply by ncbobusa

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Re: Filament Pelletizer

The smaller pellets also means a more even color smile me likey!!!

8 Reply by CraigRK (edited by CraigRK 2014-01-13 07:53:19)

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Re: Filament Pelletizer

Brilliant.  Well done.  don't know where you get the time!!!

Now how do I explain this to the wife?

Me wrote:

See dear, you mix this colour with these 'white' pellets, run them through the Filastruder which makes filament.

Wife wrote:

And then you print with the filament?

Me wrote:

No, you run it through this FilaChopper and make more pellets!!

Wife wrote:

Why would you do that?

Me wrote:

So, I can mix them with these 'white' pellets, run them through the Filastruder which makes filament.

smile

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

CraigRK's Website

9 Reply by laird

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Re: Filament Pelletizer

FilletIzer? :-)

10 Reply by SharkBait

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Re: Filament Pelletizer

This is awesome. I guess i know what im saving for now =/
How about running it down instead of having the pellets shoot up. You could then attach a hose/pipe to the bottom of the barrel and have the pellets shoot down to the floor into an air tight container/bucket with a hole cut in the lid. You would be able to collect basically an unlimited amount of pellets (limited only by your bucket/container size)

11 Reply by DePartedPrinter

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Re: Filament Pelletizer

ronsii wrote:

'FilaChopper'  Yeah!!! wink


+1

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12 Reply by Ralphxyz

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Re: Filament Pelletizer

I like FilaChopper.

What rpm is the drill press running at? Could you go faster?

Ralph

13 Reply by IanJohnson

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Re: Filament Pelletizer

It was running t 1600 RPM and could go faster, but I would rather not with that setup.  I would need a way to get better alignment so it doesn't grind a bunch of iron in with the plastic.  Also I would rather shoot pellets out the end rather than up the back, but the drill press doesn't run backward.

I'm working on a version with a drill, since everyone has a drill.  Mine only goes up to 1400, but it isn't as scary as the press.

14 Reply by Ralphxyz

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Re: Filament Pelletizer

With some drill presses you just twist the drive belt to reverse the motor.

Ralph

15 Reply by Aq

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Re: Filament Pelletizer

Great idea, i have been wondering how to chop up filament.

Are you willing to share the design of the automatic filament feeder?

16 Reply by IanJohnson

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Re: Filament Pelletizer

Yes, when I get it all worked out.  I want it to be usable with a drill or drill press, and be able to catch pellets going either direction since some drill presses aren't simple to reverse.

17 Reply by tuck

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Re: Filament Pelletizer

IanJohnson wrote:

It was running t 1600 RPM and could go faster, but I would rather not with that setup.  I would need a way to get better alignment so it doesn't grind a bunch of iron in with the plastic.  Also I would rather shoot pellets out the end rather than up the back, but the drill press doesn't run backward.

I'm working on a version with a drill, since everyone has a drill.  Mine only goes up to 1400, but it isn't as scary as the press.

Just put a small magnet in your pellet flow to capture any stray iron fillings.

J.

18 Reply by redback

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Re: Filament Pelletizer

I was thinking of something like this youtube dot com / watch?v=UmL4kBOMUDY

19 Reply by redback

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Re: Filament Pelletizer

Someone on these forums suggested a blendtec blender for grinding up failed prints.

$5 at the thrift store got me these to try

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20 Reply by jamesshuang

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Re: Filament Pelletizer

In the original recyclebot docs, they tried blenders. By themselves, they didn't really work -- they left large pieces with a lot of dust, nothing pellet sized. However, once they submerged the plastic in water, it seemed to work reasonably well. You'll have to dehydrate the plastic afterwards, but give that a try.

21 Reply by wahada

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Re: Filament Pelletizer

Hi all, I am new to this forum. Recently, I was thinking of building a small home brew pelletizer. I wanted to be able to mix solid colorant powder with resin in the filastruder and pelletize it for use in my benchtop injection molding machine.
With a pelletizer one can run it through multiple extruder and pelletizer cycles until the color is consistent if needed.
With some searching I found this forum and Ian Johnson's excellent idea of using filastruder parts for the build.
My build is a bit different in that I used standard 1/2 inch black iron pipe and fittings for the barrel and a 5/8" X 8" wood auger bit with a 3/8 "shank for the screw.  For Youtube video of it in action search " Plastic Filament Pelletizer Powered By Drill".

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22 Reply by redback

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Re: Filament Pelletizer

Interesting, Jamesshuang.

It is unfortunate that the "Super Freeway" doesn't have all of its blades, as it should come with a grater that goes at the top of the container, shredding whatever you shove down the chute.

23 Reply by dineshwong

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Re: Filament Pelletizer

Does the pelletizer work with all type of filaments ? like nylon, flexible ones etc ?

24 Reply by Raimond

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Re: Filament Pelletizer

Grinding filament to make filament... LOL

I think you have a start to the next DIY build there!

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25 Reply by tonycstech

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Re: Filament Pelletizer

It also means: re-extrude allover again.
instead, get a second heater band and head up entire barrel.
It will create long mixing area and not only speed up the extrusion, but also mix for longer distance resulting in more even color (if not perfectly even)
I get pretty good results with the barrel slightly moved away from the tip and fully insulated.
Also deflect cooling air from the fan by using some metal sheet of aluminum attached to the fan (or how ever u want to shield the nozzle from blowing air)

my thingiverse http://www.thingiverse.com/tonycstech/designs
my 3d models http://www.turbosquid.com/Search/Artists/tonycstech